Meet the mischievous centerpiece your party needs. This Grinch Charcuterie Board is playful, green, and packed with simple snacks everyone loves to nibble. It comes together quickly and brings instant cheer to the table.
Grinch Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- 1 Large wooden board or rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment
- 2 Small bowls for dips
- 1 Small heart-shaped cutter
- 12 Mini skewers or toothpicks
- 1 Paring knife
- 1 Spoon for smoothing guacamole
Ingredients
Cheeses
- 8 oz mozzarella pearls
- 8 oz white cheddar cheese cut into cubes
- 4 oz herbed goat cheese
Green Produce
- 2 cups green grapes washed and dried
- 3 kiwi peeled and sliced
- 1 English cucumber sliced into rounds
- 2 cups snap peas
- 1 green apple cut into wedges
Red Accents
- 1 cup strawberries hulled
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 red bell pepper cut into strips; reserve a small triangle for the nose
Proteins
- 4 oz turkey pepperoni
- 8 oz smoked turkey thinly sliced
- 4 oz beef pastrami or bresaola thinly sliced
Crackers and Bread
- 2 cups assorted crackers water and multigrain
- 1 baguette sliced and lightly toasted
- 2 cups pretzel thins
Dips
- 1.5 cups guacamole
- 1 cup spinach yogurt dip
- 1 cup vanilla yogurt for fruit
- 1 cup hummus or ranch-style yogurt dip optional
Sweets
- 4 oz dark chocolate squares
- 12 gummy hearts fruit-pectin or agar-based
Garnishes
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary
- 1 small black olive optional, for smile strip
Instructions
Assemble the Board
- Choose a large wooden board or a rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment. Set out small bowls for dips to keep the layout neat.
- Spoon guacamole into a rough oval in the lower center of the board. Smooth it into a Grinch-shaped face using the back of a spoon.
- Press two mozzarella pearls into the guacamole for eyes. Add thin cucumber crescents for eyelids, a tiny triangle of red bell pepper for the nose, and a curved strip of olive or cucumber peel for the smile.
- Arrange strawberries or cherry tomatoes above the face in a triangle for the hat. Add mozzarella pearls or small cubes for the brim and pom-pom.
- Fan green grapes, kiwi slices, cucumbers, and snap peas around the face. Tuck in turkey pepperoni roses, smoked turkey ribbons, and beef slices for savory balance. Place crackers and bread at the edges for easy reach.
- Cut heart shapes from cheese or red bell pepper. Add gummy hearts and dark chocolate squares in a small cluster to echo the Grinch’s heart. Tuck rosemary sprigs around the edges for a wintry look.
Make-Ahead, Serving, and Storage
- Chill produce and cheeses before assembling; dry them well so crackers stay crisp. Toss apple slices with a little lemon or lime to prevent browning. Assemble face and hat 30 minutes before serving and add crackers last. Store leftovers separately in airtight containers (produce 2 days; meats and cheeses up to 3 days). Press plastic wrap directly onto guacamole before refrigerating.
Notes
Why You’ll Love This Grinch Charcuterie Board
- Festive and fun without being fussy.
- Easy to scale for small gatherings or big parties.
- Balanced with fruit, veggies, cheeses, and savory bites.
- Kid-pleasing colors and shapes with plenty of grown-up flavor.
Grinch Charcuterie Board Ingredients & Substitutions
- Cheeses: Mozzarella pearls, white cheddar cubes, herbed goat cheese. Substitute Colby Jack stars or mini Babybel if you prefer.
- Green produce: Green grapes, kiwi slices, cucumber rounds, snap peas, green apple wedges. Sub in honeydew, celery sticks, or broccoli florets.
- Red accents for the hat and heart: Strawberries, raspberries, cherry tomatoes, red bell pepper strips.
- Proteins: Turkey pepperoni, smoked turkey slices, thin-sliced beef pastrami or bresaola. Swap in rotisserie chicken chunks or grilled chicken skewers.
- Crackers and bread: Water crackers, multigrain crackers, toasted baguette slices, pretzel thins.
