There are so many ways to celebrate October 31! Whether you host a big Halloween party or a scary movie night in, any get-together needs cheese... err, candy! ๐ But, hey, why not add a little cheese to your spooky celebration? Here, we're making the case for a Halloween charcuterie board that's fit for a crowd.
If you've never heard of a Halloween charcuterie board before, prepare to be amazed! You can easily whip up a big board filled with cheese, meats, crackers, and, of course, a few spooky flourishes. Think: mini pumpkins, candy eyeballs, and an oozing coffin made from brie! Itโs sure to be the most boo-tiful Halloween appetizer of the season!
No matter what the occasion might be, you can customize your charcuterie board based on the season or holiday. So, when we saw blogger Danielle Green of The Creative Bite put together a Halloween charcuterie board that's equal parts spooky, beautiful, and delicious, we knew we had to learn more. Read on to find out her tips and tricks (plus treats!) for serving up this ghoulishly good grazing board. Youโll get the lowdown on what types of cheese to use, charcuterie board essentials, and how to make a gory brie coffin!
How do you make a Halloween charcuterie board?
Before breaking out the brie, begin with a large cutting board or serving platter for your base. Space small bowls and pumpkins around the board. Next, it's time to center your boardโDanielle recommends using a large bunch of fruit, like grapes. From there, start to scatter two to three smaller piles of other fruit around the board and fit all your cheeses in the gaps. Create curved lines with the crackers and breads, arranging them in the remaining spots.
Next up: everything else! If cured meats are on the agenda, bunch 'em up and place them where there's room. As you fill out the rest of the themed board, make sure the ingredients are grouped together to maintain an organized and satisfying look.
Shop Halloween Charcuterie Essentials
Mini Pumpkins
Charcuterie Board
Candy Eyeballs
Now for the fun part! Finish off the board with the festive touches that put the "boo" in "boo-tiful." Don't forget toothpicks or napkins, either. "Plenty of toothpicks are always a must when it comes to any charcuterie or snacking boards. This allows guests to graze the boards without touching food they won't be taking for themselves," Danielle tells us.
What are the best cheeses for a Halloween charcuterie board?
Variety is key! You can choose whatever cheese your guests will like best, but Danielle advises including at least one of each of the following types: hard, semi-soft, soft, and strong. You can even find most of these cheeses at your local supermarketโthey donโt need to be fancy! Here are some good cheese options to choose from:
- Sharp Cheddar: Not only does this classic cheese have a flavor that everyone loves, but its bright orange coloration is just perfect for the occasion.
- Pepper Jack Cheese: A spicy cheese option will add delicious variety to your board. You can slice it up, cut it into cubes, or leave it whole for your desired look.
- Herbed Gouda: Another of the universally popular cheeses that can be made even better with the addition of your favorite herbs. Hello, cozy fall flavor!
- Goat Cheese: To ensure your cheese board has a mix of both hard and soft cheeses, include goat cheese, too. In this specific recipe, it's even drizzled with honey.
- Mini Mozzarella Balls: The look and texture of this cheese makes it perfect for a spooky spread of "eyeballs." Add candy eyeballs, then place them in a bowl.
- Brie: Now for one of the best parts of this whole board! Create a brie coffin by cutting your cheese into a coffin shape, then topping it with a dollop of red jam (raspberry or cranberry).
What are the best meats for a Halloween charcuterie board?
Just like with the cheeses, you can use any deli meats or cured meats that you prefer! For color, flavor, and spice, look for a variety, like:
- Prosciutto: A fan favorite meat on cheese boards and one that looks just eerie enough to fit the Halloween theme. Since it's thinly sliced, you can bunch it up to make it easily grabbable for guests.
- Genoa Salami: This one is slightly softer than traditional salami, so you can roll it up to add a festive filling wherever it's needed.
- Mortadella Mortadella: You can never go wrong when using this popular cold cut on your charcuterie board. It has a creamy, mild flavor that pairs well with many other meats and cheeses.
- Spanish Chorizo: Here's a bright red spicy meat that will turn up the heat on your charcuterie board while also adding a spooky visual element.
- Pepperoni: Fill your gaps with pieces of pepperoni. It has a beloved flavor and is easy for guests to pick up for a snack.
What makes this charcuterie board perfect for Halloween?
It's all in the details. With some small, decorative touches, you can give your classic cheese board a spook-tacular makeover perfect for the October holiday.
