This Fall charcuterie board is easy and welcomes the autumn season! Perfect for any party or family get together. Filled with Fall ingredient ideas.
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If you have never made a charcuterie board and are not sure where to start, you are in the right place!
This Fall charcuterie board is so much fun, super yummy and WAY easier to make than you might think.
Autumn inspiration is the perfect way to kick off the Fall holiday season and this warm and cozy Fall inspired charcuterie board is the perfect holiday appetizer. Be sure to check out this Maple Apple Cider Old Fashioned to serve with all your Fall goodies!
Speaking of fall comfort food, you will love these Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream and they work great on this dessert board!
Want a warm and comforting savory soup for the Fall? Go no further than this decadent Shrimp and Corn Bisque!
Speaking of charcuterie boards, I have to confess my great love affair with them. Starting with the basics: Best Crackers for Charcuterie Board.
If you want to check out other fun charcuterie board ideas, you will love this Trader Joe’s Charcuterie Board, Halloween Charcuterie Board, Christmas Charcuterie Board, Valentine’s Charcuterie Board and Easter Charcuterie Board.
And don’t forget the Tiktok Butter Board that is giving a charcuterie board a run for it’s money!
I promise, once you learn how to make a charcuterie board, you will be making them for every holiday!
Once you get a little more adventurous, if you want to add some homemade items to your boards, be sure to check out this homemade smoked salmon recipe, vibrant and herbaceous cashew pesto and sweet date paste.
Now, before we get started and you yell at me, saying, “but Aubrey, charcuterie means meat!” You are correct. The Merriam-Webster definition of charcuterie is “a delicatessen specializing in dressed meats and meat dishes, also : the products sold in such a shop.”
That being said, we are seeing a broadened interpretation of the words charcuterie board to mean a bountiful board with anything from meats and cheeses, to vegetables, to candy and fun holiday and themed boards.
So, technically, this Fall charcuterie board is a Fall candy and dessert board. I promise you won’t be disappointed!
Why this recipe works
A Fall charcuterie board is the perfect way to inspire at your next holiday party! Cozy fall flavors, baked goods and warm spice (cinnamon, nutmeg and pumpkin spice abound!).
You can make a small, medium or large autumn charcuterie board and you can modify the food choices based on dietary requirements. You can also fit any budget.
So many great options are available at Trader Joe’s but I also love hitting the dollar store for pumpkin candy and cookie options too!
You are only limited by your imaginations with this Fall themed charcuterie board. I will give you lots of Fall charcuterie board ideas and fun ingredient options but the bottom line is, if you see something Fall inspired that you love, grab it for your board!
Fall charcuterie board ingredients
Depending on the size of the board you are using, I recommend the following rough numbers.
If you prefer more variety on your board, you can always buy extra packages of different Fall candy, cookies, baked goods and anything Fall inspired that you enjoy!
- Large Board: 10-12 packages Fall charcuterie board options, assorted choices.
- Medium Board: 6-8 packages Fall charcuterie board options, assorted choices.
- Small Board: 4-6 packages Fall charcuterie board options, assorted choices.
See also below for my extensive list of options you can buy for your easy fall charcuterie board.
You can click the links if you want to buy online or to get an idea of what they look like so you can buy them at your local retail store.
Where to Purchase Candy: Dollar store, Target, Walmart and Trader Joe’s are my favorite stores to pick up reasonably priced Fall inspired charcuterie board options.
- Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Joe Joe’s Cookies
- Apple Cider Donuts (or fall donuts of choice)
- Baton Pumpkin Spice Rolled Wafer Cookies
- Pumpkin Blondie Brownies
- Cinnamon Bun Spread
- Dried cranberries
- Dried candied oranges
- Dried apricots
- Amarena or Luxardo Cherries
- Trader Joe’s Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins (or other pumpkin shaped treat)
- Pumpkin Streusel Muffins (or other Fall muffin of choice)
- Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe’s Sandwich Cookies
- Apple Cider Fruit Spread (or pumpkin butter)
- Trader Joe’s Mini Pumpkin Biscotti (or Mini Maple Walnut Biscotti)
- Mini Stroopwaffels
- Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
- Nuts of choice (walnuts, pecans, cashews)
- Rosemary and thyme (Optional Garnish)
- Optional: Decorate board with pumpkins or fall inspired gourds
How to make a Fall inspired charcuterie board
Build a Foundation
Place any bowls first. Then, place any larger items (donuts, cupcakes or muffins). This sets your foundation.
From there, you will want to arrange your items in descending order focusing on next heaviest or large items.
The items should get gradually smaller and fill in the gaps.
Create Movement on the Board
You want to utilize movement to create a beautiful board. Experiment with placing your bowls off-center in a variety of places on the board.
