New Year’s Eve is right around the corner- and what New Year’s party is complete without some delicious food? If you’re not sure what to serve that night, it’s hard to go wrong with a charcuterie board!

What is a charcuterie board? Well first off, it’s pronounced shar-KOO-tah-ree, in case you were wondering;). You’ve probably seen these all over, even if you didn’t know what they were! A charcuterie is basically a beautiful way to present food, and provide an experience at the same time! Technically, it usually involves cured meats and cheeses, but I’ve seen many other adaptations, and I believe it’s become more of a way to present any array of food you might want to serve.

Typically, most people use a wooden board as their platter, but you can use a slate as well. A charcuterie board is all about the presentation, so use something that is aesthetically pleasing and that you love!

You’ll want to fill your board with all kinds of tasty things. The point of a charcuterie board is to provide a wide variety of textures, tastes, and colors. It’s meant to be an experience, not just a cute way to serve food (though who says you can’t use it for that purpose as well?). It’s also meant to be more of a snack than an actual meal. Serve it in between meals or as an after-dinner New Year’s Eve snack

The fun thing about a charcuterie board is you can keep it as simple as you want or be super creative. You’ll just want an overflowing board of different colors, flavors and textures to keep it fun and interesting! Here is a list of things you could add to your board- mix and match depending on your personal preferences!

• Salami
• Ham
• Prosciutto
• Brie
• Cheddar cheese slices
• Small slices of parmesan (or any cheese you want!)
• Spinach Dip
• Grapes (green and/or red)
• Strawberries
• Blueberries
• Blackberries
• Orange slices
• Cherry tomatoes
• Almonds
• Baby pickles
• Olives
• Almonds
• Baguette slices
• Small pieces of toasted bread
• Different jams/jellies
• Clubhouse crackers
• Fresh herbs for garnish

With whatever you choose, be sure to choose a variety of colors and textures to keep your board interesting and beautiful.

You also don’t have to limit yourself to a savory charcuterie board- you can absolutely go the sweet route! It’s an easy way to serve dessert without baking- unless of course you want to include any homemade baked goods on your board! You can definitely make a dessert charcuterie board more fancy, or keep it simple. Here’s another list of ideas!

• Marshmallows
• Cherries and other berries
• Dried fruits
• Fig Newtons
• Pistachios
• Pecans
• Chocolate squares
• Nutella, Marshmallow Fluff or any other sweet dip
• Shortbread cookies
• Ginger snaps
• Chocolate salami (this is a real thing!)
• Chocolate-covered almonds
• Yogurt-covered raisins
• Bite-sized cheesecakes, tarts, etc
• Caramel popcorn
• Bacon dipped in chocolate
• Chocolate-dipped pretzels
• A dessert cheeseball

The possibilities really are limitless, whether you are creating a savory or sweet charcuterie board. As long as you provide a variety of foods with different colors, textures and flavors, it’s sure to be a success! And of course, if it’s arranged beautifully!

What would be on your ideal charcuterie board?