Fall-Themed Charcuterie Board Ideas for Cozy Gatherings

When most people think of charcuterie boards, they think of fancy meat and cheese platters served to guests at a cocktail party or afternoon gathering. And while it's true that cocktail parties are a great opportunity for a charcuterie board, the fact is, you don't need a special occasion to put one together!

Honestly, any excuse is a good excuse for charcuterie: book club, Sunday afternoon football, or even just snacking by yourself or watching a movie with your partner. There are so many ways to do charcuterie boards that pretty much any occasion can be a charcuterie occasion!

We think fall in particular is a great time to do charcuterie, because fall flavors lend themselves so well to the experience. Sweet, salty, savory; fruit, nut, meat, cheese...it's all the perfect complement to the season's cozy vibes.

So let's take a look at some fall-themed charcuterie board ideas for your seasonal get-togethers!

What is a Charcuterie Board?

The classic definition of charcuterie is cold, cooked meats. In fact, the word charcuterie used to refer to a kind of deli where these types of smoked, dressed, or pickled meats and sometimes vegetables were sold.

The types of meats most frequently associated with charcuterie are things like prosciutto, salami, ham, chorizo, capricola, soppressata, pâtés and foie gras.

These days, the definition has expanded to include all kinds of things. Cheese is the next most-popular item you'll find on most charcuterie boards, along with crackers, olives, salted fish, nuts, crudités (chopped raw vegetables), dips, and even sweet items like chocolate.

Fall-Themed Savory Charcuterie Board Ideas

Creating the perfect fall-themed savory charcuterie board means using a lot of classic charcuterie flavors and selecting quality ingredients. Since charcuterie is uncooked and presented without any preparation, high quality items are crucial.

Choosing Seasonal Ingredients

The great thing about salted meats is they are good any time of year. That is, in fact, their whole purpose. You can't go wrong with a quality salami or prosciutto, and a nice hard cheese like gouda. To spice things up, look for fun additions like peppered meats, cheeses blended with fall fruits, and fall preserves like fig jam and jellies.

Flavor Combinations

Charcuterie is great when served with cocktails, so why not pair your charcuterie board with some fun fall-themed mocktails?

We like to go big with the flavor in our fall-themed recipes. It's the time of year for hearty soups, big, decadent meals, and over-indulging, so don't be shy! To balance the saltiness of the meats, make sure to include some palate-cleansing vegetables selected from seasonal produce, and don't forget about texture.

You want a variety of cheeses - at least one soft cheese in addition to any hard cheeses. Blue cheese is a controversial addition, but those who love it really love it! Crackers made of whole grains will provide stable base notes for the intensity of the other flavors. 

Presentation Tips

We think one of the key things to keep in mind when presenting your fall charcuterie board is color. Fall is all about rich, vibrant colors that evoke the changing of the leaves, fall vegetables like squash and pumpkin, and the cozy vibes of Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Add some decorative squash or mini pumpkins to your board to give it a splash of color. Raw cranberries, dried fruits, leaves, and even twigs can also make your presentation pop.

Dessert Charcuterie Board

We love a sweet charcuterie board. In fact, we think the best way to do sweet charcuterie is to put it right on the board with the savory charcuterie. A few squares of salted dark chocolate and a handful of pistachios add just the right amount of sweetness to any charcuterie board.

Selecting Sweet Treats

When thinking sweet charcuterie, don't get caught up in thinking it has to be dessert items or too sweet. Sweetness can be found in unexpected places - whether that's a certain type of cheese, dried berries, or even a sweet rye cracker.

That being said, it's certainly fun to put together a completely sweet spread that includes things like trail mix, candy corn, and even baked good (especially if you're making a snack board for one on an indulgent self-care evening!)

Fudge is a really nice, decadent addition to a sweet charcuterie board, as is caramel. Did your savory board include crudité and dips? How about a chocolate dip and strawberries for your sweet board?

Balancing Flavors

The key to a sweet board is not to go too over the top on sweetness, and include some other flavors to round things out. Chocolate covered espresso beans are a good way to do this, and they'll also give your guests a little pick-me-up if energy levels are starting to sag!

Including dried fruits and nuts alongside dark chocolate and fresh fruit, and carrying the salt flavor through from your savory board will also create a nice, balanced flavor profile.

Decorative Elements

Again, think color here! Go for dark, luxurious base notes and splashes of vibrant earth tones like red, orange, and purple. 

Tips for Creating a Memorable Charcuterie Experience

Whether you're serving an appetizer board alongside fall cocktails at Thanksgiving, or just splurging in your jammies on a night in, you want the experience to stand out.

Serving Suggestions

Classic wood cutting boards make great charcuterie platters, particularly if you're going for a rugged, fall look. Personally, this is our favorite way to serve charcuterie, because it doesn't require any fancy equipment or plates that you never use anywhere else.

If you can afford it, splurging on a couple of nice cheese knives is a quick way to elevate your charcuterie experience. At the very least, make sure each cheese has its own dedicated knife so flavors don't get muddled. Same goes for things in ramikens that require spoons - olives, pickles, 

Accompaniments

We already talked about fall-themed mocktails and cocktails, but what are some other things you can serve alongside charcuterie? If you're into baking, how about a loaf of freshly baked bread instead of crackers?

Wine is a great choice for pairing with charcuterie, and for those interested in food and win pairings, getting down the nitty-gritty of which wines go best with your platter can be a fun exercise.

Not into wine? How about beer? Tasting flights of seasonal beers with flavors like pumpkin and raspberry, or ciders (both apple and pear!) make great palate cleansers.

A Cut Above

No matter what you choose for your meat and cheese platter, the truth is it's hard to go wrong with charcuterie. A variety of meats, a variety of cheeses, a pop of color and a hint of sweetness, and you'll have pretty much any guest declaring that you served the perfect fall charcuterie board.