When placing the foods, you can create a combination of wavy patterns or more uniform placements. Don’t be afraid to play.
Contrast your Colors
When placing your foods, contrast your colors indifferent areas of the board.
For example, if you have orange cookies, you might place them near vibrant colored dried fruits or spreads. This creates visual excitement.
Vary your Sizes and Cutting Techniques
Play around with placing larger items next to smaller items. You can also experiment with different sizes.
For example, place some smaller candies or nuts next to larger items for a beautiful contrast.
You can also experiment with patterns. You can cut things in a rustic way or you can do fun crisscross or dragon patterns or arrange your cookies in a wavy cascading waterfall.
Vary Flavors
Depending on your dietary preferences, it is always great to have a variety of flavors on the plate.
Use different nuts, dried fruits, candies and spreads. You can also add foods to suit dietary preferences such as keto or vegan.
This variety is part of the fun of these Fall inspired boards.
How to clean charcuterie board
How you clean your charcuterie board will depend on how messy it is. For example, if you used all packaged candy then you are good to go!
However, if you have a sugary, chocolate mess, you want to roll up those sleeves.
First, wipe any excess sugar into your sink with a dry paper towel. If your board is wood, use a mild dish soap and scrub with soap and water, drying immediately.
Best charcuterie board to buy
You can use any type of wood board for charcuterie. You can also use a plastic or glass platter as well.
Small, medium or large depends on how many people you are feeding and the visual aesthetic you are going for. One of my favorites is a charcuterie board serving tray.
A few great wooden charcuterie boards you can buy online are:
FAQ and expert tips
Charcuterie boards can be seasonal but are often enjoyed in the Fall season. Charcuterie means “meat” literally but the colloquial use of term charcuterie has expanded to mean lots of food items served on a board.
Normally a charcuterie board is comprised of meats and cheeses. However, it has expanded to include nuts, dried fruits, vegetables, sauces and spreads and even candy and baked goods!
A charcuterie board is great with any different flavor of jam such as strawberry, apricot, raspberry, fig, pumpkin apple, marmalade or lemon preserves.
Looking for other Fall recipes?
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Fall Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- Charcuterie board, various smaller bowls
Ingredients
Ingredients Based on Size of Board
- 10-12 packages Fall charcuterie board options, assorted choices (large board)
- 6-8 packages Fall charcuterie board options, assorted choices (medium board)
- 4-6 packages Fall charcuterie board options, assorted choices (small board)
Fall Charcuterie Board Options
- Trader Joe's Pumpkin Joe Joe’s Cookies
- Apple Cider Donuts (or fall donuts of choice)
- Baton Pumpkin Spice Rolled Wafer Cookies
- Pumpkin Blondie Brownies
- Cinnamon Bun Spread
- Dried cranberries
- Dried candied oranges
- Dried apricots
- Amarena or Luxardo Cherries
- Trader Joe’s Chocolate Mousse Pumpkins (or other pumpkin shaped treat)
- Pumpkin Streusel Muffins (or other Fall muffin of choice)
- Pumpkin Spiced Joe-Joe's Sandwich Cookies
- Apple Cider Fruit Spread (or pumpkin butter)
- Trader Joe's Mini Pumpkin Biscotti (or Mini Maple Walnut Biscotti)
- Mini Stroopwaffels
- Petite Pumpkin Spice Cookies
- Nuts of choice (walnuts, pecans, cashews)
- Rosemary and thyme (Optional Garnish)
- Optional: Decorate board with pumpkins or fall inspired gourds
Instructions
Build a Foundation
- Place any bowls first. Then, place any larger items (donuts, cupcakes or muffins). This sets your foundation. From there, you will want to arrange your items in descending order focusing on next heaviest or large items. The items should get gradually smaller and fill in the gaps.
Create Movement on the Board
- You want to utilize movement to create a beautiful board. Experiment with placing your bowls off-center in a variety of places on the board. When placing the foods, you can create a combination of wavy patterns or more uniform placements. Don’t be afraid to play.
Contrast your Colors
- When placing your foods, contrast your colors indifferent areas of the board. For example, if you have orange cookies, you might place them near vibrant colored dried fruits or spreads. This creates visual excitement.
Vary your Sizes and Cutting Techniques
- Play around with placing larger items next to smaller items. You can also experiment with different sizes. For example, place some smaller candies or nuts next to larger items for a beautiful contrast. You can also experiment with patterns. You can cut things in a rustic way or you can do fun crisscross or dragon patterns or arrange your cookies in a wavy cascading waterfall.
Vary Flavors
- Depending on your dietary preferences, it is always great to have a variety of flavors on the plate. Use different nuts, dried fruits, candies and spreads. You can also add foods to suit dietary preferences such as keto or vegan. This variety is part of the fun of these Fall inspired boards.
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