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Last Updated: May 3, 2024, 3:37 a.m.

Very few other meals come even close to the ferocity and grandeur of charcuterie boards. As far as appetizers and snacks are concerned, it is one of the undisputed kings. The delicious taste and communal nature of these boards can bring people together for a great night out. The only issue with this wonderful meal is making it. Luckily, the most informative charcuterie books of 2023 can help you get past this hurdle.

These cookbooks are designed to help you overcome this seemingly challenging dish on your own. The recipes in these books are simple and easy to follow while leading to some of the best charcuterie boards you’ve ever seen.

If you’re interested in mastering charcuterie boards, check out our five top-tier book recommendations. They include everything you want and more.

A Buying Guide to Charcuterie Board Books

Charcuterie boards are one of those super dishes that wow people no matter how many times you make one for them. Combine this with the fact that these boards are actually delicious, gorgeous to look at, and a way for everyone to come together, and the importance of having a charcuterie board book becomes apparent. These special cookbooks help you come up with board ideas and execute them to perfection. But there are so many of these books available on the market. Which is the right one for you? Consider the following factors when sifting through all of the options online.

Cooking Skill Level

The first and arguably the most important factor to consider is your own skill level. How good are you at cooking? Can you make food look good? Can you be precise with ingredient measurements and placement? The answers to these questions will give you a rough idea of how you'll handle making charcuterie boards. If you're great at cooking with precise measurements and have prior experience in decorating platters, look for books that keep this in mind, and don't waste your time with tips you already know. These usually go straight to the point with the board recipe and a picture of the board for reference. Expert books might not even include recipes for minute side dips and sauces. On the other hand, if you're a somewhat novice, look for charcuterie books that explain everything. These beginner books will have instructions on major stuff like how to style the board to minute prep stuff like which surface and vessel works better with which process. Just be honest with yourself, and don't overestimate your own skills. The final goal is to make a delicious-looking and tasting charcuterie board. It doesn't matter how you get there.

Ease of Following

Look for charcuterie board books with clear and easy-to-follow instructions. You might think that this point is only for folks with fewer kitchen skills, but that is not the case. No matter how good you are at cooking, you should look for a book that has well-written recipes. Buying a harder-to-parse charcuterie board book will only increase your chances of making a mistake without providing any benefits in return. Remember that easy to understand doesn't mean something so basic that it looks like it's written for kids. It just needs to have an intuitive layout, clearly legible font, simple wording, and straightforward sentence structure.

Types of Recipes and Ideas

The next major consideration is the main contents of charcuterie board books, their recipes, and board ideas. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of unique board ideas out there. A single book usually includes anywhere between 30 and 50 of them. Some books are more focused on proper meal boards, while others put an emphasis on the snacking aspect of a charcuterie board. You might also find books with ideas revolving around a certain occasion or season. Now it's up to you to find books with ideas that interest you. The best way to go about this is to first read the book synopsis/description. This alone will narrow down your options considerably. Next, most books online have their first few pages available as a demo. Read through the ones that interest you to find one that fits your desires perfectly. Looking through the index will also help massively.

Quality

If you're buying the book in a digital form, this consideration is not for you. But, if you prefer actually holding the book, you should check the quality of the hardback or paperback before you make a purchase. Customer reviews often have everything you need to know about these physical attributes. If a book comes with a flimsy covering, it will fall apart very soon, and the buyer's complaint will show up in customer reviews. If you see too many of these negative reviews, you might want to reconsider your decision.

Top Picks

Best Overall: Easy Charcuterie Boards By Marco Niccoli
Visually Stunning Recipes: Beautiful Boards By Maegan Brown
Top-Tier Recipes: Platters And Boards By Shelly Westerhausen
Greatest Variety: The Cheese Board Deck By Meg Quinn
Easiest To Follow: On Boards By Lisa Dawn Bolton

Reviews

Best Overall

Easy Charcuterie Boards By Marco Niccoli

Pros	Cons
Includes 30 unique recipes Comes with a list of compatible drinks Easy-to-follow recipes for every board	Could have more photos as a visual aid

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Visually Stunning Recipes

Beautiful Boards By Maegan Brown

Pros	Cons
Includes 50 delicious charcuterie boards Each board has a unique design Ebook version available	Doesn't showcase techniques, only board designs

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Top-Tier Recipes

Platters And Boards By Shelly Westerhausen

Pros	Cons
Includes 40 brilliant recipes Detailed recommendations and guides for everything Comes with tips on portioning	Great for beginners but not for more advanced cooks

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Greatest Variety

The Cheese Board Deck By Meg Quinn

Pros	Cons
50 unique charcuterie board ideas Clear instructions on cooking and presentation Boards with wildly different flavors	Can be a little too advanced for beginners

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Easiest to Follow

On Boards By Lisa Dawn Bolton

Pros	Cons
Large collection of recipes and board ideas Easy-to-follow recipes Board ideas categorized by occasion or season Makes a great gift	Recipes are not as unique as other options on this list

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FAQs

What items should I include in a charcuterie board?

A great charcuterie board can include a variety of cured and smoked meats (salami, prosciutto, bresaola, pepperoni, etc.), crackers, cheese (hard, soft, blue), olives, fruits and nuts, jams and chutneys, mustards, pickled vegetables and other accompaniments.

How much food do I need for a charcuterie board?

It depends on the size of your board and the number of guests. Generally speaking, plan for approximately 1/4 pound of each type of meat and 1/4 to 1/3 cup of each cheese per person on the board. You can also include 2 to 3 accompaniments such as olives or jams for each person.

What types of meats should I use?

Many cured and smoked varieties are suitable for charcuterie boards. Popular choices include salami, prosciutto, bresaola, pepperoni, chorizo and various sausages.

What types of cheese and accompaniments can I serve with the meats?

Cheese varieties can include hard cheeses such as cheddar or gouda; semi-soft cheeses such as brie; soft-ripened cheeses such as camembert; aged cheeses such as gruyere; blue cheeses such as Roquefort; sheep's milk cheeses such as pecorino; goat's milk cheeses such as feta; smoked cheeses such as provolone; and spreadable cheeses such as cream cheese or chevre (goat's cheese). Accompaniments can range from olives to jams to chutneys to pickled vegetables to honey to nuts.

How can I make sure everything goes together well in terms of flavor and presentation?

Choose a range of items with different textures and flavors that complement each other well. Think about how each item will look when arranged on the board before selecting them – what colors will they create when placed side by side? Trying out different combinations ahead of time will help you decide which ones work best together both visually and flavorwise.

Can I enjoy a charcuterie board as a full meal?

Depending on the contents of the charcuterie board you made, you can have it as the actual meal itself and not just as an appetizer.