The Prettiest Brunch Charcuterie Board

Add a wow factor to your next brunch party with a pretty & simple brunch charcuterie board! This board features all kinds of amazing treats like artisan cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruit, pastries, and more. Customize it with all of your favorite breakfast recipes and mix up a pitcher of mimosas. Brunch is done!

My constant internal struggle is that I am a breakfast girlie, but I am not a morning girlie. Every Sunday, I have grand plans of whipping up Norwegian pancakes or bacon hash and next thing I know, I’m laying in bed scrolling Instagram and sipping coffee that my husband brought me because I didn’t want to leave the warmth of my comforter.

So obviously, brunch is my happy medium because you can eat breakfast at 1pm and it still counts. And, if I ever want to get friends together and put in little to no effort? Well, that’s where this board comes in.

Breakfast for a crowd

If you’re a culinary school grad like me, or you’ve just worked in restaurants in general, you know how dreaded brunch is in the culinary world haha. But, I was one of the weird ones who honestly loved it. And to this day, hosting a casual brunch is one of my favorite ways to hang with friends at home! Luckily, this breakfast charcuterie board is a cute way to feed a big group with minimal effort.

• This board takes about 15 minutes of work, so you can make it morning-of and not feel stressed.
• You can use store-bought or homemade pastries. I like a mix of both but more on this later.
• Serve it as an appetizer for a big group or as a light breakfast for a small gathering.
• Make it for holidays like Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter, & more! It’s such a showstopper.

Ingredients & tools

First thing’s first, you are going to need some kind of board or platter to put everything on. I like a wood cheese board but a large wood cutting board or platter would work too. I would also have small serving bowls, bamboo skewers, and cheese knives for easy serving.

In terms of ingredients, here’s everything I used on my board! And some variations so you can make it your own.

2-3 cured meats

It’s not charcuterie without meat! But for this recipe, I would look for options that feel a bit more breakfast-y. I used soppressata and prosciutto but I also think jambon, smoked salmon, or mortadella would be good.

I typically go with cured meats because you don’t have to worry about keeping them warm. But feel free to use bacon or breakfast sausage if you like!

2-3 cheeses

Next, choose some cheeses. I went with nutty, sweet, & fruity cheeses that go with pastries like this blueberry cheese, gruyère, and French breakfast cheese. (I mean, it is in the name after all). But feel free to use other options like gouda, coffee-rubbed cheese, or brie.

Fresh fruit

It’s not a breakfast platter without fresh fruit! I would have at least 2 fruits but you can add as much as you like. Go for fruits that are in season for the best flavors and textures. Berries, citrus, and grapes are always safe bets. But feel free to use pears, kiwis, apricots, cherries, melon, or anything else you like. Just avoid any fruits that might turn brown like apples or bananas.

More add-ons

Lastly, pick a few extra items to add to your board. Go for a variety of sweet and savory options that your guests can mix-and-match with the meats, cheeses, and fruits. Here are some ideas!

• Hard or soft boiled eggs
• Muffins, croissants, or scones
• Pancakes or waffles with syrup
• Bagels and cream cheese
• Yogurt parfaits with granola
• Jam, jelly, or strawberry compote

How to build this board

If you’re not sure how to assemble the board, no worries at all. This board truly couldn’t be easier to throw together before a party or holiday breakfast. And all you need is 15 minutes!

1. Start by slicing any hard cheeses. Softer cheeses can be placed on the board whole with a cheese knife. Then, arrange the cheeses in different areas of the board. I like to add the cheeses in a ‘triangle’ so they’re spread out.
2. Next, add any other large items like waffles, muffins, croissants, or pastries next to the cheeses.
3. Fold the meats into quarters or rolls. Place the meats next to the cheeses.
4. Lastly, fill in the board with piles of fruit, bowls of sauces, and other add-ons. Fill in any small gaps with smaller fruits or piles of granola. Enjoy!

Pastries to put on this board

When it comes to pastries, I like to use a mix of store-bought and homemade. You can even make the pastries the night before so all you have to do is assemble the next day. Here are some of my fave homemade pastries!

• Orange poppy seed muffins or ricotta lemon poppy seed muffins
• Cream cheese strawberry danish
• Brown butter banana coffee cake or cookie butter banana bread
• Cranberry orange scones or chocolate orange scones
• Croque madame breakfast galettes

Tips for designing the board

• Use a variety of fruits to add color. The meats, cheeses, & pastries are all brown so fruit is the best way to make this board extra pretty!
• Try a mix of sweet and savory to make the board more interesting. Then just let your guests make their own flavor combos.
• Start by placing larger items on the board to make sure you have enough space. Then, just fill in the gaps with smaller items!
• Add a mix of ingredients in different shapes and sizes. This is a quick-and-easy trick for making the board more visually appealing.

Tips for storing & make-ahead

If you have leftovers, place any perishable items (like meat, cheese, & fruit) in airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Any non-perishable items (like scones or muffins) can be stored in their original packaging or airtight containers for up to 3 days. (Or until they go stale!)

I wouldn’t make this brunch platter too far in advance or the meats and cheeses will dry out. You can make it up to 1 hour in advance and let it sit at room temperature. You can also prep the ingredients the night before so the board is easy to assemble the next morning.

Themed board ideas

There are a ton of breakfast platter ideas and all of them are beyond cute. If you want to give your board a “theme”, that can make it easier to choose which ingredients you want to use. Use these ideas for inspo and have fun with it!

• Bagel board – a variety of bagels with cream cheese, lox, red onions, dill, capers, fruit, meats, and cheeses.
• Avocado toast board – good-quality bread with avocados, eggs, crunchy veggies, meats, lemon wedges, red pepper flakes, and everything seasoning.
• Pancake or waffle board – rows of pancakes or waffles with berries, whipped cream, syrup, powdered sugar, chocolate chips, granola, bacon, eggs, & cheese.

Serving this board

This platter is my go-to for parties or holidays! As a starter, it serves about 8 people. But it makes a lovely casual breakfast for a small group too. You can also scale the board up if you’re having lots of people over.

And of course, don’t forget the drinks! This cold brew coffee concentrate is by far my favorite way to make iced coffee for a crowd. For a kid-friendly vibe, try cinnamon hot chocolate. Or, if you want to get boozy with your friends, try mimosas, coffee hot buttered rum, or ginger tea hot toddies.

If you make this recipe, I would love it if you left a star rating and review! I read every single comment and love hearing what you think about my recipes. Thank you for supporting Sunday Table!

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xo Sara Lynn

Song of the day – Maple Syrup by The Backseat Lovers