Nutcracker Suite Charcuterie Board (Print)

Dramatic multi-tiered display with vibrant fruits, cheeses, nuts, and dips arranged in colorful sections for entertaining.

# Ingredients:

→ Red Section

01 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and halved
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes
03 - 1/2 cup pomegranate arils
04 - 8 oz red pepper hummus, served in decorative bowl
05 - 1/2 cup dried cranberries
06 - 6 oz sliced spicy soppressata
07 - 6 oz red wax Gouda, cubed

→ Green Section

08 - 1 cup green grapes, halved
09 - 1 cup sugar snap peas
10 - 1/2 cup Castelvetrano olives, pitted
11 - 8 oz pesto dip, served in small bowl
12 - 1/2 cup roasted pistachios, shelled
13 - 6 oz sliced cucumber
14 - 6 oz herbed goat cheese, sliced into coins

→ Gold/Yellow Section

15 - 1 cup golden cherry tomatoes
16 - 1 cup fresh pineapple, cubed
17 - 1/2 cup dried apricots
18 - 8 oz honeycomb or honey drizzle
19 - 6 oz smoked cheddar, cubed
20 - 1/2 cup Marcona almonds
21 - 6 oz thin-sliced prosciutto

→ White Section

22 - 1 cup cauliflower florets
23 - 1 cup white cheddar cubes
24 - 1/2 cup yogurt-covered pretzels
25 - 8 oz whipped ricotta, served in small bowl
26 - 1/2 cup macadamia nuts
27 - 1/2 cup white chocolate bark, broken into shards
28 - 6 oz sliced turkey breast (optional)

→ Accompaniments

29 - 1 large baguette, sliced and toasted
30 - 1 box assorted crackers (neutral and seeded)
31 - 1 bunch fresh herbs (rosemary, thyme, mint) for garnish
32 - Edible flowers (pansies, nasturtiums) for decoration

# Instructions:

01 - Arrange pedestals and multi-tiered stands on a sturdy surface, placing the tallest at center or rear to create varying heights. Cover surfaces with parchment or cheese paper for hygiene and ease of cleanup.
02 - Divide the display into four color-coded sections—red, green, gold/yellow, and white—anchoring each with dips placed in small bowls or ramekins to maintain separation and visual impact.
03 - Place red pepper hummus in a bowl at the center of the red quadrant. Arrange strawberries, cherry tomatoes, and pomegranate arils around the bowl. Intermingle soppressata slices and red wax Gouda cubes, filling gaps with dried cranberries and garnishing with edible flowers.
04 - Position pesto dip in a decorative bowl as focal point. Arrange green grapes and sugar snap peas in arcs around the dip. Add Castelvetrano olives and herbed goat cheese slices in neat rows. Sprinkle roasted pistachios and garnish with fresh mint sprigs.
05 - Set honeycomb or honey drizzle in a bowl at the center. Fan golden cherry tomatoes and pineapple cubes around the honey. Add smoked cheddar cubes and folded prosciutto slices. Intermingle dried apricots and Marcona almonds. Garnish with thyme sprigs.
06 - Place whipped ricotta in a small bowl as anchor. Cluster cauliflower florets and white cheddar cubes. Add yogurt-covered pretzels and white chocolate shards for contrast. Nestle macadamia nuts and optional turkey breast slices. Garnish with rosemary sprigs and white edible flowers.
07 - Insert toasted baguette slices and crackers between sections for accessibility. Distribute fresh herb sprigs and edible flowers throughout to enhance aroma and unify the presentation. Adjust height and arrangement for balance.
08 - Present at room temperature for optimal flavor and texture. If not serving immediately, loosely cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate up to 2 hours. Avoid extended refrigeration to preserve freshness and prevent condensation.

# Pro Tips:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that looks like it took days to create, but comes together in just an hour—giving you all the glory with realistic effort.
  • The color-blocking approach means there's something for everyone, and it actually helps guests navigate the board intuitively, making entertaining feel effortless.
  • It's genuinely fun to build—there's an almost meditative quality to arranging each section, and it never feels like cooking in the stressful sense.
02 -
  • Room temperature and timing matter more than perfection: your beautiful arrangement will start looking tired if meats and cheeses warm too much. Keep ingredients cold until the absolute last moment, and don't hesitate to refresh dips, nuts, and delicate items mid-party. This board is living theater.
  • Quality of individual ingredients matters disproportionately: one beautiful strawberry matters more than quantity. Seek out ingredients that are visually stunning and taste like themselves—this board lives or dies on ingredient quality, not on your arranging skills.
  • The pedestals and height variation are non-negotiable: I learned this the hard way when I tried to make a flat version; it looked pretty but not magical. The three-dimensional aspect is what creates the theatrical moment. Invest in or borrow good stands.
  • Edible flowers aren't optional flourish—they're visual glue: Scattered throughout, they unify disparate colors and create the "magazine spread" feeling that separates impressive from truly memorable.
03 -
  • Use cold packs or ice beneath your tiered trays if serving outdoors or in a warm space; this keeps meats, cheeses, and dips food-safe for the full duration of your gathering without requiring constant rotation.
  • If you must refrigerate the completed board, cover it loosely with plastic wrap to prevent condensation, and limit refrigeration to two hours maximum. The moment before service, remove the wrap, do a quick visual refresh of wilted herbs or elements, and present with confidence.
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