Ideas for How To Make A Charcuterie Breakfast Board

How to make an easy charcuterie board using breakfast foods that will be a crowd favorite.

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Imagine all of your favorite breakfast foods put out on a BIG breakfast platter or a big board to share with friends and family.  What a fun way to enjoy breakfast and some time together!  This post is more of an idea post than a recipe post. My hope is to inspire you with a few ideas that you might want to try the next time you host brunch or a holiday breakfast.

What is a charcuterie board?

A charcuterie board is a type of appetizer or snack platter that usually includes a selection of cured meats, cheeses, crackers, breads, fruits, nuts, and spreads.

It originated in France and is often associated with the art of charcuterie, which is the preparation of meat products like bacon, ham, and sausages. In fact, it’s name is a French term meaning ‘cooked meats’, because those meats are the star of the show when it comes to traditional charcuterie boards.

Charcuterie boards have become increasingly popular in the U.S. in recent years and although a lot of the boards we see today are far from the original charcuterie board. The spirit is still there and it’s a great way to feed a crowd with minimal cooking skills.

Equipment

You’ll need a large wooden board, or a large slate board—basically a pretty and food-safe flat surface.

A set of cheese knives – if you’re serving cheese, go with a cheese knife set to make self-serving super easy. 

Small bowls – These can help add dimension as well as keep foods contained.  I like to use them for small items like nuts or softer items like whipped butter or peanut butter.  

Small Jars or small containers- Very similar to the small bowls these can be used in the same way.  I like to use small jars for honey, jams, or homemade apple butter.

How to Build a Beautiful Breakfast Charcuterie Board

So I am a costume designer for my day job and design is very important to me.  Charcuterie boards are supposed to be beautiful, the visuals can be just as important as the flavors..so here are a few secrets to help you get that “wow” factor every time. 

Consider color combinations for visual appeal

• Incorporate pops of color for an eye-catching board. Include fresh fruit with vibrant colors such as fresh strawberries, juicy blueberries, orange wedges, red raspberries, etc.
• Using contrasting colors is a great trick to add visual interest and some dimension.  Try something like orange slices next to a cluster of blueberries, or a big sprig of fresh dill next to yellow cheese.

Add fresh herbs or edible flowers for garnish:

• Garnish your board with edible flowers such as basil and chive blossoms, or lavender and pansies. They are beautiful (and edible!) decorative elements, and can also be used to infuse flavors to the ingredients.
• Fresh herbs can be a great addition too, basil, mint, thyme, parsley, chives or dill will add wonderful aromas and beauty to your board.

Arrange ingredients in small clusters for easy access and a polished presentation:

• Arrange your ingredients in small clusters for easy access and a powerful visual appeal.
• Be creative with the arrangement to give the board a visually appealing design. For example, a circular pattern of fruit, a wavy line of bread, or a diagonal arrangement of meat can be very eye-catching.

What beverages go well with a breakfast charcuterie board?

• Coffee- a classic!  Have a coffee bar with all of the fixings, including cream and sugar.
• Tea – Put out a big pot of tea with honey, sugar, and milk.
• Mimosas – The classic brunch cocktail
• Juice – Any kind will do!  Orange, pineapple, cranberry, grape…
• Bloody Mary –  Another brunch classic for those who prefer savory to sweet
• Warm Apple Cider – A great option for the colder months
• Lemon Blueberry Spritz – try my recipe!
• Bellinis – Add a bit of sophistication to your gathering with your favorite Bellini recipe.

​Breakfast Charcuterie Board Ideas:

Bagel and Smoked Salmon Board

The classic breakfast made into a build-your-own charcuterie board

• Cream cheese
• Lox or smoked salmon
• Bagels
• Tomato
• Thinly sliced red onion
• Capers
• Sliced cucumber
• Lemon wedges
• Butter
• Grapes, red and green
• Fresh Herbs – like parsley or dill

Pancakes and Bacon Board

A perfect charcuterie board for kids!

• Mini pancakes
• Greek Yogurt
• Fresh Berries
• ​Sliced banana
• Nutella
• Homemade whipped cream
• Crispy bacon strips – I like to cut mine in half and make twists
• A pitcher of maple syrup

No-Cook Breakfast Board

​This board is made with items you can purchase pre-made from the store.  If you want to make muffins or scones from scratch, that would be great too!

• Mini muffins
• Croissants
• Prosciutto wrapped melon
• Salami and ham Rosettes
• Jar of honey
• Jam
• Blackberries
• Orange Slices
• ​Accent with lavender

​Sweet and Savory Breakfast Charcuterie Board

There’s something for everyone on this board!

• Hard-boiled eggs cut into wedges and drizzled with olive oil, salt, and pepper
• Brie drizzled with honey and thyme
• Baguette sliced
• Mini cinnamon rolls
• Raspberries and blueberries
• Sweet and spicy bacon twists
• Mixed Nuts
• Pigs in a blanket
• Garnish with fresh thyme

Mix and Match to create your own Easy Breakfast Charcuterie Board

Here are some items you could mix and match and pick your favorites to create your own customized breakfast board.

• Quick Breads – like banana bread or pumpkin bread
• A variety of Soft and Hard Cheeses
• Favorite Muffins
• Fresh Fruit
• Hard-Boiled Eggs Cut into Wedges
• Mini Cinnamon Rolls
• French toast cut into sticks or small squares
• English Muffins
• Mini scones
• Fresh Avocado
• Goat Cheese
• Butter
• Jams or Jellies
• Mini bagels
• Mini donuts
• Peanut Butter
• Mini pancakes
• Prosciutto
• Mini Waffles
• Apple Slices
• Edible Flowers
• Honey to drizzle
• Ham
• Melon
• Salami
• mini Croissants
• Nutella
• Brie
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Sliced Baguette

Hopefully, these ideas will help you find your own wonderful way to make a perfect breakfast charcuterie board for your next gathering.  This is ideal for special occasions when you need to feed a lot of people or you want the meal to be extra special.  Perfect for a baby shower or wedding shower, Mother’s Day, Christmas morning, weekend brunch, or an anniversary.

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