EASY HALLOWEEN CHARCUTERIE BOARD
Come for the boo.
Stay for the brie.
A little wicked.
Very good taste.
Sharp cheddar, salty little bites, dark fruit—and a few edible eyes watching the crackers disappear.
Grazing-board inspiration. Our selected SONDER board is pictured separately.
OUR WALNUT FINDSONDER AlfredMeet the board 
01 / SET A PLAYFUL TABLE
A party spread.
With a mischievous streak.
You don't need a cabinet full of molds or a whole afternoon of carving. Start with the good things people already reach for: cheese, crackers, fruit and a salty bite.
Then give two of them a Halloween costume. Little cheddar pumpkins. Mozzarella eyes. Plenty of room for seconds.
The photograph sets the party mood. The no-cook recipes below make a savory board of their own.
Make the two cheese bitesGood company.
Questionable table manners.
TREATS.
Less fuss.
02 / THE BOARD, WITHOUT THE BIG PRODUCTION
Easy Halloween
Charcuterie Board
A savory, no-cook spread for 6–8. Plan on about 45–55 minutes, including 20–30 minutes chilling. Make the two cheese bites first; the rest is a little arranging.
One clean board around 17 × 13 inches, two small bowls, a fork, teaspoon, small knife, spreader and serving tongs are all you need.
OUR WALNUT FINDSONDER AlfredMeet the board YOUR PARTY LIST
A little of everything good.
Tick as you shop. Quantities make an appetizer spread, with chilled backup portions.
The two bite recipes below include their own ingredients. Serve extra crackers in a bowl alongside.
FROM FIRST BOWL TO LAST CRACKER
Build it in six easy moves.
Start with the two little show-offs.
Mix the pumpkin cheddar bites first and chill them. Make the mozzarella eyes while the mixture firms up. Keep both components covered in the refrigerator until you are ready to assemble.
Give wet things their own place.
Set a small bowl of jam and a small bowl of drained olives toward opposite corners. If using Alfred’s compartment side, use the wells for dry accompaniments, such as crackers and apricots; use bowls for juicy or sticky ingredients.
Build three easy anchors.
Place a cluster of pumpkin bites near one bowl, a few mozzarella eyes near the other, and the cubed cheese in a third area. Start with about half the perishable ingredients and keep the rest chilled for a fresh second serving.
Make a savory path.
Loosely fold the salami or prosciutto into small, easy-to-pick-up pieces and arrange it between the cheese clusters. Fan crackers along two edges, leaving space to reach the bowls.
Fill the gaps with color.
Add blackberries, apricots and carrots in small groups. Scatter the remaining mozzarella eyes through the cheese and meat areas. Keep crackers away from berries and jam so they stay crisp.
Serve small. Refresh fresh.
Set out serving tongs and a cheese spreader. For the next round, use a clean plate or freshly arranged small platter rather than piling new food onto exposed leftovers. Put any decorative leaves, candles or plastic props around the board, outside the food area.
03 / TWO LITTLE SHOW-OFFS
Put the cheese
in costume.
A fork, a teaspoon and a few ordinary ingredients. These are the bites that turn a snack board into a Halloween board.
THE LITTLE SHOW-OFFS / 01
Mini Pumpkin Cheddar Bites
Little savory pumpkins with a cheddar-and-chive center and a pretzel stem. A teaspoon makes the grooves; no molds or carving tools are needed.
What you'll need
- 4 oz Full-fat block cream cheese, cool but soft enough to mix115 g
- 3 oz (about 3/4 cup) Sharp orange cheddar, very finely grated85 g
- 1 tsp Finely chopped chives1 g
- 1/8 tsp Garlic powderA small pinch
- 1/2 tsp Sweet paprika, for a light dusting1 g
- 8 pieces Pretzel stick pieces, approximately 1/2 inch long8 pieces, about 1.3 cm long
- 8 leaves Small flat-leaf parsley leaves8 leaves
Make the magic
- Mash the cream cheese, grated cheddar, chives and garlic powder together with a fork. Cover and refrigerate for 20–30 minutes, or until the mixture holds its shape.
- Divide into 8 portions. With clean, lightly damp hands, roll each into a ball, then flatten the top and bottom very slightly.
- Use the edge of a teaspoon to press 5 or 6 shallow vertical grooves around each ball. Dust lightly with sweet paprika for a warmer orange finish.
- Cover and keep refrigerated. Just before serving, add a short pretzel stem and one parsley leaf to each bite. Serve with crackers and a small spreader.
Make ahead: Mix the filling up to one day ahead and refrigerate, covered. Shape the bites up to 4 hours ahead. Add stems and leaves at serving time.
These are cheese bites shaped like pumpkins; they contain no pumpkin. Keep the paprika coating light so it does not taste dusty.
THE LITTLE SHOW-OFFS / 02
Mozzarella–Olive Eyes
Cool mozzarella, a little sweet red pepper and olive pupils: three ingredients doing a very convincing Halloween job.
