It’s National Picnic Day! National Picnic Day is on April 23rd every year. This year, we’re spending it a bit differently…indoors.

But that doesn’t mean we still can’t enjoy a beautiful charcuterie board together.

How to Make a Charcuterie Board

Charcuterie boards have gotten more popular over the years. What’s not to love about a board full of your favorite finger snacks? It’s the best DIY happy hour.

Here’s what you’ll need when creating your charcuterie board:

• Proteins
• Cheeses
• Nuts
• Olives or anything pickled
• Crackers
• Spreads
• Dried fruits

Charcuterie Board Proteins

When it comes to picking your proteins for your charcuterie board you’re going to want a good balance of fatty proteins and lean proteins. Prosciutto, jamón ibérico, and salami are great, flavorful basics for cheeseboard meats. You can balance them out with leaner options such as smoked salmon and turkey breast.

Best Cheeses for a Charcuterie Board

Does anyone else get overwhelmed with the number of delicious cheeses to pick from in the cheese aisle? Stick to the fundamentals. The best cheeses for cheeseboards include hard parmesan, smoked gouda, and manchego. Balance your cheese options with healthier picks such as mozzarella, goat cheese, or Swiss. Cheeses come in mild, sweet, or more sharp flavors. Pick accordingly, depending on the balance of the ingredients you pick.

Best Nuts for Charcuterie Board

Yay more heart-healthy proteins! Nuts are a healthy snack to add to your charcuterie board. Most nuts are high in protein and healthy fats, like almonds. Pistachios or cashews are some of our favorite picks as well. Many vendors sell a variety of flavored nuts—great for experimenting with different spicy levels or sweetness.

Olives and Pickled Items for Cheeseboards

Olives are one of the most popular charcuterie board ingredients. Pickled foods, like olives, provide flavor variety to the overall palette. Salty, savory, bitter bites help balance some of the sweet additions to the board. Go with a pitted green olive or a yummy kalamata. If you love more pickled options, Giardiniera (Italian-style mixed pickled vegetables) are another good choice.

Best Crackers for Charcuterie Boards

You’re going to need a vessel for all your delicious charcuterie items. Stacking them on the prefect little cracker is the best way to go. Variety is key here. Add some butter, flaky crisps like Ritz Crackers, or a toasted baguette. You can try using softer bread like lavash to make wraps. Pretzels are a new twist on the classic cheeseboard carb too!

Best Spreads for a Charcuterie Board

The final touch on the perfect bite: spreads! A good spread can elevate your cheeseboard. Pick one savory and one sweet spread to keep the variety going. Some savory options can be tapenades, hummus, or roasted red pepper paste. Sweet spreads commonly found on a board include fruit jams and honey. Most everyone has a jam or honey lying around in their kitchen, right?

Best Dried Fruits for Charcuterie Boards

Dried fruits always make you feel fancy, don’t they? These sun-dried cuties elevate your board and provide it with pops of color and the perfect sweet treat. Dried fruits are easily found in most grocers so pick your favorites. Dried apricots, golden raisins, banana chips, dried apples, there are so many delicious choices!

Charcuterie Board Checklist

Now that you have all the delicious fundamentals of how to build the best charcuterie board, create your own and post it on your social media channels. Tage @mixbook so we can celebrate with you. Let us know your favorite ingredients that you add to your board. Cheers!