A Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board isn't just an appetizer or meal - it's a great way to show someone important to us that they're loved. There are so many cute Valentine's treats you can add to a board, and they're easy to tailor to someone's tastes.
I make one for Rob, my longtime partner, every year. He picks up the prosecco, I make the board, and we have a chill night in. Even if we go out for a Valentine's Day dinner, we'll enjoy the board before leaving as an appetizer or save it for the following weekend. But we never, ever skip it - it's too much fun!
I also make a cute Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board for my parents to share - they love it! It's a cute gift; I almost always have plenty of leftover ingredients so making an extra is easy. I've also brought a box for a fun night in with a friend. They're really versatile!
You can vary the colors with red, pink, white, green, and even yellow and orange, or go all-in with just one color (such as these pink charcuterie boards).
You can find small, inexpensive heart-shaped boards at many stores this time of the year (I picked several up at Lidl and Aldi last year), then assemble and wrap them with cellophane for a thoughtful gift. Don't forget the bow!
Ingredients - Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
Most of the ingredients for the board below came from Aldi, except the honey and raspberry jam, but the same or similar ingredients should be easy to find. The board came from Lidl last year, but I spot them everywhere as Valentine's Day approaches.
I had over half of my ingredients left after making this board, so you'll have plenty left if you'd like to make a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Box, too!
- Meats: Hot Calabrese was used to make the salami rose. The folded meat toward the bottom of the board is Capocollo. On the left side of the board is prosciutto.
- Cheeses: I used Brie and cut it into wedges, using just three large wedges on the board. I also used two types of cheddar, which I usually wouldn't do, but I was sharing it with Rob for Valentine's Day and he loves it! I crumbled the cranberry white cheddar and placed it on the top left. The sliced cheddar on the top right is MontAmoré Cheddar, which has hints of parmesan - delicious.
- Fruits: Strawberries, of which one was left whole and two were cut in half. Pineberries, which I adore and always pick up whenever I find them, have a mild pineapple flavor. I also added a few fresh cherries with the stem.
- Nuts: I used Marcona almonds, which are my go-to.
- Condiments: A tiny jar of honey and a small dish of raspberry jam.
- Crackers: I placed breadsticks on the board with a few water crackers on the side.
- Sweet Valentine's treats: Chocolate truffles in browns and pinks. Little chocolate pie slices, in browns, whites, and pinks. Macarons - also in brown, white, and pink!
Need some inspiration? Check out our list of 75 red foods you can use on a Valentine's Day charcuterie board!
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Use a small board or platter: The great thing about a charcuterie board for Valentine's Day is that unless you're having a party, it can be small, most likely for just two people. You can use a plate, platter, or a wooden board. Something around 10 inches in diameter is perfect!
- Start with any little bowls or jars: These are the least likely to flop over, so put your sturdiest ingredients on the board first. I used a tiny jar of honey and a little dish of jam.
- Add your cheese: Cheeses will also do a good job of staying put, so place these next. You don't need to put too much thought into where they'll go; just make sure they're not right next to one another.
- Add your meats next: I made a salami rose, which is pretty sturdy. The others - especially the prosciutto - can be a little floppy, so I place mine next to the crumbled cheddar for extra support.
- Crackers: I usually wait until I have the meats, cheeses, and condiments on the board before adding crackers to ensure I have room. I did have room in this case, but if I didn't, I would have just popped the breadsticks into a pretty glass and served them on the side.
- Add the rest: Fill in larger spaces with the nuts, strawberries, pineberries, and cherries. Then pop your sweet treats in wherever they make sense. It only takes a few minutes to assemble, especially if you cut your cheese and fold the meats just before.
And voilà! Your Valentine's Day charcuterie board is complete!
More Ideas for a Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
- Heart-Shaped Cheese: Use cookie cutters and thinly sliced cheese to make heart shapes, use letters to spell "love" or their name, or just to say "I LOVE YOU."
- Edible Flowers: I use edible flowers often on my boards! I usually buy them dried because they last so long and I can keep them on hand. We don't actually eat them - although you certainly could - but they look so pretty that I can't resist. I buy mine from Freshly Preserved.
- Personalized Items: Think about who you're making the board for. If you'll be sharing with someone eating low-carb, put some sliced cucumbers or sugar snap peas on the board. Maybe they love dark chocolate or a particular fruit. The best Valentine's Day charcuterie boards are the ones put together with love and care.
- Colors: Use a lot of reds, pinks, and whites. It's Valentine's Day, after all!
- Love Notes: Tuck small, handwritten notes underneath chocolates or little cookies.
- Skewers: You can cut a grape in half and put the cut sides together to form a heart! Then just put a few on a small appetizer pick or skewer. You can do the same thing with cherry tomatoes.
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