Charcuterie Boards, Grazing Boards, and Dessert Boards
No matter what you call them, they are all the rage right now. There are many styles of boards to fit your home decor and so many ways you can use them. The Charcuterie board I’m using was gifted to me by my friend Kelly (find her info below). Grazing boards look special yet can be fairly simple to put together. Typically, charcuterie boards include sausages, salami, and cheeses of all sorts. Think Savory meats and cheeses, and salty and sweet. In this post, we’re featuring a sweet dessert board to celebrate Valentine’s Day and you will L♥VE the decadent red velvet heart-shaped cheese ball!
Sweet Treats and Your Nutrition Goals – Pro Tip
Remember, it’s okay to treat yourself! Living well includes indulging from time to time so that you don’t feel deprived. Implement the 80/20 Rule. Eat nutritious foods and drink plenty of water 80 percent of the time. This gives you an option 20 percent of the time to treat yourself on holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions. There are 365 days in a year and there are less than 20 holidays within a year. You can treat yourself as long as you don’t go on an all-out binge! It’s more important to be mindful and eat well, drink your water, and exercise ALL of the days between your holidays than it is to stress over those 20 or so special occasions during the year. It’s called balance my friends, it’s called balance.
The Valentine’s Day Dessert Charcuterie Board
Think of your charcuterie board as a place for all of your Valentine treats. When you bring everything together in a mass, items look more impressive and guests will feel more apt to dig in (even if you’re a party of two).
On YOUR Charcuterie Board
Valentines Day is about love so be creative and think about the people who will be grazing from the board. Is it a small gathering, a party for two, or for your kids? Then decide the favorites to add.
On my board, I used some wrapped candies for those that are worried about double-dipping, incorporated the usual pink, red, and white colors, and added a touch of silver, gold, or bronze wrapped candies.
I placed wrapped Lindt Chocolate Truffles and Godiva Chocolates in little groups on this board. Valentine’s Day M&M’s are served in a vintage dish with a serving spoon to add dimension to the presentation (They’re also sprinkled around the board). For healthier options, I added fresh strawberries and raspberries. I used plain strawberries (great dipped in the red velvet cheese ball) but you can pre-dip them in white or dark chocolate too! To make the raspberries extra cute I popped M&M’s inside them! Dove Dark Heart Chocolates were placed in a heart-shaped dish on the left side of the board to balance out the vintage glass serving dish on the right. LornaDoone Shortbread Cookies and Milano Dark Chocolate Cookies are yummy on their own but can be dipped in the Red Velvet cheese ball as well! Ghiradelli mini white chocolate chips were used on the Red Velvet Cheese Ball and sprinkled throughout. The main event is the Red Velvet Heart-shaped Cheese Ball! I placed the red velvet heart on a small pedestal overlapping the dessert board to add some height. ♥Recipe below!
For adults, grab a candle, your wine glasses, and a bottle of Bonterra Cabernet Sauvignon. Red wine pairs well with chocolate and Bonterra is made with organic grapes! I found it locally at 200 Main Art and Wine in Eau Claire, WI.
Shop the Board and Valentine’s Day
RECIPE – Red Velvet Heart-Shaped Cheese Ball
Servings – generously serves 4
Ingredients
♥ 8 ounces softened Philadelphia cream cheese (I used the light version)
♥ 1/2 softened butter
♥ 1 1/2 cup red velvet cake mix
♥ 1/2 cup powdered sugar
♥ 2 tablespoons brown sugar
♥ 1 package Ghiradelli mini white chocolate morsels
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Mix cream cheese and butter well.
Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Notice the bright red velvet color pop!
You can form ingredients into a ball but I decided to make a heart shape.
Wrap formed cheese in plastic wrap.
Refrigerate overnight.
Place the cheese form on the grazing board or on a pedestal as shown here. I like a pedestal or cake stand slightly perched over the board to add some height.Place and push the Ghiradelli white chocolate morsels into the entire cheese ball. I placed the tips of the chips up↑ to give it an edgy contemporary look.
Spread the dip on Lornadoone Cookies, Milano Dark chocolate filled cookies, or simple vanilla wafers, and enjoy! Print Red Velvet Heart RECIPE
Time Saving Tip:
Make extra holiday goodies and freeze red white or pink cookies or candies from Christmas! Pretzels dipped in Almond Bark, pink frosted sugar cookies, and red M&M’s make great treats for Valentine’s Day too!
I hope this post inspires you to create your own version of a grazing board.
Happy Valentine’s Day!
♥ Kim
Custom Black Walnut Charcuterie Boards (varying sizes available). Local Eau Claire, WI maker.
SHOP HERE
Special thanks to the fabulous Sarah Genskow – SMMG Photography for photography in this post. ♥
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