Try making fun appetizers for your next gathering. This creative charcuterie board disguised as a tree even has a Dijon mustard sun! It only takes 30 minutes to make creative finger foods for party time!
WATCH MY RECIPE VIDEO BELOW to see how easy it is to make this charcuterie board at home.
5 Tips On How To Make A Charcuterie Board
Tip 1: Use Paper Towel To Protect Your Hand
The metal maple leaf cookie cutter is a bit sharp. To protect your hand when you cut the leaf-shaped walnut bread, fold a small piece of paper towel and place it on top of the cookie cutter. That way you’re not directly pushing down on the cookie cutter.
Tip 2: Use Medium Or Hard Cheeses
When making the cheese leaves, stay away from soft cheese because it will turn into a mushy mess when you use the cookie cutter. It's best to stick with medium and hard cheeses including cheddar, colby, jack, and swiss.
Tip 3: Save Time And Get Cheese Slices
Initially I was going to get a block of cheese and cut thin slices. I’m so glad that I came to my senses and bought cheese slices instead!
Tip 4: Don’t Forget The Mustard Sun!
My favorite part of this adorable charcuterie board is the Dijon mustard sun. After all, your tree needs to grow! In the photo, I filled an mini jam jar with mustard and threw in a baby spoon.
Tip 5: Have Fun And Ask Guests To Make Fun Appetizers With You
I don’t care how old you are; it’s always fun to play with your food. You can even get your guests to participate in the festivities by asking them to build this fun charcuterie board with you.
How To Make Fun Appetizers At Home
Step 1: Build The Tree Trunk and Branches
To form the tree trunk and branches I’m using roasted walnuts. For a hint of green grass, I'm using shelled pistachios.
Step 2: Build The Walnut Bread Leaves
To speed things up, I’m enlisting my trusty maple leaf cookie cutter to cut each cheese and walnut bread leaf. I love that each bite has little chunks of walnuts. Yum! Also, since I hate wasting food, I’m saving the extra crust to make homemade croutons.
Step 3: Build The Cheese Leaves
Originally, I was going to make a cheese and charcuterie board using a mixture of hard and soft cheese. Since it’s difficult to cut soft cheese with a cookie cutter, I stuck with some of my other favorites– hot peper jack, colby jack and cheddar cheese. Check out these adorable leaf-shaped cheese slices. These are even great as finger foods for kids!
Step 4: Add Salty and Sweet Goodies
For a salty kick, I’m piling up Italian dry salami and prosciutto. For a bit of sweetness, I’m adding dried apricots and fresh grapes from the Farmers’ Market.
Step 5: Build The Dijon Mustard Sun
What’s a cheese and charcuterie tree without the sun? I love adding a dollop of mustard on the meats so it’s only natural that I include a Dijon mustard sun.
Tools To Make These Fun Appetizers
- Maple Leaf Shape Steel Cookie Cake Cutter (set of 3) - I’m using the smallest leaf in the set.
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to my YouTube Channel so that every week we can build Chewable Structures together.
For More Fun Food Ideas, Check Out:
- Best Food Gifts: Gummy LEGO Candy Christmas Tree
- Watermelon Fruit Train
- Mother's Day Dessert Ideas: Chocolate Garden Cake
Do you like to make fun appetizers? If so, leave a comment below and telll me what you like to make.
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Fun Appetizers: This Charcuterie Board Looks Like A Tree
Ingredients
- 1 loaf walnut bread sliced
- 1 cup walnuts
- ½ cup pistachios
- ¼ cup olives
- ½ cup dried apricots
- ½ cup fresh grapes
- 4 slices colby
- 4 slices pepper jack
- 4 slices cheddar cheese
- 3 Tbsp Dijon mustard
- thinly sliced prosciutto
- thinkly sliced Italian dry salami
Instructions
- Watch the video instructions: https://youtu.be/ApiCxAW1Dho
- Using a small maple leaf cookie cutter, cut the walnut bread slices into little leaves.
- Using a small maple leaf cookie cutter, cut the cheese slices into little leaves. Put the cheese slices on top of the walnut bread.
- Build the tree trunk and branches using walnuts.
- Build the grass using pistachios.
- Add the remaining ingredients to the tree (cheese and walnut bread leaves, prosciutto, Italian dry salami, dried apricots, fresh grapes and olives).
Video
Notes
- To protect your hand from the maple leaf cookie cutter, fold a small piece of paper towel so that you’re not directly pushing down on the cookie cutter when you’re cutting out the walnut bread leaves.
- When making the cheese leaves, stay away from soft cheese, as it will turn into a mushy mess when using the cookie cutter. Medium and hard cheeses work best¬ including cheddar, colby, jack, and swiss.
- Save yourself time and get cheese slices!
- Put the olives in a small bowl so the juices don’t leak onto the rest of the cheese and charcuterie tree.
- These are supposed to be fun snacks to make, so have fun when you build your tree!
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