Your new go-to guide to building the ULTIMATE cheese, fruit, and nut appetizer platter.
This post was sponsored by Blue Diamond® as part of an Influencer Activation and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
Between avocado toast and smoothie bowls, there is PLENTY of beautiful food to look at on Instagram. One of my FAVORITE things to look at are charcuterie/cheese/appetizer platters. People are SO creative with these food boards and I love seeing what innovative layouts and foods they include.
I’ve been looking to the Explore page on Instagram for months now to get inspiration for appetizers to bring to the summer parties I’m attending and I began to think…why not make my own appetizer platter?! I have plenty of fun food combos to share…plus they’re pretty fun to put together in general. They have a little something for everyone and can be totally customized depending on dietary needs and preferences.
So today, I’m sharing my tips for building the ULTIMATE appetizer platter! Every component you need to satisfy everyone’s snack cravings and preferences.
Cheesy
Start with your cheeses of course! A variety of soft and hard cheeses is best. Feel free to use vegan cheeses as well! For this platter I used local aged white cheddar, but there are a ton of DELICIOUS plant-based cheeses out on the market now. Comment below if you want to know my faves!
Crunchy
What’s cheese without a crunchy counterpart to eat it with? Opt for gluten-free crackers just in case there are any gluten-free folks in attendance. For major crunch & flavor, I always go with a few varieties of Blue Diamond Nut-Thins. Pecan and Smokehouse are used here. I also toasted up some GF pita bread in the oven for another option. Cucumbers and other raw veg like carrots & celery are also great additions too!
Creamy
Add some dips for your crackers and pita incase some of your guests don’t like cheese or can’t eat dairy. Good options:
- Hummus
- Vegan Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip
- Baba Ganoush
- Pesto
- Vegan Chive Cream Cheese
- Roasted Red Pepper Dip
- Spicy Black Bean Dip
Tip: if you’re making a “sweet” appetizer platter check this out or add some homemade dessert hummus as a dip!
Nutty
Nuts and seeds are a great addition to fill in the holes of your platter and an option that almost everyone can enjoy….especially if they’re not cheese fan or trying to watch their carb intake. My new favorite nuts to add to any snack or appetizer platter are the Blue Diamond Almonds and Fruit varieties!
Featured on this board:
Almonds & Fruit Sea Salt and Whole Blueberry | the perfect mix of saltiness with the sweetness of of real, whole blueberries!
Almonds & Fruit Fiery Ghost Pepper & Tart Cherry | spicy almonds mixed with tart cherries makes for an amazing flavor explosion with each bite!
If you were really pressed for time, you could put out a few bowls of these babies and probably satisfy a lot of people. 😉The flavor profiles, mix of sweet & salty, and contrast of crunchiness & chewiness make these the ULTIMATE addition to any snack tray, appetizer platter, or party spread in general.
I love eating these for a snack all on their own and when included in a food platter like the one in this post the Almonds and Fruit add a touch of elegance and sophistication that plain nuts or dried fruits could never.
You can find these new fruit and nut mixes from Blue Diamond at Walmart and can save money using the Ibotta offer currently running on them.
Fruity
Fresh fruit is always a great way to round out an appetizer platter! The best ones to add in my opinion are: sliced apples, sliced pears, red or green grapes, fresh berries, or dried fruits like apricots, dates, figs, or prunes. The goal is to have a lot of different food and flavor options that all pair well together.
Salty
Optional but, to me, OLIVES are always a great final addition to an appetizer platter. I know olives can be quite divisive, but if you are an olive fan, there are a ton of different options to choose from that will add a nice savory touch to your snack spread. I used Kalamatas on this platter, but black or green olives with pimento are safe choices as well.
What are your go-to additions to an appetizer platter or cheese board?
Have you tried the new Almonds and Fruit products from Blue Diamond?
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11 responses to “How to Build the ULTIMATE Gluten-Free Appetizer Platter”
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Hi Kaila! My family would enjoy a delicious cheese platter like this. Thanks so much for the ideas. Dried fruits and nuts make such a nice addition 🙂
Anja,
UseYourNoodles
Thanks Anja!! Enjoy! 🙂
Yum, this looks delicious I pinned it for later. Holidays are just around the corner!
Happy summer,
Kippi
Thanks Kippi!! Hope you love it!
I LOVE charcuterie platters. They’re so easy to put together, but seem so decadent. Thanks for reminding me to do this at home. And thanks for sharing at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home! –Jennifer
Me too! So easy to make and a real crowd pleaser!!
This will be a great platter of appetizer’s! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Full Plate Thursday and hope you are having a great week.
Miz Helen
This looks like the perfect spread for sitting outdoors and enjoying on a peaceful summer’s evening! 🙂 Loving all the cheese! Sim x #MeltInYourMouthMonday
Thanks Sim! Let me know if you give this a try!!
Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party!
Thanks for stopping by Helen!