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Homebody Eats ยป Recipes ยป Charcuterie Boards

Insanely Easy Individual Cheese Board

Published: Nov 21, 2020 ยท Modified: Jan 20, 2022 by Jessica Mode ยท This content may include affiliate links.

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The perfect solution for small get-togethers or upscale dinner parties, these single-serve charcuterie boards give off an elegant appearance without the fuss of a huge cheese platter. Be prepared to wow at your next holiday gatherings, romantic dinners, or happy hour events. 

blue plate holding various ingredients for a charcuterie board.

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Everyone loves a good charcuterie board, but not everyone loves to share. With these individually sized cheese boards, you will learn how to create beautiful personalized boards that donโ€™t take a tremendous amount of effort. 

Follow along with me as I break down step-by-step instructions and guidance for building these mini charcuterie boards which use small portions to help avoid waste and maintain a diverse and elegant look to the platter. Everything you need to learn about making these insanely easy and exceptionally delicious cheese boards can be found here.

Jump to:
  • What You'll Learn In This Recipe
  • The ultimate charcuterie board shopping list!
  • Ingredients You Need
  • How To Make This Recipe
  • Expert Tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More Cheese Board Recipes
  • Insanely Easy Individual Cheese Board

What You'll Learn In This Recipe

  • How to properly plate a cheese board so itโ€™s aesthetically pleasing.
  • Tips for serving sizes. 
  • Wine pairing ideas to go along with this board. 
  • How to store and make this charcuterie board ahead of time. 

If you enjoy this post and want to continue to strengthen your charcuterie board skills, check out my free charcuterie board shopping list with over 100 food ideas to inspire your next cheese plate, platter, or board.

The ultimate charcuterie board shopping list!

100+ food ideas to inspire your next cheese board or platter!

    โ€‹

    Ingredients You Need

    Charcuterie and cheese platters are all about the ingredients. Getting the top quality products and freshest produce is essential when putting together boards. Be sure to grab ingredients that pair well and contrast one anotherโ€™s color for the best-tasting and best-looking charcuterie board. 

    individual cheese board ingredients on a plate with labels.

    Sugared Cranberries: Just three ingredients and you can enjoy super tasty sugared cranberries that are bound to wow those indulging. With just a little bit of extra effort, youโ€™ll have a cheese board component that is bright, sweet, and tasty. 

    Baked brie: Grab some brie, honey, and thyme and indulge in this super tasty baked brie. Elevate the cheese board by opting for this baked brie as opposed to a cold one. Little things that show extra thought and effort were put into the board go a long way toward impressing your audience. These small brie bites are from Trader Joe's.

    Cornichons: Charcuterie boards are incomplete without a pickled component. Cornichons are great because they are small, bite-sized, and more elegant in appearance than your average pickle.

    Dry salami: Dry salami is a staple in the charcuterie board world. With so much diversity in different flavors and versions, there are plenty of options to choose from based on flavor preference, allergies, and budgets. Because this is a small board, pick out your favorite one, and create some beautiful salami roses. 

    Fontina cheese: Fontina is a sweet and pungent northern Italian cheese from the Aosta Valley. Having the pleasure of visiting this beautiful corner of the country with its Swiss influence and vast green fields, itโ€™s no surprise that high-quality and flavorful cheese comes from here. The rich, creamy, buttery, and nutty flavors are hard to miss. Pair it with the crackers, or salami, or simply enjoy it as is. 

    Goat milk cheese: There are a slew of different types of goat milk cheese, from soft Chabichou to blue goat cheeses to Crottin de Chavignol (hard). For this cheese platter, grab a light and fresh goat milk cheese like mozzarella to balance out the age and complexity of the fontina cheese. The creamy and neutral flavors of this cheese make for easy pairing with the other components on the board. 

    Artisan cranberry crisps: Artisan cranberry crisps are a great way to add a bit of complexity to a cheese board. Instead of just having either some dried cranberries or some plain crackers, combine the two for a tasty vessel for enjoying your meat and cheeses.

    Flatbread crackers: Flatbread crackers are a simple way to enjoy a change in texture when eating your meat and cheeses without having much change in flavor.

    Dark chocolate almonds: A little indulgence never hurt anyone. Chocolate-covered almonds make for a tasty treat and also provide a beautiful color contrast to the cheese board. If allergic to almonds, swap these for a different chocolate covered nut. Along those same lines, if they have a nut allergy, grab something like chocolate-covered raisins instead.

    Whole pomegranate: Break off a section of a whole pomegranate to make for a super aesthetic addition to this personalized cheese board.  

    How To Make This Recipe

    As with every cheese or charcuterie board, there are no set rules to follow. Let your creativity take over and customize your board to suit you or your guestsโ€™ preferences. 

    individual cheese board ingredients on a plate with numbers.

    For The Sugared Cranberries

    Gather your sugar, water, and cranberries. In a small saucepan, combine the water with ยผ cup (59 grams) of sugar. Bring this mixture to a boil over medium heat until the sugar has fully dissolved. Once the sugar is gone, shut off the heat and move the saucepan to a cool burner.

