Candy? Nah. This year, we’re trick or treating with cheese and crackers and wine. This Halloween charcuterie board is a simple, cute, and crowd-pleasing way to celebrate spooky season. Happy Halloween, friends!

A Halloween charcuterie board on a green wood table next to glasses of red wine, black pumpkins and a black skull.

For those of us who have said goodbye to the days of bar-hopping in tiny Halloween costumes, but also do not have little trick-or-treaters to stroll about, there is no Halloween event more sacred than the humble house party.

Cold beer, chill vibes, costumes whose entire purpose is keeping you warm and comfy. Done and done. Count me in. I’m there.

And of course, it’s no Halloween party without some kind of cute on-brand food to munch on in-between passing out candy and tracking down who moved the bottle opener and where. Spicy deviled eggs and spicy ranch snack mix are obvious choices, but really, is it even a party without a charcuterie board?

I’ve thrown dozens of parties. I’ve attended hundreds of get-togethers. I even worked in a cheese shop for two years in college where I made hundreds of cheese boards. And I can promise you that nothing gets people more excited than charcuterie.

What to put on this platter

Cheeses, packaged Halloween candies, a jar of pumpkin jam, cookies, fruit, crackers, seeds, a jar of pickles, and a bag of caramel corn on a green wood table.

If ever you were looking for an excuse to stroll through the aisles of Trader Joe’s or your local cheese shop, this is your chance. Rather than looking for anything specific, I definitely recommend going to your favorite local grocery store and seeing what speaks to you. Try to find Halloween-themed candies, snacks, or other ingredients that match the spooky theme.

Cheese ideas

Look for 3-4 cheeses that match the general vibe. For example, I chose gouda with a black rind, Port Salut (my favorite!), blueberry vanilla chèvre, and Scotch bonnet chili cheddar. Use more or less cheeses depending on how many guests you have. You can use as little as 3 or as many as 7!

Generally, I like to pick something hard or semi-hard, something soft and spreadable or semi-soft, and something aged/a bit funky. Choose cheeses made with different flavors and milks (sheep, cow, goat, etc.) for variety and flavor.

If your friends aren’t cheese aficionados, pick at least one common cheese like cheddar, provolone, or gouda. One that’s a people pleaser so your friends have something they recognize!

Cured meats

If you want to leave your platter as a Halloween cheese board, that’s totally fine. But, if you want a charcuterie board, you’re going to need some cured meats! I would go for 2-3 cured meats. Try salami, prosciutto, sopressata, chorizo, or jamón Ibérico.

Crackers + breads

Choose 2-3 crackers or bread to serve with the meats and cheeses. Water crackers, fruit & nut crisps, cheese sticks/twists, and pretzels are good choices.

A Halloween charcuterie board on a green wood table next to a black skeleton, black pumpkins, and glasses of red wine.

Fruit & nuts

Add some fresh fruit, nuts, and seeds for sweetness and crunch.

  • Fruit – grapes, berries, pears, figs, citrus, or whatever is in season
  • Nuts – walnuts, pecans, Marcona almonds, pistachios, or candied/seasoned nuts
  • Seeds – pepitas (pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds are a great nut-free option

Spreads, dips, & jams

Add 1-2 jams, dips, or spreads so guests can mix and match flavors.

  • Spreads – sage apple butter, pumpkin butter, mango chutney, whole wheat mustard
  • Dip – hummus, artichoke dip, tapenade, lemon pesto, guacamole
  • Jam – fig, hot pepper jelly, apricot, pear, peach, strawberry

Pickled things

Just 1-2 pickled items will add tang and brininess to your Halloween grazing board! Try gherkins or dill pickles, Castelvetrano olives, garlic olives, or Kalamata olives, cherry drops, cherry peppers, or pepperoncinis.

More add-ons

This is your chance to add sweet treats and extra snacks for balance and variety! Try Halloween candy, popcorn, chips, cheese balls, cookies, or any other cute, festive item you like.

How to assemble

Six steps to making a cheese board. In photo 1, a wood board with 4 cheeses on a wood green table. In photo 2, bowls of jam, pickles, crackers, and cookies are added to the board. In photo 3, fresh fruit like grapes and blackberries are on the board.
First, arrange the cheeses since they take up the most space. Then, add any bowls with spreads, pickled items, or small items. Spread them out so there is plenty of places to squeeze in smaller ingredients. Place crackers, bread, fruit, cookies, and other larger items around the board. I like arranging these items in different areas of the board to fill it in!

To make this snack board easier to eat, slice any hard cheeses before serving. Then, have toothpicks ready for guests to grab and go.

