California Football Snacks for the Big Game

This post contains collections of products that I personally recommend (it may contain affiliate links).

Updated 2022.

This post was from last year’s LA-based football game, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still celebrate the Big Game with healthy game day snacks! And as a lifelong California girl, beautiful, bright snacks are my forte. Plus, we all know the best part is the food, and the half-time show, of course. You know what comes next: A gorgeous, produce-filled charcuterie board using California-grown fruits, veggies, and cheeses. Check out this ebook for more California spins on Game Day and use this hashtag to share your treats #CAPregame.

Check out the below for a unique California take on the football season finale and then have your board ready for kickoff on Sunday, February 12th! 

For more game day ideas, check out my Build Your Own Hot Dog Bar, Game Day Meatball Board, Chicken Wings Board, Soft Pretzel Charcuterie Board, and Build Your Own Grilled Cheese Board. For even healthier options, use these Healthy Boards as inspo.

How to Make This Game Day Spread

Cheese & Dip

• Brie, sliced (check out my brie cutting tutorial!)

• Mozzarella balls 

• Gouda, sliced

• Humboldt Fog 

• Ranch yogurt dip

Meat

• Genoa Salami

• Coppa Italiana

Carbs

• Baguette, sliced 

Produce

• Strawberries 

• Navel oranges, sliced

• Blood oranges, sliced

• Carrots

• Celery 

• Kiwi

• Radishes

Accoutrement

• Almonds 

• Dates 

• Walnuts

• Pistachios

• California Ripe Green Olives 

• California Ripe Black Olives

• Olive oil

• Honey

Garnish

• Rosemary sprigs

• Chives, chopped

• Basil leaves

• Salt & Pepper

Put it All Together

• Start by adding the Ranch, honey, olive oil, and olives to ramekins or small bowls and set down on the board to anchor it. Create a wreath out of sliced brie in one corner of the board, then add the gouda slices, laying them out in a line down the middle of the board. 

• Add the Humboldt Fog and larger produce to the outside of the board, making sure to separate similar colors. 

• Add the mozzarella skewers to the board, then create salami rosettes (or find a salami rose tutorial in this post) and add them to the center of the brie wreath and any empty spaces.

• Decorate the almonds (see more below) and fill any remaining spaces with almonds, dates, walnuts, and small produce. 

• Sprinkle the ranch with chives and top the mozzarella skewers with basil. Garnish the board with rosemary.

• Serve the sliced baguette and any extra goodies on the side!

Keeping it California

Obviously not everything on this board is from California, but the produce (see more below!) and these goodies are! And we’re famous for them.

• Humboldt Fog Cheese: From Cypress Grove, a goat-milk based creamery in Arcata, this creamy, herbaceous (and a little bit stinky!) cheese is a soft-ripened dream (and it was created in one too–literally). This also happens to be one of my favorite California cheeses!

• Almonds: While these treenuts didn’t originate in America, California produces 80% of the world’s almond crop and 100% of the United States’! 

• California Ripe Olives: Thanks to California’s Mediterranean climate, olive trees have flourished in the Golden State! The first olive tree cuttings were established in the States in 1769 and now California produces 95% of America’s olives all on family farms. 

The best part? Pair with delicious California wines–who said beer is the only thing you can drink while watching football (but California makes good beer too… just sayin’)?

California Produce Guide for February

Living in California, I’m lucky because most produce is available throughout the year (a big reason to Visit California). However, I prefer eating local California produce during its optimum time in the season. Here’s a helpful list of fruits and veggies that are currently in season in California around the time of the big game, many of which I used on this board. P.S. don’t forget to Check out this ebook for more California spins on Game Day.

Fruits

• Granny Smith Apples

• Strawberries 

• Citrus

• Kiwi

• Pomegranate Arils

Veggies

• Carrots

• Celery 

• Broccoli  

• Radishes

• Artichokes

• Cauliflower

• Romanesco

• Kale

• Arugula

• Endive

• Frisée

• Beets

• Potatoes

• Sweet Potatoes

The Football Touch(down)

Okay, okay… it’s not the California Bowl, I get it! Here’s where the football theme comes in:

• The almonds: Use white cookie icing to decorate the almonds with thin lines like football laces. Whatever you do, don’t use gel icing! It loses its shape and is kind of transparent. 

• The Caprese Skewers: Find some football themed picks (I like these!) to create caprese skewers using the mozzarella and tomatoes!

Show Me Your Boards

I hope this post inspires you to create delicious party snacks. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the beautiful spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share! 

And, If you liked this recipe, please rate and review.