Fall-Inspired Charcuterie Board

This Fall-Inspired Charcuterie Board is a whimsical display of all the Fall goodies for a no fussy party appetizer. It features Fall produce, like applies, grapes, fresh figs, pomegranates, and pears. Plus, an assortment of delicious cheeses, some yummy spreads, like whipped honey and fig jam, whole grain crackers, and fresh Fall flowers.

Holiday Entertaining Made Easy

The Holiday season is upon us. Which means it’s officially entertaining season! There are so many get-togethers that require yummy food. Between all the detailed mains and intricate desserts, you need an easy, no fuss appetizer that’s sure to impress.

Enter my Fall-inspired charcuterie board. It’s a showstopper that looks like it took hours to build. No one will suspect that it took no time at all to prepare. It just requires a gorgeous wood charcuterie board, picking up the right items at the store, and thoughtfully assembling the board to create this impressive spread.

Let me share my tips on building this masterpiece!

Best Places to find a wood charcuterie Board

The first step to creating a beautiful Fall-inspired charcuterie board is owning a wood board for the display. I recommend shopping local to find something truly unique and awe inspiring. I found my gorgeous board at Vera and Buck, our local Florist. Meg McCormick opened up the shop in 2018 and it’s a true gem in downtown Bloomington.

She creates stunning, unique fresh and dried floral arrangements. Her shop is also full of fun finds, like trendy clothes, ceramics, and wood vases. When I saw this real wood, hand cut charcuterie board, I knew I had to have it. It instantly inspired this Fall spread! I also love that it’s a one of kind piece that’s unique to my own town!

Items needed for this Fall-Inspired Charcuterie Board

Here’s what you need to build this board:

• Fall Produce: to keep it seasonal, use fresh, Fall produce. My favs are apples, figs, pomegranates pears and grapes on the vines. If possible, I prefer to pick these items up at the Farmer’s Market as they offer the more rustic, pretty versions (like apples with their leaves). If that’s not possible, going to your local grocery works too!
• An Assortment of Cheeses: try to grab something tp please everyone’s palate. A tangy, creamy option, like goat cheese or brie, a sharp, pungent option like sharp cheddar or blue cheese, and a mild, nutty option like havarti or gouda. I try to pick up at least 4 options, so everyone can find something they love!
• Yummy Spreads: keep the Fall-theme strong by using spreads with Fall fruits. I recommend a fig jam, pear jam, or apple butter. I also included a whipped honey as it’s sweet, floral notes pairs beautifully with cheese and fruit.
• Crackers and breads: cheese and spreads need an eating vessel. So your board should include crackers and breads. I like to pick up multi-grain crackers and/or a gluten-free option. I also pick up fresh bread from the local bakery as they tend to have different fun flavor options.
• Nuts and Dried Fruits: to add an additional crunch factor, I like to include mixed nuts. I also add dried fruit, like dried figs, for another sweet option. Dried fruit is also a great option when you cannot find the fresh alternative (especially for figs, as they are like the food unicorn, hard to spot in the wild!).
• Pretty add ons: help fill up the board and signify the Fall theme with spice garnishes, like cinnamon sticks or star anise pods. I also love adding fresh fall flowers and fresh herbs.

How to assemble a Fall Inspired Charcuterie Board

• Step 1: Grab your cutting board. Keep it neutral with a nice wood or marble cutting board. This allows the fruit and cheese to pop.
• Step 2: Start with the cheese. I like to cut the cheese differently. This helps to create a rustic board with different textures. Neatly cut some of the cheese, leave some cheese in blocks, and organically tear the rest. Also, this helps make it easy to identify the different cheeses. 
• Step 3: Then, place the fruit around the cheese. Slice the apples and pears, so they are easy to grab and eat. Keep the grapes on the vine for a pretty, rustic effect. It also helps keep them in place on the board. Simply slice the figs in halve to show the pretty pink flesh and to make them easy to grab and eat. I recommend only cutting the fruit right before serving so it does not brown. Finally, I added some whole fruit on the board to help fill it up and signify to your guests the fruits they will find on the board. 
• Step 4: Next, tuck in the crackers and/or crostini’s around the other goodies. Crackers and crostini’s adds a nice savory, crunch factor. Plus, allows guests to build sandwiches or crostini.
• Step 5: Also, provide some condiment options on the board. I like to keep Fall inspired jams, liked whipped honey, fig jam, and/or a cranberry jam. The addition of condiments allows guests to add some pizzaz to their crostini’s.
• Step 6: Make sure to include nuts and dried fruit. This helps fill up the board – charcuterie boards look plentiful and inviting when there is little negative space on the board. Nuts also provides a gluten-free option for guests, plus help cleanse the palate. Dried fruit adds an additional sweet factor. 
• Step 7: Finally, incorporate a pretty factor with fresh flowers (if on the board, make sure they are edible) and/or herbs/whole spices for a pop of color.

Other Fall Apps

Here’s some other delicious Fall appetizer recipes:

• Whipped marscapone, fig jam, and procuitto puff pastry bites
• Baked Brie with Fig Jam and Bacon
• Whipped Feta with Hot Honey

Enjoy!

This Fall-Inspired Charcuterie Board is sure to impress your guests this Holiday entertaining season!

If you make this Fall-Inspired Charcuterie Board, please leave a comment below.  I absolutely love to hear from you guys and your thoughts on my recipes. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or pin it on pinterest, cuz sharing is caring!