Valentine's Charcuterie Board - Cheerful Choices (2024)

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Learn how to make the perfect Valentine’s Charcuterie Board for your sweetheart, galentine, or family. This beautiful board is filled with all the good stuff like cheeses, meats, dips, fresh fruit, vegetables, and sweet treats. Read on for ways to customize and make this board your own!

Valentine's Charcuterie Board - Cheerful Choices (1)

This post was originally published February 8, 2021. It was updated on January 10, 2022.

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own; I never feature a brand that I don’t love! See mydisclosure policyfor more details.

Charcuterie boards may also be referred to as a snack board or smorgasbord. It’s essentially a platter filled with small bites of different, delicious foods. These boards aren’t just reserved for special occasions or holidays— you can also make this type of snack board on other days. Or if you want to surprise your sweetheart with breakfast in bed, try this pancake charcuterie board!

Table of Contents

How do you make a Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board?

The great thing about charcuterie boards is it’s totally customizable! You get to pick and choose which cheeses, meats, dips, fresh fruit, vegetables, and sweet treats you use. This is a great option if you want an elegant meal but only have random bits and pieces lying around.

Ready to make your one-of-a-kind Valentine’s Charcuterie board? Go through this list of foods and slowly fill your platter until it’s full. You can use a large wooden block, a cutting board, or a serving tray to build your board.

1. Cheese

A charcuterie board is only as good as its cheese. Add a variety of both soft and hard cheeses. I always like to go to my local cheese shop and ask for their recommendations. Here are some you might try.

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2. Meat

Most charcuterie meats are some hue of pink or red–making them perfect for this valentine’s charcuterie. If you’re feeling extra festive, use a heart shaped cookie cutter to shape slices of cheese or meat. If you are vegetarian or vegan, you can leave the meat out or use a plant-based alternative.

3. Dips and Jams

I love adding a bit of dip or jam on a cracker before topping it with cheese or meat. Don’t be afraid to use a variety of both sweet and savory dips.

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4. Bread and Crackers

My favorite section! This is a great way to clean out your pantry and arrange all those opened cracker and chip bags. Choose whole grain products for a little extra fiber and nutrition boost if you’d like.

5. Fruits and Vegetables

Try to use mostly red, pink, and purple fruits and vegetables to add to the valentine’s feel. Here are some to try adding.

  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Blackberries
  • Cherries
  • Grapes
  • Figs
  • Sliced apples
  • Dried cranberries
  • Raisins
  • Cherry tomatoes
  • Red pepper slices
  • Purple cauliflower
  • Purple or red rainbow carrots
  • Beets or beet chips

6. Chocolate and Extras

It’s not Valentine’s Day with a little extra sweets. Use any random bits of candy, chocolate, or baked goods you have on hand. It’s so important to allow yourself the freedom of flexibility when it comes to food during special occasions and holidays. Aim to fit in nutritious, whole foods but also be sure to enjoy your favorite indulgent bites in moderation. It’s all about creating a healthy balance.

  • Yogurt covered strawberries
  • Chocolate covered strawberries
  • Chocolate squares
  • Avocado truffles
  • Candied nuts
  • Lightly salted mixed nuts
  • Energy bites
  • Oreos
  • Rice Krispie treats
  • Edible protein cookie dough
  • Heart shaped cookies
  • Biscotti
  • Stuffed dates
  • 2Betties healthy donuts(included on myfall charcuterie board!)

What are your favorite combos for this valentine’s charcuterie board? Tag me on Instagram at @cheerfulchoices… I would love to see!

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Valentine’s Charcuterie Board

Mackenzie Burgess, RDN

This customizable board is filled with all the good stuff like cheeses, meats, dips, fresh fruit, vegetables, and sweet treats. Perfect to make for your loved ones on Valentine's Day!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Servings 4 -6 servings

Ingredients

Cheeses of your choice

  • Blueberry goat cheese log
  • Cheddar
  • Swiss
  • Brie
  • Parmesan
  • Gouda
  • Blue cheese
  • Vegan cheeses

Meats of your choice

  • Salami
  • Soppressata
  • Prosciutto
  • Summer sausage
  • Lunch meats rolled up
  • Vegan meats

Dips of your choice

  • Hummus
  • Baba Ganoush
  • Salsa
  • Greek Yogurt Ranch Dip
  • Greek Yogurt Peanut Butter Dip
  • Jams – use red or purple colored jams
  • Homemade 2 Ingredient Chia Seed Jam
  • Hazelnut Spread

Bread and Crackers of your choice

  • Raincoast Crisps
  • Rice cakes
  • Baguettes
  • Triscuits
  • Chia Seed Crackers
  • Pita Chips
  • Tortilla Chips
  • Pretzels
  • Nut Thins

