Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Wow your guests with this Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board this year. I show you step-by step how to create the most impressive appetizer. It's a show stopping board with the most adorable pear turkey body, thats packed with meats, cheese, nuts, fruit and more. Make it for a big or small Thanksgiving gathering.
Servings: 12 servings
Equipment
- 15" Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 1 Red Pear
- 1 Carrot
- 1 Stalk Celery
- 1 Orange
- 8 oz Vermont White Cheddar Cheese
- 8 oz Pepper Jack Cheese
- 8 oz Vermont Cheddar Cheese
- 8 oz Smoked Gouda Cheese
- 6 oz Manchego Cheese
- 1 Apple
- 40 Assortment Crackers
- 1/4 cup Slivered Almonds divided
- 1/4 cup Cinnamon Almonds
- 1/4 cup Pumpkin Seeds
- 1/4 cup Olives
- 1/4 cup Craisins
- 1 small bunch Grapes
- 1.4 cup Pomegranate Arils
- 6 oz Prosciutto 2 packages
- 4 oz Salami
- 4 oz Pepperoni
- 5 oz Peppered Salami
- 1 loaf Pumpernickel Cocktail Bread
- 1 loaf Rye Cocktail Bread
- 2 Cloves
Instructions
- Shave down bottom of pear so it lays flat.
- Slice carrot lengthwise to create flat pieces and cut into turkey legs.
- Cut a small piece of celery to make a stem for the orange to look like a pumpkin.
- Using a knife cut around the navel to insert celery piece.
- Cut white cheddar into slices.
- Cut pepper jack into cubes.
- Cut 1/2 of yellow cheddar into slices and 1/2 into cubes.
- Cut gouda into wedges.
- Cut Manchego into slices.
- Core and cut apples into tiny wedges.
- Arrange pear with carrot legs on board.
- Place orange with celery stem on board.
- Place cheeses around the board.
- Place apple wedges on board.
- Place crackers on board.
- Place slivered almonds (reserve 1 for later), cinnamon almonds, pumpkin seeds, olives, Craisins, grapes amd pomegranate arils on board.
- Fold proscuitto lengthwise and roll up, Placing around pear in a semi-circle.
- Roll salami and fold in middle to form a semi-circle around proscuitto.
- Repeat this process with pepperoni.
- Fold and roll another layer of proscuitto and place around pepperoni.
- Roll pepperoni and fold in middle to form a semi-circle around 2 layer of proscuitto.
- Fold peppered salami and wrap around pepperoni.
- Using a toothpick, pierce skin of pear and insert cloves for eyes. Use toothpick to make a slit to insert slivered almond as beak.
- Serve with cocktail bread.
Notes
- Make your Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board ahead of time, it will reduce the stress.
- Choose a board size that will fit the needs of the amount of the guests you plan to host.
- No board on hand? No Problem. Use any plate, platter or even butcher paper, just use something that tends to be food safe.
- Use store-bought items to keep it simple and easy to assemble. Feel free to toss in one or two homemade items if you like. I added a small dish of my 3 Ingredient Cranberry Sauce because it compliments this Thanksgiving board well.
- For contrast, choose different color depths of cheeses, meats, fruit and fillers.
- Purchase 2-3 oz of cheese per person that include both a hard and soft option.
- Go with 2-3 oz of meat per person that vary in flavor.
- Choose colorful accomplishments to provide contrast and visual appeal.
- If you plan to transport your board, heavily wrap it in plastic wrap then place inside of a box.
- Don't forget the tongs, knifes, appetizer forks or picks, toothpicks and plates if needed.
Nutrition
Calories: 690kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 33g | Fat: 52g | Saturated Fat: 25g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 1464mg | Potassium: 378mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1616IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 737mg | Iron: 2mg