The Prettiest Fall Charcuterie Board for Your Next Dinner Party
Hosting a dinner party or a cocktail party this fall? Well you’re in the right place! In this article I’m sharing some creative ideas on how to make the Prettiest Fall Charcuterie Board for your next soiree. And it’s really easy to put it all together too!
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I’m so excited fall is almost here. It just happens to be one of the best times of the year to have friends or family over. The weather is cooler and that means it’s the perfect season for get togethers. Inside or outside. I’m not a huge fan of complicated dinner parties with a million things to do. Just a few friends, a pretty table, a bottle of rosé, some good food and that cozy feeling that happens when everyone settles in and stays a while.
A Fall Charcuterie Board Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
For this recent charcuterie platter I made (as shown in the picture), I used a vintage silver-plated platter that I found while thrifting, along with antique teacups and saucers to add little places for some of the smaller treats.
Then I headed to my local grocery store and basically picked out things that looked fresh and delicious.
It doesn’t need to be a hugely complicated shopping list. Not perfectly coordinated ingredients and really not trying to make everything match. That’s what I love about a good charcuterie board. There really is no rhyme or reason to it. You can add whatever you love.
For my fall version, I used:
- Assorted cheeses
- Crackers
- Fresh figs
- Pecans
- Pepperoni
- Chocolate covered pretzels
- Chocolate covered almonds
- Candied orange slices
- Sour candies
- A few other little sweet and salty treats I found at the grocery store (Trader Joe’s) to be exact. If your lucky to have one nearby, it’s the best place to find great little snacks for a charcuterie board.
The combination of sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy and a little sour makes it so much more interesting than putting out one bowl of snacks.
And visually? It is just so pretty.
The Little Trick That Makes It Feel Fancy
Pepperoni roses.
This is one of those tiny entertaining tricks that looks like you spent way more time on it than you actually did.
Simply layer thin slices of pepperoni slightly overlapping one another, roll them up tightly and tuck them into a small glass or onto the board. Fan them out a little and they start to look like little roses.
I love adding a few throughout the platter.
They’re easy, inexpensive and instantly make your charcuterie board look like you really tried. Which, of course, is the goal here:)
Make It Look Perfectly Imperfect
I think one of the biggest mistakes people make with charcuterie boards is trying too hard to make everything perfectly symmetrical.
Start with your cheeses and larger ingredients, then fill in the empty spaces with crackers, nuts, fruit and little treats.
Tuck the figs into a few different spots. Let the candied orange slices peek out. Add a handful of pecans here and there. Put the pepperoni roses wherever they look pretty.
And if one side looks a little fuller than the other? Leave it. That’s the charm.
I wanted this fall charcuterie board to feel abundant and beautiful, but not like it came from a catering company. Perfectly imperfect is much more my style.
Use What You Have
One of my favorite things about entertaining is mixing old and new.
The vintage silver platter and teacups made this simple grocery store spread feel special. You don’t need to buy an entire matching collection of serving pieces to create a beautiful table. Use the pretty platter you already have. Pull out your grandma’s silver. Use little bowls, teacups or saucers for nuts and candy.
Put the cheese on a cutting board if that’s what you have.
The magic really comes from how you put everything together.
And don’t be afraid to mix sweet treats into a savory charcuterie board. Chocolate covered pretzels, chocolate almonds, candied orange and sour candies added such a fun little unexpected touch.
That’s what made this board feel more like a fall cocktail party spread than a traditional charcuterie board.
Set the Mood for Dinner
Once the board was assembled, I placed it on the table with the fresh fall flowers and candles.
Then I opened a bottle of my favorite rosé.
And that’s really all you need.
The flowers set the mood. The silver adds a little sparkle. Candles add ambiance and the the figs bring in that gorgeous fall color. Of and of course the charcuterie board gives everyone something to snack on!
And suddenly your casual evening at home feels like a little occasion.
What I Love About Fall Charcuterie Boards
The best part? You really can’t mess it up. Just add more cheese. Add grapes, apples or pears. Swap the pepperoni for prosciutto. Throw in some brie, honey, olives or dried fruit. Use whatever looks good at the grocery store.
You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you want. That’s the beauty of a charcuterie board. It’s not supposed to be perfect. It’s supposed to be pretty, plentiful and fun to eat. And when you’re having friends over, I think that’s exactly what you want.
Save This Fall Charcuterie Board Idea for Your Next Dinner Party
So If you’re looking for an easy fall appetizer, fall charcuterie board, fall entertaining idea, autumn appetizer, dinner party appetizer or cozy fall cocktail party idea, save this one.
It’s easy, beautiful and completely customizable, and most of it can be picked up on a quick grocery store run.
Which, in my opinion, is the perfect kind of entertaining.
Thanks for reading, The Prettiest Fall Charcuterie Board for Your Next Dinner Party. You will also love how to create a fancy fall tea party .
