Published: · Modified: by Krista Stechman · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments
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A Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board could be just what you needed for your party or romantic evening. Charcuterie boards are all the rage, and there's good reason. This board is packed with Valentine's Day themed candy, fruit and chocolate!
Usually for a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board I do all sweets but sometimes I switch it up and cheeses or cured meats. My Easy Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board is full of delicious savory items. The nice thing about any charcuterie board is you can swap out ingredients to customize to any theme!
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- How to Create a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
- How to Make a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
- What fruits do I use?
- Expert Tips
- Equipment
- FAQ
- Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
How to Create a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
When thinking of creating a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board, there a few things you want to keep in mind. Here are some easy things to think about ahead of time:
- Color Theme - When creating a charcuterie board for Valentine's Day, you should use pink, red and white as your main colors. You can add small amounts of other colors, but those colors just scream Valentine's Day.
- Sweet or Savory - Decide if you want to do a sweet or savory board. You can also do a mix of both sweet and savory. For a little savory crunch, check out the best crackers for a charcuterie board. Crackers and chocolate are yummy together!
- Larger Items First - Once you decide what you're using and it's time to build, place the larger items on the board first. I usually start with any bowls or dishes I have. Then any food that is large or will take up more space, for instance the apples on this board.
- Make a Fun Pattern - Twist and move the items on the board to make fun patterns and shapes. This helps create movement on the board that is visually appealing.
How to Make a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
Making a charcuterie board is fun and easy! There's really no "wrong way" to do it and it's totally customizable.
- Step 1 - Choose a board of appropriate size for the amount of people it's for.
- Step 2 - Pick a color palette. It's aesthetically pleasing and often certain colors tie in with themes, like Valentine's Day.
- Step 3 - Start building Valentine's Charcuterie Board with large items and bowls/dishes first. Once you place those items on the charcuterie board, you can build around them.
- Step 4 - Begin adding items, grouped together, in patterns or shapes. This creates movement on the board and creates a visual appeal.
- Step 5 - Fill in any small holes with leftover fruits, chocolate or candy pieces.
What fruits do I use?
You can use whatever fruits you like. Juicy or fragile fruits don't hold up as well as others. For this Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board recipe I chose red fruits and Opal Apples.
Here are some fruits that work well for this Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board recipe:
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Cherries
- Opal Apples
- Red Grapes
- Pomegranate Seeds
Expert Tips
- Choose a color theme when creating this Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board recipe or any other board. It's makes the board more visually appealing.
- Build each ingredient in a pattern, grouped together. This helps create movement on the board.
- Use a variety of textures and shapes to make the board visually appealing.
- For this Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board you can use all sweets and fruits or you can add in cheeses and meats if you'd like. Choose a hard and soft cheese, white would be a great color to add in here. Salami and chorizo nuggets are a favorite to add to boards.
- Fill in small holes with fruits or chocolate after you've added all ingredients. This helps make the board look full and appealing.
- Add props that are appropriate to the theme. Heart dishes, red, pink or white bowls or red roses would work nicely for this Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board.
- If you're using apples then Opal Apples are a nice choice. I use these apples in my Easy Breakfast Charcuterie Board too! They're naturally resistant to browning, crisp, tart and a little sweet.
Equipment
- Charcuterie Board - Choose a board that is an appropriate size for the amount of people you're serving. I use a non-porous wooden board, marble or slate.
- Pinch Dishes - Use small bowls or containers to hold the chocolate, spreads or other items on your board. I typically put my olives in one when doing a more traditional charcuterie board.
- Set of Bows - You'll need a two heat proof bowls to melt the white and dark chocolate in the microwave. Alternatively, you could use a a double boiler.
FAQ
How many days in advance can you make a charcuterie board?
This Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board recipe can be made one day in advance, except for the chocolate. The chocolate needs to be melted immediately before serving. A more traditional charcuterie board can be made up to two days in advance. Cover it well with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge before serving. Take it out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before serving to get the full flavor out of the ingredients.
