Do you need a fun and kinda fancy idea for an appetizer? Are you planning or attending a party and would like to create an appetizer that will wow – but is easy & great for last-minute? Try a bread charcuterie board – it’s a great way to offer delicious comfort food that everyone loves in an impressive way!
Why I’m a Big Fan of Charcuterie Boards
First, I’ll state what might not be the obvious. A charcuterie board is technically a cured meat and cheese board, along with other items that pair with them, a European tradition.
Here in America, we’ve commandeered that term to include just about anything we serve on a board.
Fine. I’ll concede there.
But all the same, I still LOVE creating charcuterie boards. Here’s why:
1| A charcuterie board allows you all the creativity in putting together an appetizer or dessert for guests.
2| You do not need to be a good cook or baker to serve an out-of-this-world appetizer. It’s all in the presentation.
3| It’s an easy way to create an impressive last-minute dish.
4 | They are great for grazing casually around a coffee table, in the dining room, at the kitchen island or kitchen counters even!
As a homeschooling mom who seems to have endless occasions where I need to bring a dessert or appetizer, charcuterie boards have been my go-to.
They always impress in aesthetics, and most people love the idea of grazing and tasting, and not committing to a full appetizer or dessert. This gives them a way to sample everything.
A New Favorite: A Bread Charcuterie Board
My latest brainchild is a bread board.
I’ve seen lots of Instagrammers share their butter board, but that wasn’t something I really was into.
The breads are the real star of the show, in my opinion. So, that was the direction I went: a board filled with delicious breads and a variety of spreads.
While this isn’t my first charcuterie board, it was the first time I’d created a bread board (or really even seen one), so I was a little nervous!
I decided to serve it among friends at a Friendsgiving for our small group, and it was an absolute hit!
I’m not sure if this will be the next charcuterie board trend, but I thought it was a good idea, and that’s all that matters, right?
So let’s get to the details.
Steps to Creating a Bread Board of Your Dreams
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Step 1: Select Your Board
While this isn’t the most exciting step, it’s a necessary one. The size of your board will determine just how many options you can include.
There are all types of boards that can work for charcuterie: a cutting board, pizza board, large wooden serving tray, a vintage bread board.
There really are no rules, but wooden bread boards in any variety achieve the vibe you’re going for! Even thrift stores can have some wonderful options!
Though wood boards come in various shapes, I personally like round boards, preferably with a rim (mine didn’t have one and it was a little challenging), so that’s my recommendation: a large, round wooden board or tray with a rim.
But really, any board will work.
Because you’ll need to put your spreads in some kind of small serving bowls, which take up a pretty good amount of real estate, a larger board works best.
And if you really want to take it up a notch, a board would also make a great gift for the hostess, if you wanted to leave it behind!
Step 2: Select Your Breads
The next step is to choose your breads!
Let me say right off the bat: you do NOT need to bake the breads yourself. It’s fine if you want to, but it’s totally not necessary.
And you don’t need to spend a lot of money at a high-end bakery. The bakery at Kroger or Walmart will work just fine.
There really are no limits to the breads you’ll place on your breadboard projects. You just want to have a variety.
For my breadboard, I had a mix of traditional type bread as well as some sweet breads.
I felt like 6 breads was a nice mix. I would recommend at least 5 breads.
Here were my picks:
Pumpkin Bread: It was a Thanksgiving-type get-together, so pumpkin bread was something of an expected inclusion. Any kind of seasonal bread would be great, such as banana or lemon poppy.
My bread was a straight-up quick bread box mix.
Zucchini Walnut Sourdough Discard Bread: I love zucchini walnut bread! I had some sourdough discard I wanted to use, so I just found a recipe from Little Spoon Farm that included it.
Honey Wheat Sourdough Sandwich Bread: This was a bread I made myself. I’ve been experimenting with sourdough, and I really liked this honey wheat version, another recipe winner from Little Spoon Farm.
I also liked the sandwich bread version because when each slide was cut in half, it looked similar to the other breads on the board, making it easier to place.
Challah Bread: My mom made this, and it’s one of my favorites!
It’s a more traditional bread with a touch of sweetness, but the texture is light and fluffy and sooo good. This can also be purchased at a bakery.
Pull Apart Bread with Everything Bagel Seasoning: This was another one my mom made. It was a saltier variety, so I’d recommend something salty to offset the sweet breads.
A bread infused with fresh herbs, such as rosemary along with garlic is a great choice!
Cheesecake Factory Brown Bread: This is one of my all-time favorite breads, and it’s always a crowd-pleaser. With the soft oats on top, this was a simple bread to include, which I purchased at Kroger.
Bread choice is really up to you!
Think about your Guests and Party-Goers
When choosing your breads, be sure to think about who will be eating them!
Are there allergies? You can include gluten-free options.
Will there be kids? A plain baguette or ciabatta bread would be a suitable choice as well as a yummy sweet bread!
Are there dietary concerns? A Keto-version of your favorite bread is a great option and would be appreciated!
Different varieties, different flavors, different textures – and you’re good to go!
