Charcuterie boards are a great way to make gatherings and holidays more special and Valentine’s Day is no exception. While a traditional charcuterie board typically includes cured meats and various cheese pairings, have fun with this Valentine-themed board and include your favorite V-Day treats, such as pink and red assorted candies, chocolate-covered strawberries and heart-shaped snacks.
MU junior Liz Aber and I created a charcuterie board together for this Valentine’s Day. Here are some tips and tricks we learned on how to assemble the Valentine’s Day charcuterie board of your dreams.
1. Place large Items first
When assembling a charcuterie board, you should always place your largest items first and then place smaller pieces to fill the empty space. For our board, we started with a bowl filled with dipping chocolate.
2. Begin to fill in sections of the board
Always try and balance the board by strategically placing the items. No two items that are next to each other should be too alike in color, shape or size. For example, we wanted to include multiple red fruits, so we placed strawberries and raspberries on separate ends on the board.
3. Overlap and fill in as much as you can
More is more when it comes to a charcuterie board. You don’t want any bare spots on the board. Don’t be afraid to overlap foods or lean items next to one another. We filled the remainder of our board with our favorite bite-size Twizzlers.
Here’s what to keep in mind when creating and serving your charcuterie board:
- Alway provide lots of options and be aware of everyone’s allergies and restrictions. Charcuterie boards are great because you can literally cater to everyone. Confirm that everyone has something they are comfortable eating.
- Always have extra plates and serving utensils off to the side. You don’t want four or five people fighting over a knife.
- If you can, make something homemade so your board feels more special. For ours, Aber made some delicious Oreo balls with red and pink sprinkles, which was a nice homemade treat.
- If possible, have a drink pairing for your board. Include a nice wine if you’re over 21 or mocktail if you’re not. Aber and I drank pink lemonade with ours more for the aesthetic than the taste, but it was a nice touch.
Remember that no two charcuterie boards will look or taste the same — that’s part of the fun! These boards are also a great excuse to eat and spend time with your friends on Valentine’s Day.
“I am so glad I got to spend Valentine’s Day with the ones I love most,” Aber said.
Whether you’re spending the day with your partner or kicking it with your friends and family, a V-Day-themed charcuterie board could be a trendy, tasty and fun touch to your day.