Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and if you’re looking for a unique way to offer some delicious food to those you love, a charcuterie board is a great option.
You can design Valentine charcuterie boards to pair with various wines or to fit a theme. There are so many delicious accompaniments and beautiful types of boards that you can create. And they’re ideal for a range of celebrations, from date night, to Galentine’s Day with your best girlfriends, to eating your favorite foods with the whole family.
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The world is your oyster when it comes to designing a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board. But, I have to set one thing straight. To be a traditional charcuterie board, it has to have some sort of cured meat.
I explain this in depth in my blog post about building charcuterie boards, but here’s the Cliff Notes. I’m a native French speaker and the word “charcuterie” in French refers to a variety of cured meats. To say you were building a candy charcuterie board would be a little like saying you were making a chocolate sandwich platter. It’s just a little odd.
With that said, several boards on this list do not include meat. In those cases, I do not call them charcuterie boards. I’ve included them, though, because I know many people in the States do label them charcuterie boards.
Aside from what you put on your board, there are lots of neat ideas for ways to design your board. You can use an empty heart-shaped candy box to hold pretzel sticks, dips or soft cheeses. You can use something like a heart-shaped cookie cutter to organize small candies. The possibilities are endless.
Using the loose interpretation of the phrase charcuterie board, there is no wrong way to build a snack board. You want to be mindful of empty spaces, but with a few extra touches, even empty space can be artful.
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Tips for Assembling
Assembling a charcuterie board can be a fun and creative process, but it can also be overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Here are some tips to help you create a beautiful and delicious charcuterie board for Valentine’s Day:
Choose a variety of meats and cheeses: When selecting meats and cheeses, aim for a variety of flavors and textures. Consider including both soft and hard cheeses, as well as cured, cooked, sweet, and savory meats.
Want fun ideas for arranging your meats? Check out my tutorial on making salami roses and four other arrangements.
Add some color: Don’t be afraid to add some color to your charcuterie board. Consider including fresh or dried fruit, vegetables, and olives to add pops of color and flavor.
Use different types of crackers and bread: To add variety and texture to your charcuterie board, include a variety of crackers and bread. Consider including both plain and flavored options, such as herb or garlic crackers.
Arrange items in a visually appealing way: When arranging your charcuterie board, aim for a visually appealing display. Start by placing larger items, such as cheeses and meats, on the board first. Then, fill in the gaps with smaller items, such as crackers and fruit.
Don’t forget the dips and spreads: Dips and spreads can add extra flavor and texture to your charcuterie board. Consider including options such as honey, mustard, horseradish, jam and hummus.
By following these tips and more, you can create a beautiful and delicious Valentine charcuterie board!
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20 Beautiful Valentine Charcuterie Boards and Snack Boards
1- Valentine’s Day Board by Little Sunny Kitchen
This sweet snack platter screams “Happy Valentine’s Day!” It’s fun, kid-friendly, and takes just 15 minutes to assemble!
It’s packed with Valentine’s M&M candy, berries, chocolate chip cookies, pretzels, chocolate-dipped strawberries, and marshmallows. Basically all things sweet for your sweetheart!
2- Easy Valentine’s Charcuterie Board by A Crazy Family
The theme here is heart-shaped treats! Cheese hearts, pepperoni roses, fresh raspberries, and Valentine’s candies provide a great variety for snacking on during the holiday of love.
3- Valentine’s Day Candy and Hot Chocolate Board by Two Kids and a Coupon
Warm things up this Valentine’s Day with a fun candy and hot chocolate grazing board for your favorite valentines. This is a great way to incorporate conversation hearts if you like those.
4- Charcuterie Board for Two by Chocolate Moosey
This board is perfect for a romantic evening with your sweetie. It includes hard cheese, soft cheese, meats, slices of apples, olives and nuts. A glass of wine would be delicious with this assortment. Chocolate Moosey went above and beyond by including a shopping list of the items included on the board. That way you know what to buy and how much food you’ll need.
5- Chocolate Lovers Valentine’s Day Board by Unique Gifter
Calling all chocolate lovers! This Valentine’s Day board is for you! With all the best chocolate, fruit, and whipped cream for dipping! This is the perfect date night treat for you and your special Valentine.
6- Mezze board (Healthy + Easy) by Fit Mama Real Food
Let’s build a healthy mezze board together! This Mediterranean mezze platter is perfect for entertaining a large crowd or your family.
Not only is it beautiful, but this version is perfect for your vegetarian guests, is nourishing and is super simple to put together!