Step 3: Select Your Spreads
The rules are basically the same for the spreads as they were for the breads. You’ll want a variety of flavors – sweet and savory – for different palettes!
Here were my picks:
Cinnamon and Honey Butter: This was an amazingly wonderful surprise I purchased at Walmart!
I was going to make a ‘dip’ that could be used as a spread, made of cream cheese, Cool Whip, confectioner’s sugar, and cinnamon. But time was not in my favor.
This butter fit the bill in a pinch!
Garlic Parmesan Spread: This butter was another purchase from Walmart and just what I needed.
Regular Salted Whipped Butter: I knew there were going to be kids at our gathering, so just plain old butter is what most kids prefer.
Apple Butter: This is my favorite apple butter recipe, and I couldn’t go to a Thanksgiving gathering without including it! It is sugar-free, so it appeals to those who want a little treat but not load up on the calories!
I contemplated including an oil and balsamic vinegar bread dip or oil and parmesan cheese, but since I didn’t really include a traditional Italian bread and felt we already had enough, I passed. Room on the board was also a consideration.
But flavored and herb-infused dipping oils are also an amazing option!
Different jams, jellies, and gourmet spreads are also wonderful to include, especially if you want some more sweet choices. Flavored cream cheeses are also wonderful to include!
Again, balancing flavors, textures, dietary needs, and the tastes of the party-goers should steer your choice.
Step 4: Assemble the Board
Again, there are really no rules for assembling the board.
I felt that a simple ring of layered breads around the board would work perfectly.
For other boards I’ve created, since there was a variety of different items, the layout was a little different.
But since my board was all breads, a layered ring seemed to make the most sense.
I used a 1/2 slice of each bread, about 6 slices of each for each variety.
If you can, be sure to vary the colors so there’s some contrast among them.
Then, I just placed the spreads in different small containers in the center, each one in a small glass bowl.
I purchased small plastic bowls from the party section at Dollar Tree (they also carry small glass bowls as well, which I love!)
You can also be creative and use ramekins and other cute small containers.
If you have a board that is more of a tray or has a rim, I definitely recommend that, especially if you need to transport it! I
was bringing my board to our party location, and it was a little tricky getting a flat board there, without ruining the display,
Be sure to include plastic knives in each spread as well!
If you have a little extra room, you can add in some fresh rosemary for garnish and to pretty it up!
Step 5: Label Your Choices
I honestly think this was one of the most important aspects of the success of the board: label cards for your bread and spread options.
Not only does it visually put your board on another level and give it a fancy optic, but it’s highly practical!
I’m sure your guests want to know what items you included on your board, and sometimes breads can all blend together.
It’s a great idea to include a label to help them out!
These cards made it easy for everyone to identify the breads and the spreads, and make their choices!
You can use plain card stock, or you can grab these floral cards for free! They come as blanks, so you can just write whatever bread and spread you have on the card.
Then, tape a toothpick to the back of the card, and stick it in the breads and spread. You’ll just want to space them out so it looks pretty!
It’s such a super simple way to include something very practical, but the effect is really striking!
You can grab those printable cards for free by filling out the box at the end of the post!
A Simple Breadboard Project That’s a Total Winner
That’s it! I think this is such a fun way to serve an appetizer that really requires very little advance prep, especially if you’re just buying the bread and spreads straight from the grocery stores!
It’s perfect for the holiday season, but you can create this for any gathering: girls’ night, movie night, Thanksgiving, Easter, Christmas – any time you’d like!
As long as you’re balancing flavors and providing variety, this DIY bread charcuterie board appetizer will be so impressive. It really is so much fun to watch everyone’s impressed reactions, while you know it was really so simple.
Be creative, let it suit your own personal party-goers and their tastes, and it will be a board to remember!
More Charcuterie Board Ideas
If you love creating boards like I do, here are a few more you might enjoy! These are some of my favorite things to serve!
Create the Perfect Apple Dipping Charcuterie Board
Dessert Dip Charcuterie Board: 100% Crowd-Pleaser Dessert Idea
Sweet & Savory Fall Charcuterie Board That’s Simple to Make (Customize to any season!)
Fabulous Easter Candy and Dessert Charcuterie Board Your Gathering Needs
35 Kid-Friendly Charcuterie Boards for the Most Picky Eaters
30 Incredible Brunch Charcuterie Boards, Guaranteed Crowdpleasers
More Appetizer Ideas
40+ Best Individual Appetizers for Social Distancing: Party Approved!
30 Healthy Game Day Appetizers (Clean | Paleo | Whole30)
40 Slow Cooker Party Appetizer Recipes Guaranteed to Wow
If you’re looking for other appetizer ideas, give these a try!
Free Printable Blank Food Label Cards HERE!
And if you’d like to grab the free printable label cards that can be used for your DIY charcuterie boards (or really any other food you need to label!), fill out the box below, and you’ll immediately be redirected to the download!
If you create this, I’d love to see how it turned out! Please share on social media and tag me on Instagram @100affections and I’ll share in my stories!
Other thoughts? I’d love to hear them! Leave a comment below! 🙂
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