This Charcuterie Bouquet is the perfect way to celebrate any special occasion. From birthdays and anniversaries to a night in with friends, this unique gift will be sure to impress. It includes a selection of hand-crafted cured meats, cheese and accompaniments that are sure to delight even the most refined palate. This post may contain affiliate links.

If you are looking for a beautiful appetizer for special occasions or even Valentine's day, then this Charcuterie Bouquet is the perfect option. This bouquet comes with a selection of cured meats, cheeses and accompaniments that are sure to tantalize your taste buds and add a special touch of elegance to your event.

Charcuterie Bouquet for Date Night-In

Charcuterie boards have become increasingly popular in recent years and are perfect for both formal and informal gatherings. In addition to being beautiful and delicious, this bouquet is also easy to assemble and makes an impressive presentation at any event any time of the year!

So, gather your favorite cured meats, cheeses and accompaniments and create your own special Charcuterie Bouquet. And, show your friends and family how much you love them with this easy appetizer or snack board.

CHARCUTERIE BOARD RECIPE INGREDIENT LIST

You only need a few simple ingredients to make a delicious Charcuterie board! And, all of the items are easy to find at your local grocery store or market. Plus, you can customize them to suit your tastes.

Here are the ingredients needed to make this recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card to see the exact measurements. You can also print them there.

• Salami
• slices of cheese
• pink macarons
• red grapes
• Strawberries, skewered with small bamboo skewers

Optional Add Ins

To fill the rest of the bouquet, select any combination of the suggestions listed below or use your personal favorites. Select ingredients that can be found in shades of pink and red. Ingredients that are white, brown or green also make great accents.

• Cranberry goat cheese
• Brie wedges
• Cubed white cheese (i.e. Manchego, gouda, white cheddar, parmesan, havarti, gruyere, asiago, or muenster)
• Baby mozzarella balls
• Raspberries
• Red apple slices
• Single-serve bottles of champagne
• Chocolate covered strawberries
• Dried cranberries
• Crackers
• Nuts (i.e. macadamia nuts, walnuts, pecans, cashews, candied nuts, chocolate-covered almonds)
• Kalamata olives
• Chocolates
• Heart-shaped cookies
• Dates
• Fresh figs, halved
• Yogurt-covered pretzels
• Yogurt-covered raisins
• Pink/red candies

HOW TO MAKE THIS CHARCUTERIE BOUQUET

Making this snack board is simple, just follow the directions below and you will have beautiful and fancy appetizer or snack in not time at all.

First, make the Bouquet Wrapping – Cut a piece of brown kraft paper into a rectangular shape. I chose to make mine with dimensions of about 14x15 inches. Cut a piece of parchment paper of a similar size (whichever paper you choose for the inside of your bouquet wrapping should be just slightly larger so that it peaks out). Scallop the edges of either the parchment paper or craft paper and then layer the papers securing them in the center with tape or a small dot of glue. You can just freehand with scissors or get a really defined look with scallop craft scissors.

When layering, allow the paper on the inside (once folded) to peak out over the sides and top. Fold the sides in at an angle, creating almost a triangle but the sides should not meet at the bottom (think about leaving a hole as you would for the stems of flowers on an actual bouquet). Tie a ribbon or piece or twine around the middle to secure the wrapping.

Second, you can place the wrapping down on a working surface. This type of board can be built directly on a tabletop or counter using a piece of butcher paper or parchment paper as a barrier between the working surface and the food. You can also build it using a large board (24 inches long), a piece of cardboard, or a large rectangular garment/gift box.

ASSEMBLE THE ROSES

Then, you can make the Salami Roses – Create a salami rose by placing a glass with a narrow mouth, like a champagne flute, right side up on a table.

Begin by folding the salami in half along the rim of the glass. Each slice should overlap the previous one.

Continue adding salami slices to the rim of the glass until the hole in the center closes. After completing the rose, flip the glass upside down against a hard surface and carefully slide the rose off the glass. Repeat for as many roses as you need and set them aside. 

And, then using a small heart-shaped cookie cutter, begin cutting 3-4 hearts out of thinly sliced cheese and set aside.

ASSEMBLE THE BOUQUET

Now it's time to assemble the bouquet. Begin by placing the salami roses inside the bouquet wrapping towards the top.

And, then skewer the strawberries using small bamboo skewers to make them look like rose buds. The skewer should enter through the portion of the strawberry with the stem/leaves and should not poke out the other side. Place them inside the bouquet wrapping but sticking out some.

Now, once the salami roses are placed, start working around them placing any large items that you are using, like single-serve champagne bottles, macarons, and bunches of grapes. 

And then, layer in some greenery on the bottom before the board is filled up so that it can peak out in various areas. 

Plus, fill the space with medium-sized items like cubed cheese, yogurt-covered pretzels, and sliced fruit. Don’t be afraid to let some items sprawl from the top. This will help it look natural. 

Finally, use small items like chocolates and nuts to close the gaps. 

Finish the bouquet by sticking in some extra greenery and baby’s breath throughout and decorate with some hearts cut out of thinly sliced cheese, candies or heart-shaped cookies. Serve immediately or wrap in plastic wrap and transfer to the fridge.

CHARCUTERIE BOUQUET RECIPE NOTES

• Start by placing your salami roses on the board and then work around them. They are the focal point of the bouquet. Fill the spaces between them with attractive and fun items. Create some repeating patterns throughout the board by including some ingredients in two separate spots to make it visually appealing and cohesive.
• Because I made this board for Valentine’s Day. I was sure to focus on pink and red ingredients, floral elements, and hearts! Using a variety of flavors and textures helps to balance the board, so be sure to select sweet, savory, soft, crunchy, and salty items to include.
• Each rose will require about 3-4 ounces of thinly sliced salami. For best results, use pre-sliced salami with a diameter of roughly 2.5-3 inches.
• Make this board extra special for your loved one by including personal touches like a jam from a roadside stand you two found on a trip or a cheese that is made in their hometown.  
• If you plan to serve this bouquet to a crowd, make the bouquet primarily of filling items like meat and cheese, garnish with pretty pinks and reds, and serve things like crackers in bowls off to the side.
• If you are looking at your finished bouquet and it doesn’t look much like a bouquet to you, consider adding another salami rose, more greenery, or additional floral elements to drive the theme home.

HOW DO I DECIDE HOW MUCH FOOD I NEED FOR MY BOARD?

A good rule of thumb when creating charcuterie is to aim for about 2 ounces of meat and cheese per person. Because the salami roses are the focus of this board and require quite a bit of salami, you can get away with 2 roses and 1 ounce of cheese and still have plenty to nosh on if only serving 2 people.

WHAT SIZE BOARD SHOULD I USE?

If you are making this board right before you plan to serve it, I suggest creating it on a large surface like a table or countertop. This allows room to sprawl and creates an eye-catching centerpiece. You can create a barrier between the working surface and the food by laying down a piece of butcher paper or parchment paper. If using a board, it should be close to 2 ft long so that it can fit the entire bouquet. You can also use a large piece of cardboard or a rectangular gift box to house the bouquet.

You might also like this traditional charcuterie board for your next date night-in.

Now that you know how to make this festive yet elegant meat and cheese board, it's time to get into the kitchen and make one of these to show your loved ones how much you care!