7- Pinkalicious Dessert Plate by Baked By Blair
It’s so easy to make with Hershey kisses, smarties, cookies, gummy candies and so much more. If you need a substitution for cotton candy, you could do something like mini Valentine’s Kit-Kats. This is a fantastic board for kids who are a fan of the Pinkalicious books.
8- Gluten-Free Valentine’s Day Dessert Board by Go Gluten Freely
Check out this dessert board, bursting with gluten-free sweets and treats. Even the cream cheese caramel fruit dip and chocolate hummus are gluten-free.
9- Valentine’s Day Snack Board by Healthy Family Project
This platter is a fun way to celebrate the holiday with loved ones. I love the use of dragon fruit!
Try this Valentine’s Day snack board with strawberries, raspberries, yogurt pretzels, brie, crackers, and more.
10- Valentine’sDay Dessert Plate by The Benson Street
This dessert board would be fun with a family game night! Build the board with The Benson Street’s included items or pick some of your own!
11- Heart-y Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board by Unique Gifter
Nothing says “I love you” more than a heart-shaped platter of meats, cheese, and fruit! After all, the way to most people’s hearts is through their stomachs.
12- Charcuterie Board with Love by Ottawa Mommy Club
This board is a beautiful presentation of lots of quality ingredients. Don’t forget the Linzer cookies! (Sounds like you’ll need to pay Trader Joe’s a visit).
13- Sweets for Your Sweet Board by Aubrey’s Kitchen
This candy board is filled with candy hearts, heart marshmallows, chocolate hearts, and tons of other sweet treats! Aubrey’s Kitchen provides easy step-by-step pictures and instructions so you can recreate the board with its winding river of candy hearts.
14- Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board by The Oregon Dietitian
Here is a representation of a classic charcuterie board. What sets it apart from the rest, however, is the fluffy, three-ingredient chocolate fruit dip. Yum!
15- Cheese Board Date For 2 by Get Inspired Everyday
Picture hours drifting past while you try different flavor combinations and catch up with your favorite person. This is the perfect charcuterie board for that.
16- Hot Chocolate Board by Love From the Oven
This hot chocolate board is a creative, impressive, and mouthwatering idea. I love the use of the little bowls for the hot chocolate mix and the whipped cream. Love From the Oven provides helpful tips so you can set a focal point for your board just like they did.
17- Chocolate Dessert Board by Modern Honey
I love the visual contrast of the wood, red fruit, and chocolate. Very well done! This board will have you and your Valentine saying “Just one more.”
18- Cheerful Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board by Cuisine And Travel
Customize the board with your honey’s favorites or duplicate Cuisine and Travel’s masterpiece. This board offers a delightful assortment of flavors and colors that are pleasing to the eyes and to the mouth.
19- Barbie Party Board by Love From The Oven
Throwing a spunky Galentine’s Day? Or looking to proclaim your love to your Ken? You’ll love this crazy Barbie snack board!
20- Kid’s Valentine’s Day Snack Board by Unique Gifter
I think the theme for this board is “sugar rush.” If you are putting together a kid’s Valentine’s Day party, this board is perfect.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are some creative ideas for Valentine’s Day charcuterie boards?
Valentine’s Day charcuterie boards can be as creative as you are! Consider incorporating heart-shaped crackers or arranging meats and cheeses in the shape of a heart. I even found a deli near me that makes a heart-shaped salami! Perfect. You can also add in Valentine’s Day-themed candies, chocolates, and fruits. If you use your imagination fresh strawberries look just like hearts.
I’m tempted to say there is no wrong way to build a board, but some people might take that as a challenge.
How do I choose the right size charcuterie board for a Valentine’s Day gathering?
The size of your charcuterie board will depend on the number of people you are serving. A small wooden board or plate is perfect for a romantic evening for two, while a larger board is ideal for a group of friends or family. Consider the size of your table and the amount of space you have available when choosing your board. And consider having some extra ingredients in case your board is especially popular or a few extra guests show up.
What are some unique additions to a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board to make it special?
To make your Valentine’s Day charcuterie board special, consider adding in some unique touches like heart-shaped cookies, chocolate-covered strawberries, or heart-shaped cheeses. You can also add in some fun and festive decorations like balloons or streamers.
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Creating a Valentine Charcuterie Board is a delightful way to express your love and care for those around you by carefully selecting an assortment of flavors and textures.
Whether you’re celebrating with a significant other, friends, or family, this dramatic spread is sure to leave a lasting impression.
If you are looking for even more charcuterie ideas, check out my Easter charcuterie board round-up.
Don’t forget to pin these Valentine Charcuterie Boards Ideas: