It’s time to celebrate! Delight your guests and indulge your creativity by crafting tempting entertaining boards that can serve as both the perfect appetizer and an easy way to feed a crowd. We have some ideas to get you started, from classic charcuterie and vegetable platters to unusual twists such as a hot cocoa board or a tempting array of donuts and pastries, perfect for holiday breakfasts or brunches. Make ours—or invent your own!
The Veggie Crudite Board
Ingredients:
Cucumbers, cut in long slices
Celery
Red peppers
Tomatoes
Cauliflower
Sugar snap peas
Variety of veggie dips, 3 total
Fresh herbs, for garnish
Directions:
Place three different types of veggie dips on board. Build around the dips by placing the cucumbers and celery in multiple layers as the base. Add red bell peppers and tomatoes around the board to add pops of color. Finish by layering cauliflower and sugar snap peas and garnish with fresh herbs.
The Peanut Butter Nutella Smear Board
Ingredients:
Peanut butter (consider flavored peanut butters, such as honey or cinnamon)
Nutella
Mini chocolate chips and/or peanut butter chips
Caramel sauce
Apple slices
Graham crackers
Parchment paper
Directions:
Place a piece of parchment paper on top of the board. Using a spatula, smear peanut butter on one side of the board using short, repetitive strokes. Do the same on the opposite side of the board using Nutella. Sprinkle mini chocolate and/or peanut butter chips on top of the peanut butter and Nutella. Drizzle caramel on top. Serve with sliced apples and graham crackers.
Holiday Wreath Charcuterie Board
Ingredients:
Fig jam
Honey
Variety of cheeses (try a mix of harder and softer cheeses, as well as mild and sharp)
Salami or meat of choice
Olives (provide a variety)
Nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or pistachios
Grapes, berries, and/or persimmon
Crackers
Fresh cranberries and rosemary, for garnish
Directions:
First, place the jars of jam, honey and olives on the board. Next, place the cheeses on opposing sides. Follow with meats and fruits. Layer in crackers, nuts, and seeds, and fill in any spots with extra nuts. Use fresh rosemary or fresh greenery to add wreath accent in the center of the charcuterie board. Garnish with fresh cranberries.
Sweet Treat Cocoa Board
Ingredients:
Fresh berries, such as strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries
Mini marshmallows
Hot cocoa mix
Chocolate-covered pretzels
Chocolate-covered cherries or blueberries
Chocolate-covered graham crackers
Chocolate-covered biscotti
Hot cocoa bomb
Holiday cookie cutter
Directions:
First, place your favorite holiday cookie cutter on the board. Fill the cookie cutter with mini marshmallows. Next, layer the large items. Begin with the chocolate covered biscotti and build around that using berries. Pile the berries high. Next, add a variety of chocolate covered treats on opposite sides of each other between the mounds of berries. Be sure to add touches of berries around the edges. If space allows, place hot cocoa on board. Otherwise, set bowl full of hot cocoa mix and any additional hot cocoa fixings adjacent to the board.
Tips for creating the perfect board:
- To create a quick pastry platter for breakfast or brunch, layer donuts, cinnamon rolls, or other pastries with sprigs of rosemary for garnish (shown on first page).
- Start with the larger items first and build around those. If using jars on the board, place those first.
- Be sure to have enough foods to fill the space. It is best to overfill so that the board doesn't look sparse. Stack, stack, and stack some more.
- Use a variety of colors and textures when choosing food items. Pick cheese with color and patterns, fruits and veggies that come in a variety of textures and colors and a protein that can make a statement.
- Be sure to place similar colors away from each other to help give symmetry.