    Set up a wire rack with a piece of parchment paper underneath. With the wire rack in place, toss the cranberries into the simple syrup mixture and swirl/toss them around to fully coat each cranberry. With the cranberries coated, use a slotted spoon to transfer them to the wire rack. 

    Let the cranberries dry for 20 - 30 minutes. Theyโ€™re ready when you feel the outside, and it has a tacky texture but the syrup does not stick to your fingers. 

    When youโ€™ve reached this stage, pour the remaining sugar onto a plate, and gently, roll the cranberries in the sugar until they are fully coated.

    For The Baked Brie

    Preheat your oven to 350ยบF (175ยบ C). Along the top of the brie, cut โ…“ of the way down in a crosshatch pattern. Make roughly 3 cuts each way for a checkerboard with 9 white squares. On a sheet tray lined with parchment paper, place the scored brie, and drizzle with honey. Place a bit of dried thyme over each brie bite, and bake for 5 minutes until you see the brie is melted on the inside.

    To test if the brie is ready, gently touch the center of the brie and see if there is any give. Give means youโ€™re good to go. 

    Building The Charcuterie Board

    First, grab your favorite mini-sized board. Here are some of my favorites:

    • Mini Slate Charcuterie Boards
    • Solid Wood Serving Platters
    • Mini Wooden Cheese Board

    This is my order of operations for putting together this individual charcuterie platter. 

    To begin, I use the large items as an anchor point. For this board, that means placing the salami and the cornichons in small serving bowls.

    To make the salami roses, take the salami, and lay it in lines of four, each one partially overlapping the other. Fold the whole line in half so each line is now four overlapping semicircles. Roll the salami until it resembles a rose. Secure the rose with a toothpick to prevent them from unraveling. Repeat this process so there are two roses on each toothpick.

    Here's a quick video tutorial for the salami flowers.

    Next, divide the baked brie bites, fontina cheese, and goat milk cheese between the four serving plates.

    Tuck cranberry crisps and flatbread crackers on the edges of each serving plate.

    Fill in the remaining spaces on each serving plate with dark chocolate almonds and pomegranate chunks.

    Expert Tips

    • Want to make this charcuterie board ahead of time? This cheese board can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve. Wrap the entire cheese board in plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator to store. You should wait to add the crackers on the board until you're ready to serve, as they will become stale in the refrigerator.
    • To serve the cheese...
      • The flavor and texture of cheeses are best at room temperature. When making your fall cheese board, remove the cheese from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow it to reach room temperature.
      • If you wish to make this charcuterie platter ahead of time, avoid pre-cutting the cheese which will cause it to become dry.
      • For any unused cheese that is not placed on the charcuterie board, wrap it well and keep it in the refrigerator. Most hard and firm cheeses should last for several weeks. Fresh cheeses such as feta, mascarpone, or mozzarella last around 7-10 days.
    • For this board, I would suggest pairing it with a wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or a Brut Champagne. The dry, acidic, light, and fresh fruit aspects of these wines should complement the soft cheeses and salty salami beautifully.

    Recipe FAQs

    What size board or platter should I use?

    You want a small board for this individual platter. There are a ton of different boards out there so it may be overwhelming. Here are some options of boards you can order online:
    - Mini Slate Charcuterie Boards
    - Solid Wood Serving Platters
    - Mini Wooden Cheese Board
    - Round Porcelain Plate
    - Small Bamboo Cheese Board

    How much meat and cheese should I plan per person?

    The average person will eat about 2 - 3 ounces (57 - 85 grams) of cheese and 4 - 6 slices of meat. If you are substituting the charcuterie platter for a meal, consider adding a little more meat and cheese. If the board is one of multiple things being eaten, lighten up on the meat and cheese.

    Should I use cheese knives for serving?

    Yes, cheese knives are very helpful for serving. These are some of the most popular knives and what they are designed for:

    - Chisel Knife: Used for semi-soft (fontina, gouda, havarti) to semi-hard (cheddar, manchego) cheeses. This knife helps divide soft cheese or shave down hard cheese.

    - Open Work Blade Knife: Used for soft, sticky cheeses (brie, boursin, taleggio). The holes in the blade help prevent the cheese from sticking to the blade.

    - Narrow Plane Knife: Used for mainly semi-hard cheeses (cheddar, manchego). However, this is a fairly versatile knife that can cut on the long or short end.

    - Small Spade Knife: Used for hard cheeses (asiago, parmigiano-reggiano, pecorino romano). The point of the knife makes it easy to cut the cheese into wedges. If you try to slice through hard cheeses normally, they tend to crumble.

    two mini charcuterie boards.

    More Cheese Board Recipes

    • girl holding a large cheese board platter.
      Ultimate Charcuterie Board Shopping List | 100+ Ideas for Any Occasion
    • fall cheese board filled with various food items.
      Fig Charcuterie Board
    • fourth of July charcuterie board.
      Red, White, and Blue 4th of July Charcuterie Board
    • colorful fall cheese board with various ingredients.
      Easy Fall Charcuterie Board (With Shopping List)

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star โญโญโญโญโญ rating in the recipe card below. Don't forget to follow along on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Pinterest for more recipes.

    individual chees board for one person on a blue plate.

