Looking to create a picture perfect charcuterie board for your next soiree? Mud Pie has you covered with tips and tricks to assemble boards that are sure to make a statement.

Design and Styling: Table + Dine| Photography: Danielle Del Valle

What makes a complete board? It’s simple! You will need meats, cheeses, produce, dips/spreads, a little bit of crunch, and garnish to top it all off. It can be hard to gauge how large of a board you will need for your guests. A board of any shape measuring from about 12-15 inches will feed a crowd of 6-8 as an appetizer. One of our favorite hacks is using a lazy susan as your board to allow guests to spin and get their favorite snacks without having to move! To assemble your board, start by laying out your meats. If you are using salami, try making a salami rose! All you need is a champagne glass and about 15 pieces of salami. Taking one piece at a time, fold the salami over the rim of the glass. Continue to fold the salami over in a circle until you run out of room. Turn the glass over, and viola, you have a salami rose!

An important and sometimes overlooked aspect for a charcuterie board is the produce! Breaking up the salty meats with a sweet fruit or crunchy veggie is a must. Not only will your guests love the added produce, the vibrant colors will help make your board pop. Director of Public Relations, Michelle Labovitz, loves a balanced board stating her “favorite part of a charcuterie board is the combination of savory and sweet. Pairing salty cured meat with creamy cheese and sweet honeycomb or chutney is always a hit. Add some marcona almonds for crunch, gherkins for acidity, and you've got yourself one great board!”. Let’s talk dips! Adding dips such as hummus, honey, or jams can add so much flavor to your board. Put your dips in little jars or ramekins to help keep your board looking neat. These jars can also add height to your board bringing in another appealing dimension. Digital Marketing Manager, Ashley Carey, loves adding hummus to her boards and says one of her “favorite parts of the charcuterie board is when there is Hummus! I LOVE dips! In the spring, I add a few squeezes of a fresh lemon, it makes your taste buds pop!" Crunch is so important on a board! From crackers to nuts your guests will love this aspect. Pile up the crackers on the board for snacking fun. 

We recommend having at least one plain sea salt cracker along with one or two fun and interesting flavored crackers to pair with your meats and cheeses! Social Media & Influencer Coordinator, Riley Hooper, loves adding gluten free crackers to the board stating that “it is really easy to accommodate allergies when hosting! I have a large family so we are always making separate dishes. If you have guests with allergies coming to your gathering, put the crackers or nuts in individual dishes. This is an easy hack that your guests will appreciate!” Finally, add garnishes to your board to top it off! From rosemary to edible flowers, this is an easy way to elevate your board. Adding garnishes is also a great way to make your board seasonal! In the fall, add pumpkins or apples to bring the harvest into your home. Cranberries and rosemary help bring the Christmas spirit to your board. Edible flowers are the perfect addition to any spring charcuterie board! Now you're ready to build your own charcuterie board! Find a shopping list below to create the ultimate picture-worthy board! 

CHARCUTERIE BOARD SHOPPING LIST

S'more charcuterie, the better! We love any excuse to make a charcuterie board. Check out this delicious and easy dessert board and find the shopping list below: