Make a Halloween charcuterie board for your next Halloween party! This appetizer tray is filled with plenty of meats and cheeses, seasonal produce, and fun seasonal candies.
Recipe summary
Made with: A variety of meats, cheeses, nuts, and spreads. Seasonal fruits, snacks, and Halloween candies make it perfect for spooky parties.
Make ahead of time: Assemble your charcuterie board and store it until the party starts.
Yield: Feeds 12 or more people.
Other holiday boards: Easter Charcuterie Board, Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board, and Christmas Charcuterie Board
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Meats and cheeses
Choose three meats and three cheeses for your charcuterie board. Odd numbers look nice together when assembled and add just enough variety for your guests.
Cured meats - Any cured meats work well on a charcuterie board. I used pepperoni, pepper-crusted salami, and capocollo.
Cheeses - When choosing your cheeses, select a combination of soft and hard cheeses with a variety of mild and strong flavors. I chose gorgonzola, pepper jack, and sharp cheddar (pictured above). Hard cheeses should be sliced beforehand and soft cheeses should include a knife or spoon so guests can serve themselves.
Crackers and bread
Add at least two types of crackers or bread to your charcuterie board. I like to use a thinly sliced baguette (toasted, preferably) and a gluten-free cracker.
I also added pretzel crisps because they look like little skulls (perfect for Halloween!).
Fresh fruit
Choose a few fruits and veggies that are currently in season. Seasonal fruits and vegetables have the freshest flavor and nice, bright color.
Fruits - Blackberries and red or black grapes are a great choice for a Halloween board. They're dark, spooky, and add a nice pop of color.
Vegetables - Baby carrots add a pop of orange to a Halloween board.
Spreads and seasonal extras
Spreads - Add at least one jam or spread to your charcuterie board. One savory and one sweet spread adds a nice variety, like stone-ground mustard and fig jam. Honey is another great choice.
Savory additions - Olives, pickles, and nuts make great additions. I used roasted pumpkin seeds and roasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds without the hull). Candied pumpkin seeds would also work well.
Halloween candy - Reese's pieces or Halloween colored M&M candies are easy to find and add a pop of seasonal color. Other ideas include caramel corn, candy corn, candy pumpkins, sour gummy worms, or chocolate covered pretzels.
Other items needed
Board - You'll need a board to assemble your meats and cheeses on. If you don't plan on entertaining often, don't bother buying an expensive charcuterie board. Instead, use a clean wooden cutting board or half sheet pan (like pictured) covered in a sheet of parchment or butcher paper. A sheet pan with a small lip around the edge helps hold your items in place.
Cups and bowls - You'll also need a few small cups, bowls, or short mason jars for jams and messier items (like olives and pumpkin seeds).
Serving knives - Lastly, you'll need a few serving spoons and knives. If you don't have a set of cheese knives, any small spoons and knives you have on hand will work just fine.
Frequently asked questions
Charcuterie is a term that refers to the preparation of cured and cooked meats. A charcuterie board is frequently made up of several cold, cooked meats and cheeses. Optional additions include sweet or savory spreads, fresh fruits and vegetables, crackers, nuts, and more.
Charcuterie is pronounced "shahr-ku-tuh-ree".
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📖 Recipe
Halloween Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
Meats and cheeses
- 12 ounces cured meats, thin sliced sausage, pepperoni, capicola, prosciutto, ham, etc.
- 20 ounces cheese, a variety of hard and soft cheeses work best
Crackers and bread
- 8 ounces crackers
- 1 thin baguette
Spreads and seasonal extras
- 4 ounces fig jam, or honey
- 4 ounces coarse ground mustard
- 8 ounces black olives, or pickles
- 6 ounces caramel corn
- 6 ounces reese's pieces candies
- 8 ounces roasted pumpkin seeds
Fresh produce
- 16 ounces seedless red grapes
- 12 ounces blackberries
Instructions
- Line a half baking sheet or large wooden cutting board with parchment paper.
- Add meats and cheeses to board. Slice hard cheeses beforehand, and include a serving knife with soft cheeses. Fold thin sliced meats into halves or quarters for added visual appeal.
- Thinly slice your baguette, lightly toast the slices, and add along with your crackers to the board.
- Add jars of jam and mustard to the board. Pour small round candies, caramel corn, and pickles/olives into serving dishes and add to board. Use pumpkin seeds to fill in spaces around the board.
- Cut grape vines into small portions, making it easy for guests to pick up one small bunch at a time. Use produce to fill in any gaps and small spaces you find around the board.
- These ingredients are suggestions - add your favorites and customize your own board to suit your tastes. Enjoy!
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Refilling: Not all of the items listed will fit onto your board at once. Extra produce/crackers/nuts/cheeses that don't fit can be set aside to refill as needed.
- Serving board: I used a half sheet pan for my board (as shown in the photos), which is 13 inches by 18 inches. Any large wooden cutting board or sheet pan you have on hand will work well or you can divide your items between two smaller pans/boards.
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