The Ultimate Fall Charcuterie Board
This easy fall charcuterie board combines creamy and sharp cheeses, salty cured meats, crisp seasonal fruit, crunchy nuts, crackers, and sweet-savory spreads. It comes together in about 15 minutes and makes a beautiful appetizer for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or fall entertaining.
Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 560kcal
Equipment
- 1 large charcuterie board about 16–18 inches
- small bowls or ramekins
- small serving utensils
- cheese knives
Ingredients
Cheese
- 5 ounces parmesan asiago, cheddar, or gruyere
- 5 ounces gouda havarti, muenster, or Roquefort (aka blue cheese)
- 5 ounces goat cheese brie, burrata, or mozzarella
Cured Meat
- 4 ounces salami
- 4 ounces pepperoni
- 4 ounces prosciutto
Fruit
- 1 apple sliced
- 1 pear sliced
- 4 figs quartered
- 1 cup grapes
- ½ cup blackberries
- ½ cup raspberries
- ½ cup dried fruit dates, raisins, or apricots
Spreads
- ⅓ cup fig jam
- ¼ cup Dijon mustard or stone-ground
- ¼ cup honey
Crackers
- 5 ounces water crackers pretzels, crostini, or triscuts
- 5 ounces pumpkin cranberry crisps or another seasonal cracker
Nuts and Extras
- ⅓ cup pumpkin seeds
- ⅓ cup walnuts or almonds
- ½ cup olives
Instructions
- Add the cheese and spreads. Place the Gouda, Parmesan, and goat cheese in different areas of the board. Add the fig jam and mustard to small bowls and arrange them between the cheeses. Slice or crumble a small portion of each cheese so guests can easily get started.
- Arrange the cured meats. Fold or loosely roll the salami, coppa, and pepperoni and arrange them in small clusters around the cheeses rather than one large pile.
- Add the fruit and vegetables. Arrange the apple, pear, grapes, figs, berries, pomegranate, and cucumber in small clusters around the board. Spread similar colors around the board to create a balanced look.
- Add the crackers. Fan or stack the water crackers and pumpkin cranberry crisps in two or three areas around the board.
- Fill in the gaps. Add the olives and dried apricots, then tuck the walnuts and pumpkin seeds into any remaining open spaces. Continue filling small gaps until the board looks full and abundant.
- Serve. Set out cheese knives, small serving utensils, appetizer plates, and napkins. For the best flavor and texture, let the cheese sit out for about 20–30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Serving size: This board serves about 8 as an appetizer. If charcuterie is the main meal or you're serving more people, increase the meat and cheese.
- Substitutions: Feel free to swap in similar cheeses, meats, fruits, or crackers based on what you like and what's available.
- Make ahead: Assemble the cheese, meat, spreads, and most fruit a few hours ahead and refrigerate, covered. Add sliced apples, pears, and crackers shortly before serving.
- Food safety: Refrigerate perishable ingredients until serving and don't leave the board at room temperature for more than about 2 hours.
- There is no right or wrong way to build a charcuterie board. Get creative and have fun!
Nutrition
Calories: 560kcal | Carbohydrates: 36g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 36g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 13g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 1355mg | Potassium: 421mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 554IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 404mg | Iron: 2mg
