Fall-themed charcuterie boards are packed with your favorite autumnal flavors and seasonal produce for your cozy grazing pleasure. If you're wondering what you put on an autumn charcuterie board, we've found the succulent seasonal ingredients you need most, and the yummiest fall-themed snack boards you can imagine. This is everything you need to make the perfect fall charcuterie board.
Pumpkin & Apple Butters Are a Must
Spreads are one of the yummiest parts of a charcuterie board, and sweet spreads help balance the salty and briny taste of other board elements. Pumpkin butter or apple butter balances your fall charcuterie board with warm autumn flavors.
Related: 11 Easy Butter Board Recipes: A Tasty Alternative to Charcuterie
Add Crunch With Root Vegetable Crackers
You need a vessel for those autumnal spreads, as well as for your other board ingredients. Crackers are an important part of any charcuterie board, but a fall-themed board means you can use colorful crackers made from root vegetables. Look for snappy crackers made with sweet potatoes, beets, or carrots.
Choose the Best Fall Cheeses
A fall charcuterie board means you have to hunt down a selection of classic fall cheeses. The good news is that these cheeses are very common and typically easy to find. Try a combination of these cheeses for your autumn grazing board.
- Gorgonzola
- Parmigiano reggiano
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Baked brie
- White cheddar
- Smoked gouda
- Manchego
- Gruyère
Need to Know
For every season, a combination of soft and hard cheeses, as well as mild and robust flavors, makes for the ideal charcuterie board.
Candied Pecans Bring Sweet Crunch
For the crunch on your fall charcuterie board, in-season nuts just make sense. Candied pecans are delightful in autumn, and their sweetness balances some of the saltier elements of your board. Served in a cute dish, they fit right in among your seasonal fruits and meat selections.
Fast Fact
Alongside your candied pecans, try other fall nut selections: almonds, walnuts, and pistachios. Look for nuts coated with warm fall flavorings like cinnamon, cocoa, ginger, or maple.
Don't Miss the Meats
Arguably the most important element on a charcuterie board, the meats you choose will make a huge difference in the presentation and flavor profiles. Most meats work year round for any charcuterie board, but for an autumn charcuterie board there are a few that really make those fall flavors pop.
- Genoa salami has a few more spices than a typical hard salami, making it perfect for fall.
- Prosciutto is a little sweet and salty. It pairs well with fall flavors like fig, pear, and basil.
- Calabrese is a spicier salami that complements some of the sweeter elements of fall grazing boards.
- Any sliced or spreadable meats that are fragrant, spicy, or feature fall herbs work well too.
Add a Fall-Flavored Hummus
Once you have the basics for your charcuterie board, you can start thinking of fun additions that help your autumn flavors really stand out. Hummus is a wonderful addition to any board.
It's often vegetarian and vegan-friendly for your guests who might skip the meat selections but don't want to fill up on crackers. Butternut squash and/or pumpkin hummus amplify the seasonal flavors on your board.
Helpful Hack
You can make pumpkin hummus with the pumpkin guts left over from carving your jack-o'-lanterns.
Slice Up Some Pears
Seasonal fall fruit is a no-brainer for your autumn charcuterie spread. Pears are an easy choice, since they complement so many of the other flavors you're likely choosing. Slice one or two for your yummy board.
Quick Tip
Wondering how to "pair" your pears? Prosciutto, fig, pecans, and honey are delightful with pears.
Pop On a Few Pomegranates
Pomegranates are bright and bursting with a seasonal flavor that your autumn charcuterie board needs. They complement the pears you might also be including, as well as some of the fall veggies on your board, like carrots and celery.
Related: Charcuterie Board and Wine Pairing Ideas to Please Your Palate
Dried Fruit Adds Texture to Your Board
You have crunch in the crackers and nuts, strong flavors in the meats and cheeses, and the crispness of fresh fruit and vegetables. What your fall charcuterie board needs now is one or two dried fruits to complete the texture wonderland. Dried cranberries and apricots add tartness and color, while dates bring a complementary sweetness.
Slip Unexpected Sweetness Into the Mix
If dried fruit isn't sweet enough, you can totally add some dessert-like surprises to your fall board. Use them toward the end of your assembly to fill in gaps and finish the look.
- Dark chocolate pairs well with many of the fall fruits and nuts on your board.
- A small saucer of honey makes crackers, cheeses, and meats a bit sweeter.
- Candied orange peel is bright in flavor and appearance.
- White chocolate is lovely on pretzels, alongside your fruits, and even pairs well with some cheeses.
- Fig or maple cookies add crunchy sweetness to the mix.
- Individual caramels fill in gaps with an extra sweet and seasonal surprise.
- Candy corn is a cute fall sweet on your board.
Don't Forget the Garnish
The best part of a charcuterie board is that the things you're eating look like a work of art — at least before everyone dives in, anyway. So complete your masterpiece with seasonal garnishes as natural as the fruits and nuts they surround.
- Small pine branches look cozy and nod toward approaching winter.
- Fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme add fragrance and flavor.
- Tiny pumpkins add major fall vibes to your board.
- Dried citrus slices feel fresh yet cozy.
- Seasonal edible fall florals look lovely on your fall charcuterie board.
Find a Fun Fall Theme for Your Charcuterie Board
It's not just the ingredients on your charcuterie board that make it fall-inspired. You can also choose an autumn theme to help you build your charcuterie from meats to garnishes. We're loving these autumn charcuterie board themes.
Caramel Apple Board
If you're going apple picking this fall, you may as well make it an excuse to entertain. A selection of apples and fall fruits is scrumptious when paired with various caramels for dipping. Bourbon, maple, and browned butter caramels are divine for fall.
Pumpkin Spice Everything Board
Do you love pumpkin spice? If so, you must love devouring all the pumpkin-spiced things that hit the shelves in fall. Gather them together — think cookies, nuts, and even cheeses — for a pumpkin spice everything board.
Halloween Candy Board
This might be the easiest snack board ever. All your favorite Halloween candies come together for a sweetness overload that's totally worth the crash you may feel later.
Football Charcuterie Board
If fall means football season in your home, a football-themed charcuterie board is a fun way to kick things off. There aren't really any special ingredients that scream "football season," but you could serve your charcuterie in the shape of a football instead.
S'mores Board
A selection of graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolates is the makings of a perfect evening. Fall is the best time for a bonfire, and bringing a s'mores-themed board to the gathering makes you the best host ever.
Fall in Love With Charcuterie All Over Again
You thought you loved charcuterie, but a fall charcuterie board is on a whole new level. Fun fall flavors, irresistible autumn pairings, and fall themes you waited for all year make this seasonal grazing board unforgettable. And if you're looking for the perfect drink pairing, try a fall sangria.
