Step 1

Start by making your selections from each section (salty, sweet, savory, spicy, and for dipping). We chose the following for our board pictured above: Salty: olives and cornichons; Sweet: candied nuts, dates, and fresh fruit; Savory: spicy vegan pimento cheese ball and Treeline’s herb garlic soft cheese; Spicy: vegan pepperoni and charred serrano white bean dip; and For Dipping: Simple Mills almond flour crackers, Whole Foods gluten-free oat and seed crispbreads, rustic French bread, and fresh veggies!

Step 2

To make the homemade components of the charcuterie board pictured above, we started by making our spicy vegan pimento cheese ball in advance and letting it chill for the minimum time suggested in the recipe (6 hours). Next we made vegan pepperoni and set it aside when it was done. Then we made charred serrano white bean dip and placed it in the refrigerator to chill. Lastly we made candied nuts and cut up the fresh fruits and veggies!

Step 3

Once you've gathered and prepared your components, it's time to assemble! Grab a wooden tray or cutting board (or a parchment-lined baking sheet). You want it to be big enough to fit everything but small enough that your snacks look abundant, not sparse.

Step 4

Place your snacks on the board in order from largest to smallest. Start with any bowls or dishes for snacks (like olives and hummus) and space them out on the board so you can place smaller snacks in between. Then fill in the extra space with "loose" snacks, like veggies and crackers. Our favorite trick is to place stackable snacks (like cucumbers and vegan pepperoni) in curves or around the dishes. All that's left is to get your snack on!

Step 5

Best when fresh. Store leftover components in the refrigerator covered on the board or separately for up to 1-2 days.