A Cozy, Simple Fall Charcuterie Board

Let’s talk about this simple fall charcuterie board. Not only is it a cozy appetizer for a party or the holidays, but trust me when I say that everyone loves a good charcuterie situation. With meat, cheese, and lots of fall snacks, these are all of my favorite ideas and tips for an autumn-themed grazing board!

If you were to ask me if my holiday menus are planned and ready to be executed for the year, the answer would be yes, absolutely, of course. Actually, I’ve been dreaming about this since mid-June when I burned my hand on a sun-soaked doorknob and immediately became over summer.

So, plan I did. And an array of pumpkin spice, caramel apple, and cozy gravies popped into my brain. A vision board if you will.

Luckily, this charcuterie board made the cut, because it is honestly a necessary part of your next dinner party. If you love a no-cook appetizer like marinated mozzarella balls with lemon and basil or mini cranberry orange cheese balls, make sure to add this one to the roster. It’s pretty, it takes 15 minutes to make, and everyone’s down for a charcuterie situation. Let’s make it!

The prettiest autumn appetizer

Even after graduating from culinary school, throwing many parties, and making hundreds appetizers over the years, I always come back to the humble charcuterie board. It’s been my signature app for 10 years and I never get sick of it.

• This charcuterie board is no-cook and super simple.
• It’s filled with tons of fall-themed snacks.
• This app is great for parties, holidays, & get togethers.
• It’s a huge crowd-pleaser and completely customizable.

What to put on the board

3-4 cheeses

You’ll want 3-4 cheeses for this autumn charcuterie board. Pick something hard or semi-hard, something soft and spreadable, and a blue cheese. For a fourth option, pick something a bit unique and fun. Choose a variety of cheeses to keep things interesting, and try to stick to autumn flavors if you can!

• Hard – Parmesan, Emmental, gruyère
• Semi-hard – sharp cheddar, aged gouda, havarti
• Soft – triple-cream brie, goat cheese, port salut
• Blue – Stilton, Roquefort, gorgonzola
• Unique – spicy cheeses, seasonal flavors, etc.

2-3 meats

Next up, you’ll want to choose 2-3 meats. In autumn, I like to choose options that are a bit heartier.

• Peppered salami
• Prosciutto
• Bresaola
• Coppa
• Chorizo

2-3 crackers + breads

Choose around 2-3 crackers or breads to serve with the meats and cheeses.

• Fruit & nut crisps (store-bought or homemade)
• Water crackers or buttery crackers (like Ritz)
• Herb, garlic, or onion crackers
• Crusty bread (sourdough, seeded bread, etc.)
• Breadsticks or cheese sticks

2-3 seasonal fruits

Take advantage of the season and pick out 2-3 autumn fruits to add a pop of sweetness. Dried fruit works too!

• Apples or pears
• Grapes (any color)
• Figs or persimmons
• Blackberries
• Cranberries or pomegranate arils

More add-on ideas

Now for the fun part. Pick a few fall-themed add-ons to round everything out! This is the time to stroll through the seasonal section and pick up some fun ingredients.

• Spreads – apple butter, pumpkin butter, fig jam, mustard
• Nuts/seeds – pumpkin spice pepitas, rosemary Marcona almonds, nut mix
• Sweets – cookies, dark chocolate, honey, candied nuts
• Dips – hummus, artichoke dip, crab dip, olive tapenade
• Briny things – olives, pickles, peppers

How to put this platter together

1. Start by placing any bowls of ingredients on the board. For example, jars of jam, bowls of spreads, and bowls of pickled items or nuts.
2. Next, add the cheeses. Arrange the cheese on different areas of the board for easy grabbing!
3. Place any other larger items like piles of crackers, cookies, or breadsticks on the board next to the cheeses.
4. Then, add the meats. Fold the meats and place them in-between the cheeses and crackers to help fit more on the board.
5. Add the fresh fruit in different areas around the board. You can also add piles of dried fruit at this point.
6. Lastly, fill in the board with little items like small cookies, nuts, seeds, or candies. You can also add any decorations at this point if you want. Enjoy!

Make-ahead appetizer

You can make this board up to 2 hours in advance! Arrange the refrigerator-friendly items like cheeses, meats, olives, and fruit on the board, cover, and chill for up to 2 hours. Then, about 30 minutes before serving, remove the board from the fridge and add room temperature items like crackers, cookies, and nuts.

Wine pairing ideas

You obviously can’t forget the wine. These are some of my favorite red and white options to go along with this autumn charcuterie board!

Red wine

• Pinot noir
• Syrah
• Zinfandel
• Barbera
• Grenache

White wine

• Chardonnay
• Chenin blanc
• Viognier
• Pinot blanc
• Bubbles!

The 30 minute rule

You should let this fall grazing board sit at room temperature for 30-60 minutes before serving. Cheese tastes better at room temperature because it gives time for the fat to loosen up and the texture to soften!

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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