How to Build a Cutting Board or Charcuterie Board
I am so excited to share how to build a charcuterie board!
I have always loved the idea of charcuterie boards. They seem exciting and kind of fancy, so with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up, I thought I would try my hand at building a charcuterie board, and let me tell you, I am in love!
I started by building a really cool cutting board. I shared the free building plans over on BuildSomething.com, where I share most of my building plans. Just click on the photo below to go over to Build Something, and check out how to build this cutting board.
Building the cutting board was new for me! I am used to building things out of 2×4’s or plywood, so using finer lumber like walnut was really exciting! It was really nice to slow down a little and using a little extra care with this build. I will definitely be building more things like this!
It was so much fun building this cutting board, and I also loved putting together the charcuterie board. I am excited to share that with you.
How to build a charcuterie board
- Start with a beautiful cutting board
I built this beautiful, large cutting board, and I shared the free building plans over on BuildSomething.com
- Charcuterie boards should always have cups of dip
I like to have two different kinds of dips. If there are any fruits on my board, I do one fruit dip. The other is more of a spread, for crackers or bread.
My fruit dip is equal parts cream cheese and marshmallow cream. You can add a little powdered jello for color and extra flavor.
My spread is usually sour cream mixed with a packet of ranch seasoning. - Which cheese is best for charcuterie boards?
It is nice to use several different cheeses. Provolone, swiss, cheddar, and asiago are some of my favorites.
- Bread and crackers should be used in a charcuterie board
Slice up a baguette and place on the cutting board. Then add a couple of varieties of crackers.
- Charcuterie boards and olives go together nicely
Olives are a fan favorite. I make sure to use black and green olives to give variety of flavor as well as color.
- Which nuts for a charcuterie board?
Nuts are optional, and can be a problem with allergies. If I use nuts, I like to keep my nuts in a dish, so they aren’t touching the other foods. Dry roasted peanuts, cashews, or almonds work well in charcuterie boards.
- Add Pickles and Pickled peppers to your charcuterie board
Pickles are a welcome addition to any charcuterie board. If I use pickles, or pickled peppers, I like to keep them in a small dish so their juice doesn’t ruin the cheese, crackers, or bread.
- Which fruits are best in a charcuterie board?
Orange slices, grapes, and sliced apples make a nice addition to your charcuterie board. If there are kids, these are usually the first things to go.
- Charcuterie boards need meat
Unless you are going for a vegetarian version of a charcuterie board, you will need some good meats. Summer sausage, salami, and pepperoni are good meats for charcuterie boards.
- Don’t forget the serving utensils
A lot of people think of charcuterie boards as finger foods, and they definitely can be. But make sure to supply spoons or spreaders for the dip. And I always find it nice to provide toothpicks or tongs so it is easier for people to serve themselves at a charcuterie board.
I can’t wait to put one of these charcuterie boards together for Thanksgiving or Christmas this year. It is such a fun and fancy idea, I think my family will love it.
People are always so impressed when you show up to your family party or holiday party with a well put together charcuterie board. And they are even more impressed when they find out you BUILT the cutting board it’s all on.
Make sure to head over to BuildSomething.com to get the free building plans for my cutting board, as well as over 30 other of my building plans.
This post was sponsored by Build Something.com. All ideas, photos, and opinions are my own. I never recommend anything I don’t use in my own home, and I definitely use the free building plans on BuildSomething.com all the time.
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