Don't know where to start? "Eyeballs are an absolute must for any Halloween board. Whether you opt for candy eyeballs or large rubber ones, they add a huge impact," Danielle says, who placed them playfully around her board. Mini pumpkins are the perfect festive addition, and for those who want to up the scary factor, try carving out room for fake vampire teeth. Other ideas include a fake skeleton hand grabbing a snack, ghost cookie cutters for semi-soft cheeses, and spider webs or plastic spiders. (Try adding some creepy cookies, too!)
If you're expecting kids to munch on your themed board, then the spookier you can make it the better. "The reaction of my twin toddlers to our spooky charcuterie board was priceless," Danielle recalls. "They were freaked out by the candy eyeballs and plastic spiders on food. The kids gave all of us a great laugh!"
Looking for a more subtle nod to spooky season while keeping with the charcuterie theme? Try a brie coffin! Using a 1/4 wedge of brie, make a cheese "coffin" by slicing off a section of each back corner. Then add a dollop of "blood" (red jam) and stick a cheese knife through for the ultimate gory effect.
"I did add some more jam to the brie as guests ate their way through it, to keep some of the impact and flavor," Danielle recommends.
What other ingredients should you use?
Thereโs more than just meat and cheese! Your board should be filled to the brim with other ingredients that take your Halloween snack board to the next level. Of course, youโll need crackers, bread slices, or even pretzels for holding your cheeses, but you can also add small bites, like dried fruits or nuts for flavor and texture. "I like to add more variety and flavor by offering different spreads," Danielle says. "Fig jam, orange marmalade, and goat cheese drizzled in honey are a few of my favorite additions." Here are some other fun options to choose from:
- Pickles: A go-to for any party platter! You can even make them Halloween-themed by adding pistachio shells on the tips to resemble witch or monster fingers.
- Roasted Cherry Tomatoes: Intensely flavorful and perfectly gory when smashed, roasted cherry tomatoes deserve a spot in your spread.
- Nuts: With all the sweet treats your guests are bound to eat, they'll be excited to see some healthier snacks, too. Pistachios, almonds, and candied walnuts are great additions.
- Olives: Or in this case, monster eyeballs! Choose a variety of olives to place in a bowl on your board. Add candy eyeballs for an even eerier touch.
- Dried Fruit: The bright orange of dried apricots and dark purple of raisins matches Halloween colors so perfectly. Add other options for a good mix for guests to choose from.
- Fresh Fruit: Stick to the festive colors with fresh fruits like orange slices and grapes. Blackberries also scream scary while apple slices bring in plenty of fall flavor.
- Spreads: You can't have a charcuterie board without a good spread (or several). Some delicious options to consider are: fig jam, apricot jam, mustard, apple butter, caramelized onion dip, and hummus.
- Halloween Candy: This holiday is all about the treats, right? Finish your board with festive additions like candy corn, mini candy pumpkins, little chocolates or any other favorites.
How much food do you need for a Halloween charcuterie board?
Before heading to the grocery store, consider your guest list. How many mouths are you expecting to feed? Here are some handy approximates to keep in mind for the amount of food to include on your board:
- 1/3 pound cheese per guest
- 1/4 pound cured meat per guest
- 1 loaf of crusty bread for every 10 guests
- 1 box of crackers for every 10 guests
- Your favorite fruits and go-to party dips
"Unlike many things in life, less is not more when it comes to charcuterie," Danielle says. "Meats and cheeses that are leftover can be used for so many different things, such as sandwiches or snack plates for the kids."
Should a Halloween charcuterie board be sweet or savory?
It's totally up to you! You can go all out with a candy board decked out with your favorite sweet treats, or go the savory route with lots of cheeses, crackers, and meats. One of the best parts about charcuterie, though, is that it often features the best of both worlds! Sweet and savory flavors come together harmoniously on the platter to make for the perfect biteโit's what makes them so darn delicious!
That's why Danielle recommends incorporating both sweet and savory elements into your Halloween board. With every sweet ingredient you add, try imagining it paired with one of the savory components. She finds that jams and fruits like grapes, berries, apples, pears, and dried apricots complement the savory cheese.
Don't forget that this is a Halloween-themed boardโso sweets are certainly welcomed!
When should you start assembling your Halloween charcuterie board?
If you want to get a head start on prepping your spooky tray, you can start by slicing and arranging the meats, semi-soft cheeses, and fruits up to a few hours in advance. "Just be sure to wrap the platter very tightly in cling wrap, so the edges of the cheese don't dry out," Danielle advises. When it comes to more pungent cheeses and messy ingredients like jams, it's best to wait until the board is ready to serve.
