Description
A quick and fun Halloween charcuterie board that comes together in under 20 minutes with simple ingredients. Perfect for a pre-trick-or-treat dinner or spooky movie night, this board features cheese shapes, eyeball olives, clementine pumpkins, and a mix of savory and sweet treats that kids and adults will love.
Ingredients
- 8 oz sharp cheddar (block, for cutting into shapes)
- 8 oz mozzarella (pearls or sliced)
- 4 oz brie or camembert
- 6 oz salami or pepperoni
- 1 box of your favorite crackers (e.g., Ritz or mini pretzel crisps)
- 1 cup black and green olives (pitted)
- 1 cup dill pickle spears or cornichons
- 4–5 clementines or mandarin oranges
- 1 cup red grapes
- 1/2 cup candy corn
- 1/2 cup mini chocolate bars (e.g., Reese’s or Snickers)
- 1 cup pretzel sticks
- Black food coloring or black sesame seeds (small amount)
- Googly eye candy decorations (optional)
- Fresh rosemary or dill sprigs (for garnish)
- 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
- Cream cheese or mayonnaise (for olive eyes)
Instructions
- Prep the cheese shapes (5 minutes): Slice the block of cheddar into 1/4-inch thick slabs. Use a ghost-shaped cookie cutter to press out shapes. If you don’t have a cutter, cut the cheese into small cubes or use a knife to make simple bat wings or pumpkin shapes. Set aside.
- Make the ‘eyeball’ olives (3 minutes): Drain the black olives. Using a toothpick, dab a tiny dot of cream cheese or mayonnaise onto the top of each olive. Place a small piece of black sesame seed or a tiny dot of black food coloring on the cream cheese to make the ‘pupil.’ If using googly eye candies, press them on gently. Set aside in a small bowl.
- Create the clementine pumpkins (3 minutes): Peel the clementines. Take a small piece of celery or a pretzel stick and push it into the top center of the clementine to look like a stem. Arrange them in a cluster on the board.
- Arrange the savory base (5 minutes): Place small bowls for dips and olives on the board first. Fan out the salami slices in a row or stack them in a small pile. Arrange the cheese shapes and mozzarella pearls around the bowls. Place the crackers in a few small clusters.
- Add the sweet elements (3 minutes): Scatter the grapes, candy corn, and mini chocolate bars in the empty spaces. Balance colors so orange pops against dark olives and green pickles.
- Finish with the ‘scary’ details (2 minutes): Tuck the pretzel sticks in here and there to look like bones or spider legs. Sprinkle pumpkin seeds around the board. Place rosemary sprigs to look like creepy forest branches. Position ‘eyeball’ olives and cheese ghosts in prominent spots. Adjust any empty areas.
Notes
Let cheese come to room temperature for 15 minutes before serving for best flavor. Start with largest items (bowls, cheese blocks) and fill gaps with smaller items. Prep everything except crackers and candy the night before; assemble 20 minutes before serving. Use pitted olives to avoid broken teeth. For a gluten-free version, use rice crackers or veggie chips.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the board
- Calories: 375
- Sugar: 12
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 25
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 20
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 20
Keywords: Halloween charcuterie board, easy Halloween snack, spooky board, kid-friendly Halloween, no-cook Halloween dinner