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Enjoy a European-style Brunch Charcuterie Board that’s incredibly easy to put together. Minutes in the making, filled with delicious brunch sweet and savory options, it’s a 5-minute cheese board everyone will love.
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There’s nothing quite like the feeling of sunshine, fresh fruits, savory cheeses… and a gathering of those you love.
It’s why I adore charcuterie boards, whether they be for breakfast, brunch, snacks, or appetizers. Yes… I’ve even made them for dinner and game days.
Sharing food in a casual, yet fun way opens the door for fond memories, shared stories, and lives. And when displayed on boards where everyone can take as much or as little as they want, it’s perfection.
And they are incredibly easy to pull together… even at the last minute.
This easy Brunch Charcuterie Board is one of my favorites. Simple to make some of the components, or buy it all. It honestly doesn’t matter.
Think sweet, savory, texture, delicious. That’s it.
Cheese boards are perfect for picnics, outdoor dining, and casual entertaining. Celebrate holidays, milestones, birthdays, and more with an easy charcuterie board.
Here are some ideas to get started designing your own.
How to Design a Brunch Charcuterie Cheese Board
The following tips are summarized from one of my favorite cheese board cookbooks aptly named, “On Boards” by Lisa Dawn Bolton. It’s a great addition to any cookbook library and one filled with useful ideas and information.
While these are great starting points, be creative and have fun with your design!
Tips for Creating Cheese Boards
- Break up like colors: nestle colorful vegetables and fruits between pales cheese and crackers
- Spread out large amounts of one ingredient: “If you’re serving 16 slices of meat, for example, put it on at least four different parts of the board.”
- Create a path for the eye: As in photography, odd numbers are best. If using a dominant color or ingredient, create a design that looks like a letter “S.”
- Abundance: While I’m always partial to abundance, the simplicity of minimal ingredients can be equally beautiful.
- The edges: Don’t forget the edges of the board. Linens, fresh flowers, herbs, nuts, can all serve to elevate the theme of your board.
Designing a Cheese Board
- Layout all the elements and ingredients for your cheeseboard.
- Start with the biggest items, which are usually blocks of cheese. Space the cheese and consider placing them toward the edges of the board.
- Add bowls for chips, condiments, and preserves.
- Add grapes, if using.
- Arrange mid-size components, like slices of meat, fruits, and vegetables.
- Add small components like nuts, dried fruits, and berries
- Finally, add garnishes, like flowers, herbs, or microgreens.
Tips on Making a Beautiful Brunch Cheese Board
While easy and quick to throw together, planning ahead alleviates any stress when hungry onlookers are watching. I like to bake a few things ahead.
- Anchor the board with bowls of condiments. This provides a structure for the display.
- Offer a variety of yogurts. I always like to offer Greek yogurt drizzled with honey as well as fruit, berry, or vanilla option. Think about guests’ dietary restrictions.
- Add granola. This is a must for breakfast and brunch cheese boards. It’s a healthy option that delicious on its own or as a topping. I like to make my own, but store-bought works beautifully too.
- Slice a variety of fruits. Grapes are almost always expected as they are delicious with meats and cheese, but seasonal berries, citrus, bananas elevate the flavors. Try some unusual offerings like kiwi, figs, and dates.
- Sweet treats. All cheese boards, but especially Brunch cheese boards benefit from sweet treats, in addition to fruit.
- Eggs and Meats. Hard-boiled eggs are always delicious but meats like salami and sausages are an easy, special touch.
- Finally, add your garnishes: Fresh herbs and edible flowers bright life to a board and toasted nuts bring a perfect finish to Brunch.
Cheese for a Brunch Board
Adding cheeses to a breakfast or brunch board is a delicious and savory addition to breakfast. Ask your cheesemonger for suggestions, but here are a few ideas I like.
On most cheese boards, I like to have a selection of 3 to 5 cheeses. While all of them don’t always make it onto the board, here are the cheese categories I choose from:
- Mild, somewhat sharp hard cheese: Here I’m using a quality Parmigiano Reggiano.
- Soft, creamy cheese: Soft cheeses like brie, camembert, or goat cheese are perfect for charcuterie boards. Here I’ve used a soft French cheese that transitions between a soft cheese and a crumbly cheese. This Gournay cheese is flavored with fresh herbs.
- Crumbly cheese: These cheeses make beautiful and delicious options on a board. Think Gorgonzola, Roquefort and Stilton cheese.
So Many Ideas to Build a Brunch Cheese Board
There are so many ways to build an easy Brunch cheese board. Here are some quick ideas that are always a favorite:
Cheese:
- As mentioned above. Choose your favorites with interesting flavors and textures.
Fresh Fruits:
- strawberries
- blueberries
- blackberries
- raspberries
- kiwi
- grapes
- sliced pear
- bananas
Bread, Pastries, & Breakfast Foods
- granola (homemade or store-bought)
- yogurt
- mini croissants
- muffins
- quick bread
- crackers (homemade or store-bought)
- mini pancakes
- mini waffles
- individual size quiches
Meats and Protein
- breakfast sausages or meats
- eggs
- ham
Toppings & Spreads
- preserves (I love these easy one-jar spiced peach and strawberry jam)
- honey
- syrup
- chutney
Easy Brunch Charcuterie Board
Yield: 8 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Enjoy a European-style Brunch Charcuterie Board that's incredibly easy to put together. Minutes in the making, filled with delicious brunch sweet and savory options, it's a 5-minute cheese board everyone will love.
Ingredients
- Mini bagels
- Mini croissants
- 2-3 types of cheese
- Homemade Granola (or store-bought)
- Greek yogurt, drizzled with honey
- Flavored yogurt (fruit, berry, or vanilla)
- Salami and/or prosciutto
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Grapes (green and red)
- Toasted almonds and walnuts
- Parmesan/Reggiano wedge of cheese
- Boursin Garlic and Herb cheese
- Herbs for garnish, if desired (chives, rosemary, thyme, etc.)
Instructions
- If offering homemade granola, make it in advance. It keeps at room temperature for 1 to 2 weeks.
- Otherwise, assemble the Brunch Charcuterie Board. Beginning with larger ingredients, begin to lay out components based on color, texture, and quantity. Nestle in the condiments and fill in with berries, toasted nuts, and fresh herbs.
Notes
These items are easy to buy or make from scratch. Both are perfectly fine! If making homemade treats, plan and make ahead.
- granola (homemade or store-bought)
- muffins
- quick bread
- crackers (homemade or store-bought)
- mini pancakes
- mini waffles
- individual size quiches
Recommended Products
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More Ideas for Fun Gatherings
- Ultimate Fall Charcuterie Board Ideas
- Fresh and Easiest Ever Open Face Blueberry Pie
- Perfect Summer Picnic Recipes and Gear
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