Apple Slice Charcuterie Board

This delightful, colorful Apple Slice Charcuterie Board has all the fixings, including fruit jam, almond butter, dairy-free chocolate, mixed nuts, and fresh fruit! It’s a delicious way to brighten up breakfast, brunch, or a gathering! {Gluten-Free + Vegan}

I’ve written it before, and I’ll write it again. Everything tastes better on a charcuterie board, especially if the layout is colorful, vibrant, and inviting. There is something so artistic about a charcuterie board spread that every time I see one, no matter how fancy or straightforward, I’m stopped in my actual tracks. And, truthfully, if I could eat every meal like this, I absolutely would. Either this way or while plopped on the couch/standing over the sink. I’m nothing if not [in]formal. Thank you for understanding.

Juicy fruits, smooth dips, sweet chocolate, crunchy nuts, and (a few) sour apples? Well, if you have those, then you’ve got what it takes to create a charcuterie spread for yourself or to share with others. And let’s ditch perfection here. Go ahead and get get as complicated with your layout or as simple as you want. I’m convinced charcuterie spreads are more about who we share them with (including sometimes a small party of just one, because self time is just as important as any other time) than about exactly how they look.

And this Apple Slice Charcuterie Board is just waiting to be shared! It’s telling us to let it be easy. No need for overthinking. Instead, savor moments as they present themselves. As my youngest would say, this Apple Slice Charcuterie Board has “a little bit of some magic” to it.

So let’s get our creative juices flowing and assemble one!

What you’ll need to create an Apple Slice Charcuterie Board

When I said above that anything goes, I really do mean it. I think that’s why charcuterie board meals are so popular in our house. Everyone gets a little something they like, and everyone walks away happy. Below are a few flavors we enjoy:

• Apples. I chose Granny Smith apples because their sour flavor contrasts nicely with the other sweets on the board. I also added Pink Lady and Jonagold apples for added color and variety. I like to slice the apples a variety of ways so people can dip, layer, or sandwich them!
• Chocolate. We love allergen-friendly chocolate chips that we either serve as is, melted, or both.
• Mixed nuts. You can’t go wrong with pecans, almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts!
• Nut butters. We stick with almond butter or sun butter, however, just about any nut butter will work.
• Fruit. Blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and grapes are delicious complements to apples.
• Jams and jellies. Like the other ingredients listed, this one is entirely up to you. As a starting point, consider strawberry, blueberry, blackberry, or raspberry.

How to assemble an Apple Slice Charcuterie Board

1. First, place empty dishes that will be used for dips as desired on a charcuterie board or cheeseboard. Set aside.
2. Then stand apples upright on a cutting board and slice them according to desired thickness. If you’d like your apple slices to be flat on both sides, then trim off a small section of the rounded portion of the apple and set aside but don’t discard.
3. After that, layer the apple slices in rows or as desired on your charcuterie board. If you’d like to add a chocolate drizzle, this is a great time to do so. See Notes below for suggestions. Once your drizzles have been, well, drizzled, continue by filling in the rest of the board with fresh fruit, mixed nuts, and chocolate pieces. Fill the dishes with desired melted chocolate, nut butters, jams, or jellies.
4. Finally, serve and enjoy!

Best practices for a delicious, inviting charcuterie board

• For best results, place the dip dishes on the charcuterie board apart from each other. This allows people to maneuver around the charcuterie board more easily to get the treats they want.
• To drizzle the chocolate, first melt it with a dollop of coconut oil in the microwave and then carefully pour the melted chocolate into the corner of a sandwich baggie. Seal the baggie tightly and then trim a small section of the corner. Drizzle over the apple slices in a pendulum motion. When you’re done, discard the baggie (or grab a spoon and scoop out the remaining deliciousness).
• When slicing the apples, you may find that two sides produce wider, larger slices and two sides produce smaller, narrower slices. Each one has its purpose. The wider slices are perfect for the aforementioned drizzles while the smaller, narrower slices are ideal for dipping. Also ideal for dipping or scooping? Those little rounded slices mentioned in Step 1. Nothing needs to go to waste in this recipe!

How to make your charcuterie spread seasonal

There are lots of ways to create a charcuterie spread that celebrates the season you’re in. Here are a few of my favorite, simple ways to do so:

• Select fresh fruits that are in season.
• Accent with napkins that color-coordinate with the season. This could be cloth or disposable napkins. Nothing fancy or expensive. Whatever is easily available and fits your budget.
• Complement the charcuterie board with an in-season beverage. For fall, you might make Homemade Apple Cider. For winter, serve Mulled Wine and incorporate the fresh fruits from the drink into your charcuterie board spread. For spring and summer, you can’t go wrong with 3-Ingredient Pineapple Fresca Mocktail or Homemade Pineapple Lemonade.

Homemade sauces and spreads

You can always go with store-bought jams and jellies, but if you’d like to make your own, then here are few to give you inspiration.

• Paleo Pear Butter
• 5-Minute Blackberry Sauce
• 4-Ingredient Strawberry Vanilla Chia Jam
• 3-Ingredient Cranberry Pomegranate Spread

Happy charcuterie board crunch-munching, Spiriteds! Stay wild and know that I’m glad you’re here! ❤️

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