What is the best method to melt chocolate?
There are two methods that work for melting chocolate for this board. Either way you choose, make sure the bowls and spoons you're using are completely dry. The tiniest bit of water will make the chocolate seize.
The microwave method: Using a microwave safe bowl, melt the chocolate in 20 second increments, stirring with a metal spoon in between each time. Repeat until chocolate is smooth.
Double boiler method: Heat a small pot of water over low-medium heat until it's almost simmering. No need to simmer, and definitely don't boil the water. Place a heat proof glass or metal bowl on top of the pot, making sure the water does not touch the bowl. Add the chocolate to the bowl then stir until smooth.
What are 7 tips to making a charcuterie board?
Choose a color palette: This will tie everything together and make the board visually appealing.
Make patterns and shapes: When placing items on the charcuterie board, group them together and in patterns or shapes. This will help create movement on the board for visual appeal.
Have a variety of textures: Again, this is for variety and visual appeal.
Use hard and soft cheese: If you're adding cheese to your board then choose some hard and some soft.
Non-porous surface: Choose whatever type of board is your favorite but make sure it is non-porous. This creates a food-safe environment where bacteria is less likely to grow.
Space items out: Space out items of the same category. If you have three chocolate items then place them in separate spots so they're not touching.
Start with large items: You'll want to add any bowls or dishes to the Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board first then move on to the next largest items. It's easiest to place those first then build around them.
What items help make a charcuterie board a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board?
Use items that are red, pink or white. Heart shaped candy or dishes. In this Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board recipe I used a red and pink color palette as well as adding red heart shaped candy to the board.
What to gift someone who loves charcuterie boards?
A great gift for someone that loves charcuterie boards is a new board, personalized or a new design. Cheese knife sets and pinch bowls are a good choice too!
What is a must on a charcuterie board?
If we're talking about this Valentine's Day Charcuterie board then chocolate and red fruits are a must! If it's a traditional charcuterie board then cheese, cured meats and olives are a must!
Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
Krista Stechman
This Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board has all the sweet treats, chocolate candies, M&M's, cinnamon candy hearts, raspberries, strawberries, apples and melted chocolate to dip in.
5 from 2 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Total Time 25 minutes mins
Course appetizer, desserts
Cuisine american
Servings 12 people
Calories 1164 kcal
Equipment
1 charcuterie board https://amzn.to/3SNy29O
1 set of mixing bowls
1 set of pinch bowls
Ingredients
Fruits
- 3 opal apples sliced
- 1 pt strawberries
- 6 oz raspberries
Chocolate Candies
- 14 oz Ghirardelli chocolate assortment duet hearts
- 52.8 oz Ghirardelli signature chocolate collection heart shaped box, 12 pieces - 4.4oz ea
- 4 oz Lindt strawberries and cream white chocolate truffles
- 2 oz pink and red M&M's
Heart Candy
- 3 oz cinnamon heart shaped candy hearts
- 2 oz sour patch kids red hearts
Melting Chocolate
- 4 oz dark chocolate feves, chips or bar
- 4 oz white chocolate feves, chips or bar
- 2 drops red food coloring
Instructions
Building the Board
Start building your board using the largest items first. Place 3 pinch bowls on the board to be filled later
Arrange the apples on the board then the chocolate, strawberries and raspberries
Fill in empty spots with heart candies
Melt white chocolate in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring between each time. Repeat until smooth. Add a couple drops red food coloring and stir to make pink chocolate. Add the pink white chocolate to one of the pinch bowls on your board
Melt the dark chocolate in the microwave in 20 second increments, stirring between each addition until smooth. Add the dark chocolate to one of the pinch bowls on your board
Fill the last pinch bowl with M&M's
Notes
Group items together on the board and create patterns.
Choose a color theme and buy ingredients that match.
You can make this board a day ahead of time, minus the melted chocolate. Melt the chocolate right before serving.
