Boards Occasions & Parties Cocktail Party Charcuterie Board
Occasions & Parties
Cocktail Party Charcuterie Board
Small bites for people holding a drink in one hand. Every piece is one-bite sized, and every flavour is picked to stand up to spirits.
- Serves
- 12–20
- Board
- 18–22″ board
- Prep
- 25–30 min
- Cost
- $65–$100
- Level
- Intermediate
Open this board in the Board Builder Get amounts for your own guest count, free.
What's on the board
Crackers & bread
Spreads & extras
Amounts and prices for each item are in the book, or open the board in the Board Builder for amounts sized to your guest count.
Why it works
Cocktails are strong, so the food has to be too. Salty Manchego and nutty Gruyère stand up to whiskey and gin, the triple-crème softens a bitter drink, and Gorgonzola with truffle honey holds its own against anything stirred.
Everything is sized for one bite and one free hand: folded prosciutto, small crostini, olives without pits. Dark chocolate and dried apricots cover the sweet side for the dessert drinkers, and cornichons and Dijon keep the meats sharp.
Timeline
- T–30 minTake all the cheeses out of the fridge.
- T–20 minDrain the olives and cornichons; fill the small bowls.
- T–10 minPlace the cheeses; set out the honey and mustard.
- T–5 minDrape the meats; add fruit and crackers.
- T–0Cocktail hour starts.
The seven-step placement plan (what goes where, and why) is in the book.
Questions
How many people does this cocktail party board serve?
12 to 20 people over a two-hour cocktail party, on an 18–22 inch board.
What cheeses go with cocktails?
Firm, salty cheeses like Manchego and Gruyère for spirit-forward drinks; a triple-crème for bitter ones like a Negroni.
How do I make everything one-bite?
Cut the cheese into small triangles, fold the meats in quarters and use crostini instead of a whole baguette.
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Want more ideas? Read How to Build a Cocktail Party Charcuterie Board: The One-Handed Format.
Free printable
Get the Charcuterie Cheat Sheet
How much to buy for any guest count, the build order, fridge timing and pairing rules on two printable pages. Plus the Lab Report: one pairing that works and why, and new printables the day they land.