Fruits and Vegetables of your choice

  • Strawberries
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries
  • Grapes
  • Figs
  • Sliced Apples
  • Dried Cranberries
  • Raisins
  • Cherry Tomatoes
  • Red Pepper Slices
  • Purple Cauliflower
  • Purple or Red Rainbow Carrots
  • Beets or beet chips

Chocolate and extras of your choice

  • Yogurt covered strawberries
  • Chocolate covered strawberries
  • Dark chocolate bar pieces
  • Biscottis
  • Truffles
  • Candied Nuts
  • Lightly Salted Mixed Nuts
  • Oreos
  • Rice Krispie treats
  • Heart Shaped Sugar Cookies
  • Nut Butter Stuffed Dates

Instructions

  • Choose a board to use. This could be a wooden cutting board, baking sheet, or large platter.

  • Then, go through this list of foods and slowly fill your platter or board until it’s full.

  • Enjoy with your sweetheart, galentine, or family!

Video

save this valentine’s charcuterie board recipe on pinterest:

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Related

Valentine's Charcuterie Board - Cheerful Choices (2024)

FAQs

Valentine's Charcuterie Board - Cheerful Choices? ›

No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies.

What is the 3-3-3 rule for charcuterie? ›

No matter the style of the wood charcuterie board, you can always follow the 3-3-3-3 rule. Every charcuterie board should have three meats, three cheeses, three starch options, and three accompaniments, such as fruit, nuts, or veggies.

How do you make an aesthetically pleasing charcuterie board? ›

Use small side dishes to elevate some foods and keep the board neater. Then, use fruit, nuts, and chocolate to fill in the extra spaces. For garnish, use fresh herbs like thyme to add extra decorations. You can also add small sides of sauces and jams.

What foods compliment a charcuterie board? ›

Add savory and sweet accompaniments.

For example, mustard, briny foods and nuts near salami and sopresseta, and sharp cheeses like parmesan. Pair sweet accompaniments like fresh fruit, jams, and candied nuts, near the brie cheese or goat cheese. Cheddar cheese pairs well with savory and sweet.

What should every charcuterie board have? ›

Note: these are suggested ingredients and you should feel free to tweak them however you see fit!
  • Cured meat. Use a selection of 3-4 different cured meats for your charcuterie board. ...
  • Cheese. ...
  • Bread and crackers. ...
  • Nuts and chocolate. ...
  • Condiments and jams. ...
  • Fruit. ...
  • Garnish.
Dec 16, 2023

What are 5 tips to making a charcuterie board easy? ›

Here's an easy, step-by-step guide.
  1. Choose your board, platter, or plate.
  2. Lay out your soft and moist ingredients first.
  3. Place your dips and spreads around the board.
  4. Lay out your dry ingredients, like meats, nuts, and hard cheeses.
  5. Top with your choice of garnishings.

Do you put sweets on a charcuterie board? ›

Think of other items you can add to the board besides cookies. These might include bite-size cake pieces (store-bought or homemade), dried fruit, macarons, mini cupcakes, chocolate bars broken into small pieces, rolled wafers, small meringues, and even candy.

Do vegetables go on a charcuterie board? ›

When it comes to what vegetables you should use for your vegetable charcuterie, almost any vegetable can work. Some easy favorite vegetables to incorporate in your boards include, carrots, celery, bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus and green beans.

How to make a Valentine's charcuterie board? ›

Valentine Charcuterie Board via The Curious Plate

Arrange a variety of red, pink and white savory and sweet treats for this board. It includes raspberries, brie cheese, cheese cut into little hearts with a heart cookie cutter, chocolates, popcorn, crackers, and prosciutto.

What is the secret to a great charcuterie board? ›

After all that meat and cheese, you're going to need something to balance those rich flavors. Cairo suggests accenting the board with acidic pickles, crunchy nuts, whole grain mustard (Maille is his favorite brand), tinned fish, and something sweet like quince jam or a drizzle of honey.

What are the best 3 cheeses for a charcuterie board? ›

Here's some of the best cheese for charcuterie boards: Hard cheese: chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago. Firm cheese: gruyere, comte, manchego, colby, cheddar. Semi-soft cheese: havarti, butterkäse, muenster.

Are there rules for charcuterie boards? ›

Depending on the size of your board, you should have one each of cow, sheep, and goat options with soft rind, firm, and hard cheeses in the mix. Flavors should range between nutty and mild to funky and unique. Rule of thumb: 1 cow, 1 sheep, 1 goat; 1 soft, 1 firm, 1 hard.

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