This easy Halloween charcuterie board is such a fun way to bring some spooky flair to your next party. It's loaded with a playful mix of cheeses, meats, crackers, fruit, candy, and creepy little decorations. All the stuff that makes Halloween snacks the best snacks.
Let's be honest. Halloween parties are mostly an excuse for adults to eat candy without shame. But if you're looking to add a little sophistication to your celebration, this spooky Halloween charcuterie board is your ticket.
This grazing board is festive, flexible, and way easier than it looks. It's also a great way to sneak in something savory (and, dare I say it, healthy?) between all the sugar crashes. (Does anyone else's kids come home with an obscene amount of candy? Oye!) Whether you're hosting a scary movie night, a big Halloween bash, or just want something fun to snack on while handing out candy, this festive Halloween charcuterie board brings the spooky and the snacks.
Key Ingredients
This isn't a rigid recipe. It's more of a choose-your-own spooky adventure. Mix and match your favorites and use what you've got. I usually grab most of these from my local grocery store in one sweep. Below is everything I used, plus a few substitutions.
- Mummy Baked Brie & Witch's Broomsticks. These are totally optional and take just a little bit of extra effort, but the payoff is well worth it. You'll need a full wheel of brie, some jam (you'll slice the top off the brie, spread on the jam, and then pop the top back on), and puff pastry for the mummy baked brie. For the witch's broomsticks, you'll just need some simple pretzel sticks and string cheese. (If you decide not to make either of these, just substitute a couple of blocks of your favorite cheese.
- Fresh fruits. Grapes, blackberries, strawberries, and pomegranate are what I used here. I like to use a mix of different colors that match the theme of the board.
- Nuts. I used pistachios, but you could use almonds, walnuts, or even a candied nut mix. Whatever you like or happen to have on hand.
- Olives. Green or black olives (or both!) work. Personally, I love pimento-stuffed green olives since they look a bit like eyes. Perfect for a Halloween-themed board!
- Crackers. Mix it up with your favorites. I like to use different sizes nad textures of crackers to create some visual interest, including classic rounds, crisps, pretzel thins, and even thin breadstick crackers.
- Deli meats. What's a charcuterie board without some cured meats? Salami, prosciutto, or any type of meat you love works great.
- Cheeses. The mummy brie was my main cheese addition to this board, but if you decide not to do that (or even if you do), you could add 1-2 other fun flavors. A mix of semi-soft cheeses and hard cheeses is always nice, so some cubed cheddar cheese (perfect for nibbling) or a plain wedge of brie are good options.
- Spreadables. I used some pimento cheese to keep with the orange/Halloween colors, but you could use hummus, a nice fig jam, or your personal favorite dip.
- Sweets. It wouldn't be a Halloween board without some candy, right? I used candy corn and chocolate-covered pretzels. A small bowl overflowing with gummy worms or some candy eyeballs would also be fun and totally on point.
- Popcorn. I love using popcorn on charcuterie boards because it's cheap, crunchy, and is perfect for filling in those nooks and crannies that are left toward the end.
- Decor. Mini skeletons, plastic spiders, tiny pumpkins, anything that adds a spooky twist to the board. This is the fun part! I found most of these items at the Dollar Store.
- Fun drinks! Wine or a fun themed cocktail like these apple cider margaritas are the perfect pairing for this feast!
How to Build the Perfect Halloween Charcuterie Board (Step-By-Step)
Make the mummy baked brie and the witch's brooms.
Make your mummy baked brie first. It's melty, gooey, fruity, and wrapped in puff pastry and, IMHO, is the cutest addition to this board. Slice the brie in half. horizontally and spread a layer of jam on the bottom half. (Fig, raspberry, or apricot flavors all go beautifully with the brie.) Replace the top. Cut the puff pastry into strips and create a crisscross/star pattern with them on a flat surface (I like to do this directly on the sheet I'll be baking the brie on so I don't have to transfer the brie when I'm done wrapping it.) Loosely wrap the pastry strips over and around the brie to create a "mummy" look, leaving a space for the eyes. Brush with egg wash and bake until golden and puffed (about 15-20 minutes). Let it cool slightly, then add candy eyes or olive slices.
Make the witch's brooms. Cut 4-5 sticks of string cheese in half. Use kitchen scissors or a sharp knife to make vertical slits in the bottom half of each cut piece of string cheese to create frings. Stick a pretzel into the uncut end of each piece to make a broom handle. Done!
Assemble the board
Start with the big things. I like to use the large items as anchors on the serving board, so I always put them into position first. For this board, I started with the Mummy brie, the pomegranate, and the caldron of pimento cheese.
Add your bowls and dips. Next, place your slightly smaller items, like the small bowls of olives, nuts, or candy, around the board. Bowls break up the layout and help organize messier bits.
Fill in the gaps. Now layer in the crackers, deli meats, fruits, popcorn, broomsticks, and candy. Think color and texture here. Mix up shapes and sizes, and don't worry about making it perfect. This is supposed to be fun. I like to roll the deli meats up and tuck them in between some of the bigger items on the board to create a nice look and to make them easy to pluck out of the crowd.
Add the spooky flair. Now's the time for the plastic spiders, skeleton hands, mini pumpkins, and tiny Halloween trinkets. Have fun with this! Prom up a skeleton to hold a bowl, scatter spiders around the edges, and tuck some spooky-looking flowers into the open spaces. This is where the personality of your board really comes through.