- Dips: Guacamole, spinach yogurt dip, alcohol-free vanilla yogurt for fruit. Hummus or ranch-style yogurt dip also work.
- Sweets: Dark chocolate squares, fruit-pectin gummy hearts or agar-based gummies.
- Garnishes and tools: Fresh rosemary sprigs, small heart-shaped cutter, mini skewers or toothpicks.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Grinch Charcuterie Board
1. Pick Your Board
Choose a large wooden board or rimmed sheet pan lined with parchment. Have small bowls ready for dips to keep things tidy.
2. Make the Grinch Face Base
Spoon guacamole into a rough oval in the lower center of the board. Smooth it into the Grinch face shape using the back of a spoon.
3. Add Eyes and Smile
Press two mozzarella pearls into the guacamole for eyes. Add thin cucumber crescents for the lids, a tiny triangle of red bell pepper for the nose, and a curved strip of olive or cucumber peel for the smile.
4. Build the Santa Hat
Arrange strawberries or cherry tomatoes above the face in a triangle. Add mozzarella pearls or small cubes for the hat brim and pom-pom.
5. Fill In With Snacks
Fan green grapes, kiwi slices, cucumbers, and snap peas around the face. Tuck in turkey pepperoni roses, smoked turkey ribbons, and beef slices for savory balance. Place crackers and bread near the edges for easy reaching.
6. Finish With Hearts and Garnish
Use the cutter to make heart-shaped cheese slices or red bell pepper hearts. Add gummy hearts and dark chocolate squares in a small cluster to echo the Grinch heart. Tuck rosemary sprigs around the edges for a wintry look.
Tips for Success
- Chill produce and cheeses before assembling so everything stays crisp.
- Dry fruit and veggies well so crackers do not soften.
- Toss apple slices with a little lemon or lime to prevent browning.
- Build the wet components in bowls first, then fill in with dry items.
- Leave a few open spots to refresh with extra crackers or fruit during the party.
Variations of Grinch Charcuterie Board
- Kid snack platter: Add string cheese snowmen, mini cucumber trees, and peanut butter with apple dippers.
- All-green theme: Feature only green items like pistachios, edamame, green hummus, and herb crackers.
- Protein-forward: Add grilled chicken skewers, turkey meatballs, and extra cheese cubes.
- Sweet-leaning: Use kiwi, green apples, honeydew, yogurt dip, dark chocolate, and pectin gummy hearts.
Serving Suggestions: What to Pair with Grinch Charcuterie Board
- Hot cocoa with marshmallows or peppermint.
- Sparkling grape juice or citrus spritzers with lime.
- Tomato soup shooters or a cozy potato-leek soup.
- Buttery herb popcorn or spiced nuts for extra crunch.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Short-term: Keep the board covered and chilled until serving. Add crackers right before guests arrive.
- After serving: Store leftovers in separate airtight containers. Fruit and veggies up to 2 days, meats and cheeses up to 3 days.
- Refreshing: Toast baguette slices for 3 to 4 minutes to crisp back up. Replace soggy crackers with fresh ones.
- Guacamole: Press plastic wrap directly on the surface and refrigerate. Stir in a little lime juice if it dulls.
Memories Made Around the Table
I still remember little hands sneaking mozzarella pearls while we shaped the Grinch smile. The best part is hearing the laughter as everyone adds their own hearts and hat brims. It is a board that invites play as much as snacking.
FAQs
Can I assemble this ahead? Yes. Prep produce, cut cheese, and fold meats up to 1 day ahead. Store separately and assemble the face and hat 30 minutes before serving. Add crackers last.
What size board should I use? For 6 to 8 people, a 12×18 inch board works well. For a crowd, use a sheet pan or two medium boards placed together.
How do I keep guacamole green? Mix in lime juice, then cover with plastic wrap pressed directly on the surface. Assemble close to serving time for the brightest color.
What if I do not have a heart-shaped cutter? Use a small knife to trim heart shapes from cheese or bell pepper, or place gummy hearts in a cluster for the same effect.
Final Thoughts
This Grinch Charcuterie Board brings holiday spirit to life with simple ingredients and a splash of creativity. Set it out, let guests graze, and watch the smiles grow three sizes.