Nutcracker Suite Grazing Board (Print View)

A colorful multi-tiered board showcasing cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, and sweets for festive gatherings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz brie cheese
02 - 5.3 oz aged cheddar cheese
03 - 5.3 oz blue cheese
04 - 5.3 oz gouda cheese
05 - 3.5 oz cranberry goat cheese

→ Charcuterie

06 - 3.5 oz prosciutto
07 - 3.5 oz salami
08 - 3.5 oz soppressata

→ Fruits

09 - 1 cup red grapes
10 - 1 cup green grapes
11 - 1 cup blueberries
12 - 1 cup strawberries
13 - 1 cup dried apricots
14 - 1 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Nuts & Accompaniments

15 - 1/2 cup marcona almonds
16 - 1/2 cup pistachios
17 - 1/2 cup candied pecans
18 - 1/2 cup mixed olives
19 - 1/2 cup assorted crackers
20 - 1/2 baguette, sliced

→ Sweets

21 - 5.3 oz white chocolate bark
22 - 5.3 oz dark chocolate
23 - 12 colorful macarons
24 - 12 petit fours

→ Garnishes

25 - Fresh rosemary sprigs
26 - Edible flowers

# Directions:

01 - Select a large, sturdy board or stack multiple tiers using cake stands and platters to create a layered display.
02 - Place crackers, baguette slices, and nuts on the base tier, ensuring even distribution.
03 - Divide each tier into color-themed blocks and group cheeses, charcuterie, fruits, and sweets accordingly.
04 - Arrange cheeses in defined blocks, cutting some into wedges or shapes to accentuate colors.
05 - Drape or fold sliced meats attractively beside or between cheese sections, maintaining clear color separation.
06 - Cluster fruits by color to fill spaces and enhance visual impact.
07 - Scatter nuts, olives, and sweets in complementary colored groups to add texture and variety.
08 - Decorate with fresh rosemary sprigs and edible flowers for a festive touch.
09 - Ensure that tiers are stable and accessible, then serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of board that makes guests pause and actually gasp when they walk into the room—that moment never gets old.
  • Everything is assembled, never cooked, so you can build it the morning of and spend the evening actually enjoying your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • The color-blocking trick makes it look impossibly sophisticated, but it's really just organizing things by hue, which anyone can do.
  • It becomes a conversation starter and a focal point, transforming a simple appetizer into theater.
02 -
  • Temperature is real: bring cheeses and charcuterie out of the fridge 30 minutes before serving so flavors actually shine. I learned this the hard way with a board that tasted like cold storage instead of celebration.
  • Structural stability saves the day: use cake stands and overturned bowls beneath platters to achieve dramatic height, but test everything before guests arrive. A toppled tier is a party killer.
  • Moisture management is your quiet hero: fruits release water, so keep items that can't handle moisture (crackers, macarons) in bowls or positioned away from juicy elements. This single lesson changed my board game.
03 -
  • Color blocking is forgiving: if you're not sure whether two shades go together, they probably do if they're in the same color family. Trust your instincts more than you'd think.
  • Candied pecans and quality chocolate bark are worth the investment—they elevate the entire board from "nice" to "where did you get this?" in ways that other elements can't.
  • Edible flowers aren't just decoration; they signal to guests that you've thought about every detail, which makes them relax and enjoy themselves more.
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