Variations, Substitutions, and Ideas
Want to mix up your board? The sky's the limit! Here are a few ideas:
- Change up the cheese. As mentioned before, you don't have to make the mummy brie. Try a pumpkin-shaped cheese ball or just a wheel of goat cheese rolled in herbs or nuts.
- Go sweeter. Go full-on Hallowen candy board: swap out meats and cheeses for cookies, marshmallows, and Halloween candy
- Kid-friendly. Skip anything too spicy or strong and let them help place the spiders.
- More cheese, please. Can you ever have too much cheese? Include cheddar, gouda, and soft cheeses like mozzarella balls or Boursin for variety.
- Make it even more Halloween-y. Use small cookie cutters to cut cheddar into pumpkin shapes or skulls. It's ridiculously cute and easy.
Tips For A Great Halloween Charcuterie Board
Here are my top tips for making an extra spooky spread.
- Think variety. One of the things that makes these types of boards so much fun is all the different things you add to the board. Try to keep it on theme, but also mix in your personal favorites. Get a mix of cheeses, crackers, fruits, nuts, and small bites to make it fun.
- Make it visual. On my board, the brie, pomegranate, witch's broomsticks, and little decorations keep this board fun. Use a variety of colors and textures, and have a few standout pieces to really grab your guests' attention. Use themed snacks where you can, and don't forget those fun additions like the mini skeletons, spiders, and spooky flowers.
- Fill the entire board. (I'm talking every square inch!) The key to making your Halloween board look over the top is to have it overflowing with your spooky snacks. Use a board or tray that will fit the number of treats you have, then go to town filling it in. Don't leave any empty spaces!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can slice cheeses and prep fruits a few hours early. Just wrap everything in plastic wrap or stash it in a Ziploc bag in the fridge. Assemble the board 30 minutes before serving so everything hits room temperature and tastes its best.
Truly? Anything works! A large cutting board, baking sheet, or even a clean tray will do the trick. Just make sure you've got enough space and a flat surface. But here are just a couple of considerations: 1) Think about what you're placing on the board and plan accordingly. You want enough space for everything to fit, but not too much space that leaves the elements of your board floating around on their own. (Remember, we want the board to be overflowing with goodies!) 2) If you have a tray with edges (and, bonus, handles!), it can be super helpful if you're transporting this to another party.
Skip the baked brie.. Use a pre-made dip or spread, focus on variety with minimal prep. You can still have a super festive Halloween cheese board without turning on the oven. One of the best things about a charcuterie board is that it's customizable, and you can throw one together quickly with very little planning.
This spooky charcuterie board is festive, flavorful, and flexible enough to work for any Halloween gathering, whether it's a big party or a simple movie night at home. Grab your candy corn, your favorite cheeses, and get building. It's spooky season after all!
If you try this Halloween Charcuterie Board, leave a comment below to let me know what you think. And please (pretty please!) tag me with a pic on IG - I'd love to see how you made this your own!
Recipe
Halloween Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
For the Mummy Baked Brie
- 1 wheel brie
- 2 tbsp jam fig, raspberry, or apricot all work well
- 1 sheet puff pastry sliced into thin strips
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 teaspoon water
For the Witch's Broomsticks
- 5 sticks string cheese
- 10 pretzel sticks
Other Halloween Charcuterie Board Ideas
- fresh fruit Berries, grapes, pomegranate
- nuts
- olives black or green olives work
- crackers use a variety
- cured meats salami, proscuitto, calabrese, pepperoni
- candy candy corn, chocolate-covered pretzels, or your favorite Halloween candy
- 2 cups popcorn popped
- spreadable cheese or dip pimento cheese, hummus
- Decorative fillers mini skeletons, spiders, pumpkins, spooky flowers, etc.
Instructions
Make the Mummy Baked Brie
- Preheat the oven to 400℉. Slice the wheel of brie in half horizontally. Spread a layer of jam or preserves over the bottom half (fig, raspberry or apricot all work well). Place the top half back on like a sandwich.
- Roll out one sheet of puff pastry. Using a pizza cutter or a sharp knife, cut the pastry into thin strips lengthwise. (Don't worry about them being perfectly even. It actually looks better if they're a little uneven in size.)
- On a parchment-lined baking sheet, lay the strips in a loose star or criss-cross pattern. This makes wrapping easier. Place the brie in the center of the strips. Wrap the strips over the cheese in a messy, overlapping pattern to create a mummy look. Leave a small gap near the top for the eyes.
- Create an egg wash by whisking 1 egg yolk with a splash of water. Brush the pastry lightly with the egg wash to help it brown.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until the pastry is puffed and golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly before adding candy eyes or olive slices for eyes.
Make the Witch's Broomsticks
- Cut each string cheese stick in half.
- Make small vertical cuts on one end of each piece to create fringe (the broom bristles). I use scissors to do this.
- Insert a pretzel stick into the uncut end of each string cheese piece to form broom handles. Set aside.
Assemble the Halloween Charcuterie Board
- Place your anchor items first. Arrange the mummy brie (or regular block of cheese if you aren't making the mummy brie), spreadable cheese or dip (like pimento cheese or hummus), grapes, and any larget items (like a halved pomegranate on the board. Spread them out to create balance.
- Place bowls of olives, nuts and candy around the board.
- Layer in the remaining ingredients. Tuck in deli meats (roll the meats to make this easier), fruit, crackers, witch's broomsticks, and popcorn around the anchor items. Fill any empty spaces so the board feels abundant.
- Finish by tucking in spooky decor, like mini skeletons, fake spiders, small pumpkins, or Halloween flowers.
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