How to make Easy DIY Charcuterie Boxes
During the holidays there are so many times when you need great gifts. Once you learn how to make an easy Charcuterie Box that will be a simple task. Plus, everyone loves food!
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Not only does a mini charcuterie box make the perfect gift but it is also a fun appetizer for your next party. Each person gets individual charcuterie boxes with a beverage of choice and that is all you need. It is also a great option for corporate events and any special occasion.
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What is a Charcuterie Box
A charcuterie box is a combination of select meats and delicious cheese that are accompanied by foods that pair well with them and served in a small box.
Oftentimes those items include crackers, fresh fruit, olives, vegetables and nuts. Unlike a great charcuterie board, each guest gets their own individual servings that are portable. They are perfect for the holiday season.
How to make an Individual Charcuterie Box
There are so many ways to make individual charcuterie. You can choose to make a mini charcuterie board or charcuterie cup for each person but I love to create an individual charcuterie box for everyone.
The box should be full of colorful and delicious items but the food needs to be smaller in size. It is especially wonderful to use a combination of savory and sweet foods with a diverse variety of flavors and textures.
Going with seasonal ingredients ensures that everything will taste amazing and also be affordable. Don’t forget to close the box and tie them with jute or ribbon to finish them nicely.
Step by Step Guide for Choosing the Food
Meats
A variety of charcuterie meat is normally the way to go but in small boxes there isn’t much room and most often they are individual portions. Choose a single serving of either sliced Italian dry salami, prosciutto or pepperoni. You can also go with deli meat like turkey or ham.
Transforming the meat into a small salami rose is a wonderful way to elevate the end result. Let me show you two ways to make salami roses here.
Cheese
Normally 2-3 cheeses are used on a charcuterie board but diy charcuterie boxes work best with one or two servings of cheese.
Cubes of pepper jack or aged cheddar cheese are a great option for a harder cheese. Mini brie wheels are my personal favorite soft cheese. You can also place a few mini cheese balls on wooden skewers to keep them together.
Starch
A typical charcuterie board always has a variety of everyone’s favorite crackers. Choose a cracker that goes well with both the meat and the cheese.
You could also use sesame breadsticks, cheese twists or pita crackers.
Fruit
Start with seasonal fruits cut into small portions or are naturally small in size. Items like cherries, fresh grapes, berries and cut apples work well because they are smaller items and only take up a small portion of the cup. Of course you could always use dried fruit which is easy to find all year long.
Vegetables
Using garden-fresh veggies from a farmers market or the local grocery store is great because everything you find will be ripe and ready to use.
Use smaller sized veggies like baby carrots, grape tomatoes, snap peas and cucumber slices. They also add a gorgeous pop of color.
Additional Savory Items
Use a combination of nuts, like spicy almonds or pistachios. Everyone also loves black olives and mini pickles. Think about different textures and choose snack food that goes together well.
Also think about adding a dip. It can be anything that would go well with the items in the box. Try ranch dressing, spinach and artichoke dip, honey or fig jam.
Sweets
It is always nice to add sweet treats. Make life easier and go with store bought treats that everyone will love. Small candies and mini cookies are a great addition.
If you would rather make your cookies instead of purchasing them, make a batch of these Mini Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Finishing Touches
Using edible flowers and fresh herbs are a fun way to add visual interest to the box. With individual charcuteries adding mini spoons and twine on the outside of the charcuterie box is also a great touch.
Expert Tips
- Add parchment paper to the bottom of the charcuterie box. This simple step will ensure that the box stays fresh and that the food inside doesn’t leave a residue on the box itself.
- Keep the size of every item small. The foods shouldn’t be too large because you want to be able to add an abundance of foods into each box and not just a couple items.
- Be sure to add some sort of dip. Be sure that the dip is in a container to keep it from getting items while transporting. Mini honey jars are the perfect option, especially when served with mini honey dippers.
- If you don’t have small boxes, use something else. Make individual charcuterie plates or small jars instead.
- Have a combination of fresh and shelf stable items. Doing a combination of both foods gives you more flexibility. Additions like crackers and nuts can be bought ahead of time and will last long after.
- Go back and add in smaller foods like nuts to fill in any empty spaces. To get a lush and gorgeous mini charcuterie box it should be full.
Recipe FAQs
These boxes are really best when made fresh within a few hours. They can be made up to one day ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator.
The best and most inexpensive place to get the boxes is from Amazon. I love this small size for sweet single servings but you can also grab larger boxes or even boxes with a clear lid.
Do you Want Other Charcuterie Ideas? Try these…
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How to Make Easy DIY Charcuterie Boxes
Ingredients
- 1 ounce cured meats {or deli meat}
- 1 ounce cheese in a variety of flavors
- 1 ounce crackers
- ½ ounce fresh fruit
- ½ ounce fresh vegetables
- 2-3 black or green olives
- 2 small pickles
- ¼ cup cookies or candies
Instructions
- Begin by lining the box with parchment paper. Add the larger items {meats & cheeses} to the box. Then place the crackers in the box.
- Next, arrange fruits and vegetables around the meat and cheese. Add a small bowl of dip {if desired}. Then place olives and pickles {or other items}.
- Fill in any empty areas with candy and cookies. Finally, go back and fill in any areas and add fresh herbs and edible flowers. Close the lid to the box, tie with jute and serve or cover for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator.
Notes
- Add parchment paper to the bottom of the box. This simple step will ensure that the box stays fresh and that the food inside doesn’t leave a residue on the box itself.
- Keep the size of every item small.The foods shouldn’t be too large because you want to be able to add an abundance of foods into each box and not just a couple items.
- Be sure to add some sort of dip. Be sure that the dip is in a container to keep it from getting items while transporting. Mini honey jars are the perfect option, especially when served with mini honey dippers.
- If you don’t have small boxes, use something else. Make individual charcuterie plates or small jars instead.
- Have a combination of fresh and shelf stable items. Doing a combination of both foods gives you more flexibility. Additions like crackers and nuts can be bought ahead of time and will last long after.
- Go back and add in smaller foods like nuts to fill in any empty spaces. To get a lush and gorgeous mini charcuterie box it should be full.