    Insanely Easy Individual Cheese Board

    The perfect solution for small get-togethers or upscale dinner parties, these single-serve charcuterie boards give off an elegant appearance without the fuss of a huge cheese platter. Be prepared to wow at your next holiday gatherings, romantic dinners, or happy hour events.
    Author: Jessica Mode
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Active Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 10 minutes mins
    Rest Time 30 minutes mins
    Total Time 1 hour hr
    Course Appetizer, Snack
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 mini boards
    Calories 585 kcal

    Equipment

    • mini cheese board

    Ingredients
      

    For the Sugared Cranberries

    • โ…› cup water
    • ยผ cup, plus โ…› cup granulated sugar
    • 2 ounces fresh cranberries

    For the Baked Brie

    • 4 mini brie bites (from Trader Joe's)
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • ยฝ teaspoon dried thyme

    For the Cheese Board

    • 20 cornichons
    • 24 thinly sliced spicy dry salami
    • 2 ounces (ยฝ ounce/cheese plate) fontina cheese cut in wedge
    • 2 ounces (ยฝ ounce/cheese plate) goat milk mozzarella cheese cubed
    • 16 artisan cranberry crisps
    • 12 flatbread crackers
    • 20 dark chocolate almonds
    • 1 pomegranate broken into small chunks

    Instructions
     

    For the Sugared Cranberries

    • To a small saucepan, combine water and ยผ cup sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat until the sugar is fully dissolved in the water. Remove from heat.
    • Set up a wire rack with a piece of parchment paper underneath. Add cranberries to the simple syrup mixture. Toss cranberries around, making sure each cranberry is fully coated. Using a slotted spoon, transfer cranberries to a wire rack, and allow them to dry for 20 - 30 minutes. You'll know the cranberries are ready when they feel tacky on the outside, but the simple syrup does not stick to your fingers.
    • Pour remaining โ…› cup of sugar onto a plate. Gently, roll cranberries in the sugar until all sides are fully coated.

    For the Baked Brie

    • Heat oven to 350ยฐF (175ยฐC).
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Along the top of the brie, cut a third of the way down in a crosshatch pattern (about 3 cuts each way). Drizzle ยผ teaspoon of honey, along with โ…› teaspoon dried thyme over each brie bite. Cook for 5 minutes until brie is melted on the inside (you can test by gently touching the center of the brie and seeing if it gives).

    For the Cheese Board

    • Add cornichons to four small serving bowls. To make the salami roses, take the salami, and lay it in lines of four, each one partially overlapping the other. Fold the whole line in half, so each line is now four overlapping semicircles. Roll the salami until it resembles a rose. Secure the rose with a toothpick to prevent them from unraveling.ย Repeat this process, so there are two roses on each toothpick. Grab four serving plates and place a serving bowl with cornichons and two salami roses on each plate.
    • Divide the baked brie bites, fontina cheese, and goat milk cheese between the four serving plates.
    • Tuck cranberry crisps and flatbread crackers on the edges of each serving plate.
    • Fill in the remaining spaces on each serving plate with dark chocolate almonds and pomegranate chunks.

    Notes

    The flavor and texture of cheeses are best at room temperature. When making your individual cheese board, remove the cheese from the refrigerator 30 minutes before serving to allow it to reach room temperature. This does not apply to the brie cheese that we're heating up in the oven.
    These individual cheese boards can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator until you're ready to serve. Wrap each individual plate in plastic wrap before placing it in the refrigerator to store. You should wait to add the crackers on the board until you're ready to serve, as they will become stale in the refrigerator.
    For this board, I would suggest pairing it with a wine such as Sauvignon Blanc or a Brut Champagne. The dry, acidic, light, and fresh fruit aspects of these wines should complement the soft cheeses and salty salami beautifully.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1servingCalories: 585kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 27gFat: 38gSaturated Fat: 19gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 101mgSodium: 1394mgPotassium: 281mgFiber: 2gSugar: 19gVitamin A: 633IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 239mgIron: 2mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Tag @homebody.eats on Instagram so we can see your creations!

    More Charcuterie Board Recipes

    • Valentine's Day charcuterie board.
      Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board
    • 50th birthday gold, white, and black cheese board.
      50th Birthday Charcuterie Board
    • new years eve cheese board with star shaped cheese.
      New Year's Eve Charcuterie Board
    • individual chees board for one person on a blue plate.
      What To Serve With A Cheese Board (50+ Ideas)

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Renee

      December 18, 2021 at 7:47 am

      5 stars
      I recently made these for my coworkers for a holiday party. Everyone loved them! And I think it's awesome that these are mini sized so everyone gets there own and nobody shares germs ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
    2. Donna

      December 13, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      what did you use for garnish?

      Reply
      • Jessica Mode

        December 13, 2022 at 2:50 pm

        Hi Donna! It was a eucalyptus plant from Trader Joe's ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

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    mini cheese board on meats and crackers on blue platter.

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