What you'll need
- 16 cherry-size balls, about 8 oz Fresh ciliegine mozzarella, drainedAbout 225 g; the count depends on the brand
- 8 medium olives Pimento-stuffed green olives, drainedAbout 35 g
- 2 Tbsp Jarred roasted red pepper, drained and finely chopped25 g
Make the magic
- Pat the mozzarella and olives dry. If a mozzarella ball rolls, shave a very thin slice off its underside to make a flat base.
- Halve each olive crosswise so the pimento is visible. Put a tiny dab of finely chopped roasted pepper on top of each mozzarella ball.
- Set an olive half on each pepper dab, with its cut side facing up. Press gently to settle it; there is no need to hollow out or warm the cheese.
- Arrange in pairs on a small plate. Cover and refrigerate until you build the board. Serve with tongs rather than hidden cocktail sticks.
Make ahead: Assemble up to 4 hours ahead and keep covered in the refrigerator. Pat away any released moisture before serving.
Use only edible toppings on the bites. Put plastic decorations on the table around the serving board.
Original BNH recipe concepts, not kitchen-tested. Photography is serving inspiration rather than an exact result. Contains milk; pretzels and some crackers contain wheat. Check ingredient labels for your guests.
04 / OUR WALNUT FIND
The board that stays
after the party.
SONDER Los Angeles Alfred.
American black walnut. End grain. Made in the USA.
Selected model: Alfred | Black Walnut | End Grain
17 × 13 × 1.5 in / 43.2 × 33 × 3.8 cm
ONE HANDSOME BOARD. TWO USEFUL SIDES.
Meet Alfred.
A substantial walnut surface for prep, with three compartments on the reverse for serving.
As an Amazon Associate, Brand New Home earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
See Alfred on Amazon Affiliate link. Opens Amazon in a new tab.Room to build your spread.
A 17 × 13-inch surface gives your cheese, fruit and crackers a generous starting point.
Keep the little bites together.
Three compartments on the reverse side help organize small accompaniments.
Catch the messy part.
The juice groove helps contain drips while you prep fruit or carve cooked meat.
Steadier prep. An easier lift.
Removable rubber feet add grip; finger recesses give your hands a place to hold.
Background: SONDER's photograph of Alfred in use. Food, bowls and styling props are not included.
05 / THE UNGLAMOROUS LITTLE DETAILS
Less last-minute.
More party.
Keep the serving plan simple, and leave yourself time to enjoy it.
A little head start.
- The day before
- Shop, chill the drinks, cube the hard cheese and mix the cheddar-bite filling. Keep prepared ingredients covered and refrigerated. Leave crackers sealed.
- Up to 4 hours before
- Shape the pumpkin bites and assemble the mozzarella eyes; cover and refrigerate. Add pretzel stems just before serving so they stay crisp.
- Just before guests arrive
- Arrange one small serving of the board and put out the crackers. Keep backup cheese, meat and prepared bites in the refrigerator.
Keep the good things chilled.
Keep cheese, meat and prepared bites at 40°F (4°C) or below until serving. Discard perishable food after more than 2 hours at room temperature, or 1 hour when the temperature is above 90°F (32°C). Count preparation and serving time together. Refrigerate usable leftovers promptly and follow the earliest use-by date among the ingredients.
Store uneaten cheese and meats separately in covered containers. Keep crackers dry and sealed. For best texture, eat refrigerated assembled bites the next day, provided they stayed within the safe serving window and their ingredient use-by dates.
FDA buffet-serving guidance ↗Make it your kind of board.
- For a meat-free spread, replace the cured meat with another 4 oz (115 g) of cheese and 1 cup (150 g) of sliced bell peppers. Choose vegetarian cheeses if required.
- For an even easier board, use ordinary cheese cubes in place of the pumpkin bites. The mozzarella eyes still carry the Halloween theme.
- Choose crackers, cheese and condiments to suit your guests; check labels for milk, wheat and other allergens.
Good wood likes a little care.
Hand wash both sides with mild dish soap. Dry promptly and air-dry upright. No soaking or dishwasher. Condition with food-grade mineral oil or beeswax every 2–3 weeks, following SONDER's care guide.
Our approach, sources & photo credits
We selected Alfred from manufacturer and listing information; this is a research-based edit, not a hands-on equipment test. Product photographs show the selected model separately from the general food inspiration.
The assembly guide and two bite recipes are original BNH concepts, informed by the sources below, and have not been kitchen-tested.
- SONDER LA — Alfred Cutting Board
- SONDER LA — Clean and Care Guide
- FDA — Serving Up Safe Buffets
- Wisconsin Cheese Mart / Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin — Mini Pumpkin Cheese Balls
- Morgan, Host the Toast — Halloween Charcuterie Board
- Lori Yates, Foxes Love Lemons — Spooky Charcuterie Board for Halloween
Food photography: Deane Bayas, Daisy Anderson and Nadin Sh via Pexels. Product photography: SONDER LA and the selected Amazon listing. Foliage is decorative BNH artwork.
As an Amazon Associate, Brand New Home earns from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. Our Amazon link opens in a new tab; check the listing for current options and availability.
THE NIGHT IS STILL YOUNG.