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    Home » Recipes » Party Food » Cheese Boards & Charcuterie

    Quick 30-Minute Festive Fall Charcuterie Board

    Nov 5, 2019(updated Aug 20, 2024)

    By Michelle Weiner

    Learn how to build this crowd-pleasing festive Fall Meat and Cheese Board step-by-step at home! This epic autumn-themed charcuterie and cheese board is easy to assemble in 30 minutes, super handy for group get-togethers, and the best excuse to enjoy the comforting flavors of fall, plus autumn produce, like apples and pomegranate seeds.
    5 from 1 vote
    Prep Time 30 minutes minutes
    Jump to Recipe
    A vertical close up image of the fall meat and cheese board. There is a wheel of camembert cut into wedges in the middle, and surrounding it are crab apples, pomegranate seeds, aged gouda, a jar of honey and other charcuterie items on the board

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Learn how to make a festive fall meat and cheese board in only 30 minutes! This fall charcuterie board is easy to put together and always crowd-pleasing thanks to its colorful mix of autumn produce, comforting cheeses, and salty meats.

    Indulge in comforting, seasonal flavors with an easy fall meat and cheese board

    Whether it’s Thanksgiving or a cozy afternoon in, this fall meat and cheese board is a must-make when the cold weather arrives. Not only is it quick and easy to put together, but it’s a true celebration of the best produce that the autumn season has to offer.

    I’m no stranger to an impressive meat and cheese board. With over 10 years of experience in the culinary field, I’ve learned how to think of fun flavor pairings that may not pop into other people’s minds as easily. That’s why I’m thrilled to share my expertise in this charcuterie guide and help you assemble your own impressive fall-themed cheese plate!

    Just like my spring, summer, and winter meat and cheese boards, this charcuterie board for fall features festive produce and a myriad of cheese and meat pairings. Put it out as a party appetizer for the holidays, make it for friends during cozy nights in, or as a post-pumpkin patch meal!

    Close up on a fall meat and cheese board.

    What should be on a meat and cheese board for fall?

    Searching and shopping for fall charcuterie board ideas is almost as fun as eating the board itself. Instead of testing this recipe, I took a trip to the farmer’s market to pick out great fall produce. That helped me find meat and cheese to complement the seasonal flavors rather than overpower them.

    Scroll through these ingredient suggestions to find out what you should put on a fall cheese board: 

    Cheese

    The crisp fall air calls for comforting cheeses with heavier textures and deep flavors. You can find a variety both at your local grocery store and specialty cheese shop. Use what works for your budget and taste buds!

    For this fall meat and cheese board, I used 4 kinds of cheese, each from a different category: aged, bloomy, blue, and fresh.

    These are my favorite choices when highlighting fall flavors:

    • Aged cheese: Trader Joe’s 1,000 Day Gouda is nutty, creamy, and semi-hard. It’s wonderful with dates and sliced pears. If you don’t want to use Gouda, try Cheddar, Gruyere, or Havarti instead. 
    • Bloomy cheese: Camembert features buttery, milky, earthy, and sweet flavors with a bloomy edible rind. French Brie, Mt. Tam, and Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk are all wonderful substitutions.
    • Blue cheese: Stilton is a mild blue cheese. With its signature blue veins, even blue cheese-skeptics will enjoy its rich flavor and crumbly, semi-soft texture. If you can’t find Stilton, use the equally mild Point Reyes Original Blue instead. For a stronger choice, turn to Gorgonzola or Roquefort.
    • Fresh cheese: Goat cheese is always a nice choice for fall cheese boards because its creamy and tangy flavors complement fall produce so well. If you prefer something more salty and/or rich, use Feta, Ricotta, or Cotija instead.
    using a knife to slice meat and cheese on a wood board.
    From top right corner going clockwise: Camembert, Stilton, Goat Cheese, Soppressata, 1,000 Day Gouda, Prosciutto

    Fruits and vegetables

    This is the fun part. There are endless kinds of fruits and vegetables that are in season during fall, which means you can make the board as colorful and festive as you like!

    • Apples are a must on any fall meat and cheese board because this is when they’re at their peak season. I like red apples for a pop of color, like Braeburn, Cortland, Fuji, Gala, and Empire. 
    • Crab apples are also perfect here. They’re safe to eat, as long as you don’t mind their intense tart flavor (you can always use them for decoration!).
    • And if you love apples on a fall snack board, you’ll love pears, too. Both green and red pears fit in well.
    • Lastly, you’ll always find pomegranate seeds on my fall and winter charcuterie boards. They’re super juicy, a little crunchy, and bursting with tart and sweet flavors. Pour them into small bowls or sprinkle them around the board to make it sparkle!

    Need more ideas? Check out these other fall fruits and veggies that pair well:

    • Persimmons 
    • Radishes
    • Grapes
    • Celery
    • Figs
    • Green beans
    • Dates
    • Marinated artichoke hearts

    Meat

    The type of meat on a meat and cheese board is referred to as “charcuterie” or cured meats. They’re sliced thin and are delightfully salty and fatty. 

    I picked two for this fall board: soppressata and prosciutto. Both are inexpensive, easy to cut and fold, and pair well with the rest of the ingredients.

    You can make your board with as many different varieties of meat as you like. It’s always comforting to use a meat you know you already like, but why hold back? Use this as an opportunity to try something new or pick a meat that you’ve always wanted to try.

    chopping fresh fruit on a wood board next to crackers and nuts.

