Made with fresh fruit, savory cheese, sweet honey, crunchy crackers, and more, this easy homemade Date Night Charcuterie Board is perfect for a romantic night at home!
I’m always looking for ways to spend more time with my family and loved ones. However, constantly going out to different restaurants and events can become hectic and costly. As a result, I find myself constantly on the hunt for fun ways to make staying in something special.
In my searches, I stumbled across charcuterie boards. Once reserved solely for fancy parties, they seem to be all over the place these days. Whether you’re making a traditional board, arranging fun desserts, or creating a unique brunch spread, there’s definitely a Charcuterie board for you. To gain some inspiration, take a look at these 20 incredible boards!
I can’t wait to throw together some fun snacks for my boys. However, for this board, in particular, I was inspired for a fancy stay-at-home date night with my husband. Instead of going out, waiting a ridiculous amount of time waiting to be seated, and fighting to talk over the voices of others, we enjoyed a quiet intimate night at home full of quality conversations and meaningful moments. Even better, this Date Night Charcuterie Board came together in minutes and provided a wide array of flavors and textures for a tasty dinner.
Ingredients for a Date Night Charcuterie Board
- Aged Manchego – Made from the milk of sheep, this cheese has a zesty taste often described as being somewhat salty and a crumbly texture.
- Goat cheese – Super versatile, this cheese comes in so many fun forms and flavors!
- Red grapes – I recommend red grapes over green for added sweetness that pairs deliciously with the tangy flavors of cheese.
- Crackers – I used Artesian crackers from a local Whole Foods, but grain-free almond crackers would be amazing as well.
- Olives – There are 500 hundred different varieties of olives. I used a green, pitted variety, but choose whatever you like best.
- Honey – Honey is the perfect sweet addition to any board.
- Apple – Red or green varieties work well. If you want a sweeter flavor profile, opt for red varieties such as Fuji or Gala. Or, if you prefer a bit more of a tart flavor, green apples like Granny Smith go just as well with any Charcuterie board.
- Prosciutto – A dry-cut ham served thinly sliced and uncooked, Prosciutto is hearty, just salty enough, and totally delicious.
- Almonds – Delicious on their own, I added olive oil and roasted them on my own (instructions below).
Charcuterie Board Ideas for Special Ingredients
For my Date Night Charcuterie Board, I decided to take plain almonds and add a little more flavor by combining them with olive oil and salt and baking them. For this step, I used Joe’s Super Fused olive oil as it created an amazing infusion of flavor. If you want to give it a try, be sure to use code: 12JOYINTHEME for 12% off your order!
How to Prepare Roasted Almonds for Charcuterie Board
To prepare roasted almonds for delicious snacking, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. In a bowl, combine the almonds, olive oil, and salt. Make sure the oil evenly coats the almonds, and place them in a single layer on your baking sheet. Roast for 5-8 minutes. Be sure to keep a close eye on them as they can burn quickly! Then, let them cool completely, and enjoy!
More Ingredients for Charcuterie Board Ideas
- Salami
- Brie
- Bleu cheese
- Thick bread
- Pretzels
- Jams
How to Assemble a Charcuterie Board
To assemble your Charcuterie board, first find a board, plate, or platter of choice. Then, add your cheeses followed by grapes, apple, and crackers. Be sure to overlap the cheese and cluster the piles of fruit and crackers to make them look aesthetically pleasing for your feed and convenient for easy snacking. Next, fill in the empty spaces with prosciutto and almonds. Finally, carefully drizzle the honey over your goat cheese. Be sure to have a cheese spreader nearby to avoid sticky fingers!
Frequently Asked Questions
u003cbru003eHow can I prevent apples on Charcuterie boards from browning?
To prevent apples from browning for your Charcuterie boards or life in general, first slice your apple. Then, soak the pieces in 1 cup of water and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for 3-5 minutes. Afterward, thoroughly rinse the apple slices, and they should stay fresh for a few hours.
u003cbru003eHow long can roasted almonds for Charcuterie boards be served?
When stored in an airtight container, homemade roasted almonds can be safely stored for up to 4 weeks.
u003cbru003eCan I make Charcuterie boards ahead of time?
Yes, Charcuterie boards can be prepared ahead of time. I would recommend waiting to slice any fruit until right before serving. Otherwise, the ingredients can be prepped and arranged up to 24 hours in advance. Just be sure to wrap it with cling wrap and store it in the refrigerator. Can I make a Charcuterie board Keto?
u003cbru003eCan I make a Charcuterie board Keto?
Yes, Charcuterie boards can be made Keto! Personally, I follow a Whole30 diet. Therefore, this Date Night Charcuterie board is naturally fairly low-carb. However, feel free to swap out any ingredients for keto-friendly options such as nuts, pickled vegetables, sauerkraut, hummus, more meats, etc.
So, there you have it, the perfect Date Night Charcuterie Board! Do you have any Charcuterie board ideas you want to share? Let me know in the comments below! Also, if you do make this Charcuterie board or any of my other recipes, be sure to tag me in a photo on Instagram. I love to see your recreations.
In the meantime, enjoy!
Karin
Ingredients
- 2-3 oz aged Manchego sliced
- 3 oz goat cheese
- Red grapes
- Favorite crackers- I used some artesian crackers from our local Whole Foods or grain free almond crackers
- Favorite olives- I used pitted green
- 1 tbsp honey
- Apple sliced – see below for how to avoid it turning brown
- 3 oz prosciutto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper
- In a bowl, mix together the almonds and olive oil, and salt
- Place almonds on a single layer on the baking sheet, and roast for 5-8 minutes, just keep an eye on them, as they can burn quickly!
- Soak the apple sliced in 1 C water and 1 tbsp lemon juice for 3-5 minutes and rinse. This should help prevent browning for a few hours!
- Place cheeses first. fill in with the prosciutto and almonds.
- Then grapes, apples, and crackers,
- Finally, carefully drizzle the honey over the goat cheese- be sure to have a cheese spreader close by to avoid sticky fingers
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