Let's get ready to make a 4th of July Charcuterie Board that is going to be the star of your patriotic celebration this summer.
This is one 4th of July food that is pretty enough to be the centerpiece of your buffet table.
Grab a cutting board or pretty tray and let me share with you some of my tips for creating and serving this impressive appetizer.
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This stunning 4th of July appetizer is a symphony of flavors and colors, brimming with a delectable assortment of cheeses, crackers, sweet and salty treats, and a bounty of fresh, seasonal fruit. Your guests will marvel at its beauty, almost hesitant to disturb the patriotic masterpiece before them.
Gather your favorite ingredients and a spacious serving board because we're about to embark on a culinary celebration of red, white, and blue in the most delicious way possible.
Looking for more 4th of July party ideas? Try my 4th of July Food Traditions or Dinner Ideas for 4th of July
Table of Contents
- What is a Charcuterie Board?
- Helpful Kitchen Tools
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Recipe Variations
- Step-by-Step Directions
- Make Cheese Star Shapes
- Top Tip
- Start Building the Board
- Add the Crackers
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- Recipe FAQ's
- Storage Instructions
- More Recipes to Try and Love
- Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
What is a Charcuterie Board?
A charcuterie board is an assortment of cheeses, crackers, breads, olives, fruit, nuts and meats beautifully arranged on a serving board.
The best thing about serving an appetizer like this for any party is that there is no "right" or "wrong" way to put one together! The possibilities and combinations of food ingredients are endless.
You can use almost anything to create a charcuterie board: rectangle trays, a lazy Susan with or without the dishes that came with it. A large plastic tray or a large cutting board work great too.
Whatever you use just make sure it’s sturdy to handle the weight of the board. Most of all, have fun putting yours together and keep the theme with the red, white and blue colors
Helpful Kitchen Tools
Bamboo Charcuterie PlatterMore InformationBamboo Cutting BoardMore InformationRamekinsMore InformationCheese Knife Set,4-pieceMore Information
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. Find the exact amounts and click the Instacart button to easily add them to your cart – all in the printable recipe card below!
- Any white cheese; I used Swiss cheese
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Baby Bell Cheese or string cheeses
- Watermelon
- Strawberries
- Blueberries
- Raspberries
- Dried fruit; blueberries and cranberries
- Oyster crackers
- Soup crackers
- Club crackers or pita chips
- White chocolate covered pretzels
Recipe Variations
- Feel free to get creative with variations on this patriotic charcuterie board! Swap out the Swiss cheese for a white cheddar or pepper jack for a sharper flavor.
- Experiment with different fruits, incorporating raspberries, blueberries, or blackberries for a more varied color palette.
- Add a touch of sweetness with red, white, and blue candies like M&Ms, yogurt-covered pretzels, or star-shaped marshmallows.
- The possibilities are endless, so tailor the board to your preferences and create a unique and delicious centerpiece for your celebration.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step 1: Begin by washing and drying all fruit, then slice the watermelon into bite-sized pieces, removing seeds. Slice some strawberries in half, leaving a few whole for visual appeal.
Make Cheese Star Shapes
Step 2: On a clean cutting board, arrange the Swiss cheese slices and, using a star-shaped cookie cutter, carefully press out as many stars as possible. Don't throw away the remaining cheese scraps; they'll be perfect for filling in gaps on your charcuterie board.
Top Tip
Before diving in, visualize your charcuterie board's layout. Assess the available space and strategically place large star cookie cutters or ramekins to serve as anchor points for your arrangement. Build your culinary masterpiece around these focal points, ensuring a balanced and visually appealing presentation.
Start Building the Board
Step 3: With your sliced fruit and cheese ready, begin arranging them on a board, using small bowls for dried fruit and cheese spread. Thoughtfully place each item to maintain a patriotic red, white, and blue color scheme throughout the arrangement. Ensure the entire board is filled, creating a visually appealing and festive presentation.
Add the Crackers
Step 4: To prevent crackers from getting soggy, create "bridges" using Babybel cheeses or cheese sticks to separate fruit and other moist items. Chocolate-covered pretzels also serve as a barrier against moisture while adding a touch of white to the patriotic theme. Sprinkle stars across the board and cluster some together for visual interest. Soon, your festive charcuterie board will be overflowing with deliciousness, ready to impress your guests!
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Recipe FAQ's
What can I use as a charcuterie board?
You don't need any fancy equipment to put together a beautiful spread of cheeses, meats and fruits. Use a very large wooden cutting board, a large tray even a pretty serving platter would work.
One time I had my husband cut a piece of plywood and then I wrapped it in chalkboard contact paper so I could properly label everything that I was serving.
How far in advance can you make a charcuterie board?
You can prep-ahead all the items for your charcuterie board the day before you plan on serving it. Store all the cut up meats, cheeses, fruit, etc in either airtight containers or plates wrapped in plastic wrap. Assemble the board right before your guests are due to arrive.
Storage Instructions
Cheeses: Properly store leftover cheese by wrapping hard cheeses in wax or parchment paper, placing soft cheeses in airtight containers, and wrapping blue cheeses in aluminum foil. Refrigerate all cheeses.
Cured Meats: Wrap whole cured meats tightly in plastic or butcher paper. Store sliced meats in an airtight container with paper towels to absorb moisture. Refrigerate all cured meats.
Fruits, Vegetables and Nuts: Store whole fruits at room temperature or in the refrigerator depending on the type. Place cut fruits, nuts and vegetables in an airtight container and refrigerate.
Crackers: Store leftover crackers and bread in an airtight container at room temperature.
Dips and Spreads: Store leftover dips and spreads in an airtight container and refrigerate. Most dips and spreads will stay fresh for up to a week when stored this way.
More Recipes to Try and Love
Ready for more great appetizers recipe? Try my collection of 4th of July Charcuterie Board Ideas, Tips on Creating the Perfect Cheese Board and my Christmas Tree Shaped Cheese Board.
Celebrate Summer with the Red, White & Delicious Recipes eBook!
This beautifully designed digital cookbook features 10 fun and festive dessert recipes perfect for the 4th of July, Memorial Day, or any red, white, and blue celebration.
📖 Recipe Card
4th of July Charcuterie Board
Video
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Swiss cheese sliced thick
- Blue cheese crumbles; 4 ounce size container
- 1 pack baby bell cheese; 12 count size
- 1 small watermelon
- 1 pint strawberries
- 1 pint blueberries
- 1 pint blackberries
- 1 pint raspberries
- ½ cup dried blueberries
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- Oyster crackers; 10 ounce size box
- Pita chip; 8 ounce size
- White chocolate covered pretzels; 6.5 ounce size
Method
- Wash and dry the fruit that you are using for the board. Slice the watermelon and some of the strawberries.
- Lay the slices of Swiss cheese on a cutting board and using the star shaped cookie cutter, cut out shapes. Don't discard the pieces of cheese not in the shape of stars. You can use those as fillers for the board.
- Now that you have the fruit and cheese sliced, start arranging the items on the board. Use bowls for the dried fruit and cheese crumbles.
- Be careful with the placement so you keep the patriotic red, white and blue theme running throughout the presentation.
- Make sure the whole board is covered.
- Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Notes
- To keep the crackers from getting soggy due to the fruit build "bridges". Try using the Baby Bel Cheese as a border to separate other items.
- The chocolate covered pretzels are another barrier to block moisture since the pretzels won't get soggy. And they add a nice white color to this red, white and blue charcuterie board.
- Add a few stars throughout the board as well as grouping some together. That way they stand out.
- Before long the board is filled and you are ready to serve!
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