    Snacks and spreads

    You need a few last-minute additions to complete your board, like:

    • Crackers and bread: Fill the last pockets of space with a variety of crackers (Trader Joe’s fig and olive crackers are my favorite), homemade crostini, breadsticks, and bowls filled with nuts or seeds, like roasted pumpkin seeds and rosemary Marcona almonds.
    • Spreads: Fill small bowls with honey, fig jam, and cranberry sauce to bring layers of extra flavor to every bite. Use a variety of sweet and savory spreads or just one kind if you have a theme in mind.
    • Briny things: A briny element is always welcome on a meat and cheese board. Include a small bowl of olives, pickled vegetables, or cornichons.

    How to assemble a fall meat and cheese board

    These step-by-step instructions will show you how to assemble your board in the most appetizing way possible:

    various kinds of cheese on a wood board.

    Step 1: Start with the cheese.

    Place the cheeses you’re using in the corners with the edges pointing out.

    Cut the firm cheeses into wedges so they’re easy to grab.

    Softer cheese, like goat cheese, can be left whole and served with a cheese knife for spreading.

    cheeses and jars filled with fruits and vegetables on a wood board.

    Step 2: Add your jars.

    Jam, spreads, olives, pickled or marinated vegetables, honey, and dips can all be placed into jars to keep the board neat and tidy.

    This also makes them easy to move around as you work out the presentation and assembly.

    cheeses, jars of fruits, and fresh fruit on a wood board.

    Step 3: Produce comes next.

    I like adding whole fruits and vegetables next because they can be a bit bulky.

    placing crackers on a wood board filled with cheeses and fruit.

    Step 4: Cracker time!

    Spread the crackers out towards the sides of the board.

    putting meat on a wood board filled with cheese, fruit, and crackers.

    Step 5: Add the meat.

    Your board is probably starting to get a little cramped, so add the sliced and folded meat anywhere it will fit.

    a fall meat and cheese board filled with meat, cheese, fruit, and crackers.

    Step 6: Fill in the empty spaces.

    Finish by filling the empty spaces with more sliced fruit, nuts, herbs, or seeds. Serve and enjoy!

    Equipment recommendations

    To assemble a meat and cheese board, you need:

    • Board: If you don’t have a fancy wooden board on which to present your charcuterie and cheeses, use a serving tray or even a dinner plate. 
    • Small bowls: To hold the little things, like nuts, seeds, olives, spreads, pomegranate seeds, and so on.
    • Cheese knives: These make slicing the hard and stiff cheeses a breeze.
    • Cutlery: Include some butter knives on the side for the spreads and have a few spoons ready for scooping up the briny things, nuts, or pomegranate seeds. And for the guests who don’t want to eat with their hands, keep some cutlery on the side.

    Tips and tricks

    Take a look at these helpful tips before you put your charcuterie board together:

    Room temperature cheese

    While you can assemble this cheese board ahead of time (see the FAQs below for instructions), I recommend taking it out of the fridge 30 minutes before your guests arrive. This gives the cheeses time to come down to room temperature, making them easier to slice.

    Give it a festive look

    Once it’s assembled, fill the empty gaps in the board with festive ingredients or decorations. Use fresh herbs, like thyme or rosemary, extra nuts and seeds, more crackers or pieces of crusty bread, and even small pumpkins, squash, or gourds.

    a fall meat and cheese board next to bottles of wine.

    Recipe

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    A vertical close up image of the fall meat and cheese board. There is a wheel of camembert cut into wedges in the middle, and surrounding it are crab apples, pomegranate seeds, aged gouda, a jar of honey and other charcuterie items on the board

    Quick 30-Minute Festive Fall Charcuterie Board

    Learn how to build this crowd-pleasing festive Fall Meat and Cheese Board step-by-step at home! This epic autumn-themed charcuterie and cheese board is easy to assemble in 30 minutes, super handy for group get-togethers, and the best excuse to enjoy the comforting flavors of fall, plus autumn produce, like apples and pomegranate seeds.
    Prevent your screen from going dark
    Print Rate Pin
    Author: Michelle Weiner
    Course: Appetizer
    Keyword: appetizer, charcuterie, cheese, fall, party food
    Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Makes: 10 servings

    Ingredients

    • 8 ounces aged gouda
    • 8 ounces camembert
    • 8 ounces stilton
    • 4 ounces goat cheese
    • 8 ounces soppressata
    • 4 ounces prosciutto
    • 6 crab apples
    • 2 Persimmons
    • 2 small apples
    • 1 pomegranate
    • ½ cup rosemary Marcona almonds
    • ½ cup olives
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup roasted salted pumpkin seeds
    • Variety of crackers for serving

    Instructions

    • Cut the gouda into chunks and the camembert into wedges. Place the cheese on the serving board near the edges of the board.
    • Place the pomegranate seeds, olives, honey into small jars. Place them on the serving board.
    • Add the whole fruit to the serving board followed by the soppressata, cut into half-moons, and prosciutto.
    • Fill in any gaps with sliced fruit, Marcona almonds and pumpkin seeds.
    • Allow cheese to come to room temp before serving.
    Did you make this recipe?Share a pic and tag @cupofzest and use #cupofzest so I can see it!

    Notes

    • Feel free to use different cheeses!
    • This can be made ahead of time, just make sure the cheese comes to room temp before serving...let it sit at room temp at least 30 minutes before you dig in if the cheese board has been in the fridge!
    « Smoked Salmon Appetizer Crostini with Cream Cheese
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    Comments

      5 from 1 vote

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    1. Daniela Swamp says

      July 27, 2024 at 1:07 pm

      5 stars
      My guests loved this recipe!

      Reply
      • Michelle Weiner says

        July 27, 2024 at 6:42 pm

        Yay! I'm so glad they loved it! Thanks for making it 🙂

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Michelle and welcome to the party!

    After of working in the culinary world for over 10 years, I'm sharing the skills I've learned with you here at Cup of Zest. I'm here to help you invite your friends over more and stress less when cooking for them. Glad you're part of the crew!

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