How to Build a Holiday Charcuterie Board

Before you begin building your holiday charcuterie board, consider a few questions: Do you have any guests with dietary restrictions? Do you want to feature food from a specific region of the world or mix and match flavors from around the globe?

You also want to make sure you have access to all the items you want to feature or give yourself plenty of time to order unique items online. It's important to keep all these things in mind when planning your spread.

When choosing a blank canvas for your culinary masterpiece, go with a flat, large, wooden surface such as a large butcher block or cutting board. Grab extra surfaces if separating cured meats or cheeses for any vegan or vegetarian folks.

The base of a holiday charcuterie board includes crunchy crackers, crusty baguette bread, and salty pretzels. You can also include chewier and softer options like grilled pita or flavored crackers with a punch of subtle flavor. Check out these options from MadeGood or Patagonia Provisions.

Next, fill up your board and don't let it have empty space. Add pre-sliced meats, spreadable options, and an assortment of accent pieces like colorful fruit. In short, you want variety and abundance.

Make your charcuterie board a hands-on experience by giving guests something to slice or spread. Think of things like cheeses and hard meats. Jams, homemade hummus, honey, and savory meat-based or vegetarian patés are also perfect to add to bread, crackers, and pretzels. If you don't want to make your own dip, look for a mindful store-bought brand like Good Foods.

Then again, don't give your guests work and display presliced goodies that are easy to eat and share. Plus, these elements bring salty and savory goodness to the board.

Dried meats can add a salty and savory layer of flavor. Brands like Cattaneo Bros. and EPIC Provisions make great additions. Scatter a few handfuls of roasted cashews or other nuts that look and taste good.

Following bread, cheeses, and meats, don't forget something sweet like dried or fresh fruit. Seasonal items like figs, grapes, and strawberries all add a pop of color and nutritional value to your board.

If you have specific snacks you want to showcase on your board, build around them. For instance, if you want to feature bowls of salty olives, cheese blocks, or a raw honeycomb, place them on separate plates or small bowls so they stand out.

Finally, add small labels or tags with descriptions of each food item, its country of origin, and any important dietary information. This will elevate the guest experience!