Three steps to making a cheese board. In photo 1, the cheese board has salami on it. In photo 2, the board is filled with pepitas, chips, and caramel corn. In photo 3, the board has candies and figs on top.
Now that the large items are on the board, it’s time to add smaller ingredients! Start with the cured meats. I like to fold them in quarters or roll the meats and stick them in narrow spots to save space. Next, add any fun items like chips, popcorn, nuts, and seeds. Finish the board with the little details. Fill in any gaps with Halloween candies, extra fruit, and fun decorations.

To make sure there is room for everything, start with the largest items and work down to the smallest items. This will help you space everything out and add dimension!

A Halloween snack board on a wood green backdrop.

Make in advance

You can make this board up to 2 hours in advance! Just place any refrigerator-friendly items (cheese, meats, bowls of spreads, etc.) on the board, cover, and refrigerate. About 30 minutes before serving, remove the board from the fridge, add any additional items (crackers, chips, popcorn, anything that doesn’t refrigerate well) and enjoy!

Cheese always tastes best at room temperature. It helps the fat loosen up which gives the cheese a better flavor and texture. Let it warm up for about 30 minutes before you’re ready to serve. The perfect opportunity for a make-ahead Halloween snack!

Meat free

If you’re looking for a meat-free snack, you can make a Halloween cheese board instead. Just replace the meats with more cheeses, veggies, fruit, or Halloween snacks.

A woman's hand holding a gold cheese knife and reaching for cheese on a Halloween charcuterie board next to a black skeleton and glasses of red wine on a wood green board.

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A Spooky Halloween Charcuterie Board

Yield: 12 people
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Candy? Nah. This year, we're trick or treating with cheese and crackers and wine. This Halloween charcuterie board is a simple, cute, and crowd-pleasing way to celebrate spooky season. Happy Halloween, friends!
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Ingredients

  • 3-4 cheeses (~8 ounces/227 grams each)
  • 12 ounces gherkin pickles or olives (275 grams)
  • 1/2 cup pumpkin butter or jam of choice (136 grams)
  • 2-3 packages crackers or bread (4 ounces each/120 grams)
  • 1 package Halloween cookies (8 ounces/234 grams)
  • 1/2 pound black grapes (227 grams)
  • 6 ounces blackberries (170 grams)
  • 1/4 pound cherries (115 grams)
  • 1-2 cured meats (4 ounces/113 grams each)
  • 2-3 packages salty snacks (chips, popcorn, etc.) (about 84 grams each)
  • 1/2 cup nuts or seeds (75 grams)
  • 5-6 figs, halved
  • Halloween candy, for decorations
  • Eyeball sprinkles, fake spiders, or other small Halloween decorations

Equipment

  • 1 large serving board or tray

Instructions 

  • Start by placing the cheeses in different areas of the board. Then, pour the pickles/olives, jams/spreads/dips, or any super small items (like sunflower seeds) into small bowls. Arrange the bowls in different areas of the board.
  • Add piles of cookies, crackers, grapes, blackberries, cherries, and other fruit around the cheese and bowls.
  • Then, roll the cured meat or fold the slices into quarters. Arrange the meat next to the cheeses. Add handfuls of salty snacks like chips or popcorn to any empty areas.
  • Fill in smaller areas with nuts, halved figs, Halloween candies, or any other small ingredients. Decorate with eyeball sprinkles, fake spiders, or other Halloween decorations. Enjoy!

Notes

You will want 3-4 cheeses – a hard/semi-hard, soft/semi-soft, and something funky/unique. I used aged gouda, Port Salut, blueberry vanilla chèvre, and Scotch bonnet chili cheddar.
For the best flavor and texture, let the cheese warm up before serving. About 30 minutes should do!
To make sure everything will fit, start with the largest items and work down to the smallest. Begin with cheeses and bowls and finish with nuts and candies.
To make the cheese easier to eat, slice any hard cheeses before serving. Then, have toothpicks ready for guests to grab and go.
Use more or less cheeses depending on how many guests you have. You can use as little as 3 or as many as 7!
For variety, use a mix of sweet and salty snacks. I love Halloween chocolates, cookies, popcorn, chips, nuts, and crackers.
To keep things nice and Halloween-y, add different black and orange snacks! Think cheese balls, dark chocolate, or anything from the seasonal section.
Cuisine: American
Course: Appetizer
Author: Sara Lynn Hunt Broka
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 574kcal, Carbohydrates: 38.3g, Protein: 28.2g, Fat: 36.8g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Cholesterol: 100mg, Sodium: 1158mg, Potassium: 295mg, Fiber: 2.8g, Sugar: 19.5g, Calcium: 613mg, Iron: 2mg
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