Use a board that is non-porous to create a food-safe environment.
Add cheeses like brie, white cheddar and salami to this board if you want some savory items.
Nutrition
Calories: 1164kcalCarbohydrates: 125gProtein: 12gFat: 72gSaturated Fat: 42gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 21gTrans Fat: 0.1gCholesterol: 12mgSodium: 41mgPotassium: 1055mgFiber: 16gSugar: 93gVitamin A: 116IUVitamin C: 36mgCalcium: 148mgIron: 10mg
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Reader Interactions
Comments
Tammy Cruse
This looks top beautiful to eat! I will definitely be trying this! Thank you for the wonderful idea!
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Jennifer
Amazing!!!Reply
admin
Thank you!!
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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
About Charcuterie Boards and Valentine's Day Charcuterie Boards
A charcuterie board is a versatile and customizable platter typically consisting of a variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and condiments. It has gained popularity for its aesthetic appeal and the opportunity it provides for creative and personalized arrangements. When it comes to Valentine's Day, a themed charcuterie board can be a delightful addition to a romantic evening or a party, featuring Valentine's Day themed candy, fruit, and chocolate. The color theme for a Valentine's Day charcuterie board typically revolves around pink, red, and white, with the option to add small amounts of other colors. The board can be tailored to include either sweet or savory items, or a mix of both, offering a wide range of customization possibilities.
Creating a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
When creating a Valentine's Day charcuterie board, it's important to consider the color theme, decide between sweet or savory options, and strategically place larger items first to build around them. The arrangement of items on the board should aim to create visually appealing patterns and shapes, and any empty spaces can be filled with complementary fruits, chocolate, or candy pieces. The choice of fruits for a Valentine's Day charcuterie board can include strawberries, raspberries, cherries, Opal apples, red grapes, and pomegranate seeds, among others.
Tips and Equipment for Making a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
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Expert Tips:
- Choose a color theme for visual appeal.
- Build each ingredient in a pattern to create movement on the board.
- Use a variety of textures and shapes for visual appeal.
- Customize the board with sweets, fruits, cheeses, and meats.
- Fill in small holes with fruits or chocolate to enhance the board's appearance.
- Add appropriate props such as heart dishes, red, pink, or white bowls, or red roses for thematic relevance.
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Equipment:
- A suitable charcuterie board
- Pinch dishes for holding chocolate, spreads, or other items
- Set of heatproof bowls for melting chocolate
FAQ about Valentine's Day Charcuterie Boards
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Preparation: A Valentine's Day charcuterie board can be made one day in advance, except for the chocolate, which should be melted immediately before serving. A traditional charcuterie board can be made up to two days in advance.
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Melting Chocolate: The recommended methods for melting chocolate include using a microwave or a double boiler, ensuring that the bowls and spoons used are completely dry to prevent the chocolate from seizing.
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Tips for Making a Charcuterie Board:
- Choose a color palette
- Create patterns and shapes
- Incorporate a variety of textures
- Use hard and soft cheese
- Opt for a non-porous surface
- Space out items of the same category
- Start with larger items
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Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board Items: Items that contribute to the thematic appeal of a Valentine's Day charcuterie board include red, pink, or white items, heart-shaped candy or dishes, and a selection of red fruits.
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Gift Ideas for Charcuterie Board Enthusiasts: Suitable gifts for charcuterie board enthusiasts include new boards, personalized designs, cheese knife sets, and pinch bowls.
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Must-Haves on a Charcuterie Board: For a Valentine's Day charcuterie board, chocolate and red fruits are essential, while a traditional charcuterie board typically includes cheese, cured meats, and olives.
Recipe for Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
The provided recipe offers a detailed guide for creating a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board, including a list of ingredients, step-by-step instructions for building the board, expert tips, and nutritional information.
By incorporating these concepts, individuals can create a visually appealing and thematic Valentine's Day charcuterie board, tailored to their preferences and the occasion.
