Boards Seasonal & Holiday Summer Backyard Charcuterie Board
Seasonal & Holiday
Summer Backyard Charcuterie Board
A fruit-forward board for a hot afternoon: melon, berries and peaches with mild cheeses and a few easy meats, built in about 25 minutes.
- Serves
- 8–12
- Board
- 16–20″ board
- Prep
- 20–25 min
- Cost
- $45–$70
- Level
- Beginner
Open this board in the Board Builder Get amounts for your own guest count, free.
What's on the board
Fresh fruit
Crackers & 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
In hot weather people reach for juicy, cold things first, so half of this board is fruit. Melon and berries also do the job that olives and pickles do on other boards: they cut through the salt and fat of the salami and pepperoni.
The cheeses are mild and suited to the heat. Aged cheddar holds its shape better than soft cheese, havarti is buttery, and mozzarella balls with a basil leaf make an easy one-bite snack. Honey and mint over the peaches pull the sweet side together.
Timeline
- T–45 minTake the cheddar out of the fridge.
- T–30 minTake out the havarti; cube the watermelon and cantaloupe.
- T–20 minTake out the meats and mozzarella; slice the peach.
- T–10 minPlace the cheeses, then fold the salami and pepperoni beside them.
- T–0Fill in with fruit, crackers, basil and mint; drizzle honey on the peaches.
The seven-step placement plan (what goes where, and why) is in the book.
Questions
How long can a charcuterie board sit outside in summer?
No more than 2 hours, or 1 hour when it's above 90°F. Set it in the shade, keep the fruit cold until the last minute and refill with small batches from the fridge.
Which cheeses hold up best in the heat?
Firm cheeses like aged cheddar. Soft cheeses sweat and slump in warm weather, so keep them small or leave them out.
How many people does it serve?
8 to 12 people on a 16–20 inch board.
More boards
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Seasonal & Holiday
Holiday Charcuterie Board
Serves 12–16 · $85–$140
Intermediate
-
Seasonal & Holiday
Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board
Serves 10–15 · $70–$110
Intermediate
-
Seasonal & Holiday
New Year's Eve Charcuterie Board
Serves 10–15 · $90–$145
Intermediate
Want more ideas? Read Summer Charcuterie Board Ideas.
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.