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I first got into making charcuterie cups during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic; charcuterie in a cup was the perfect solution to socially distanced cheese boards. I developed Charcuterie Cones (or #CoronaCones) and Jarcuterie for that very purpose, but individual charcuterie is a great idea for mess-free hosting in general! Whether you put together the charcuterie cups before or set out the charcuterie and cups separately so folks can make their own, they make excellent cocktail hour apps that are easy to take on the move. I also love making charcuterie cups for when I want a “cheese board” that’s the perfect size for just me, like this Charcuterie Bouquet and my Cheese Board for One or Two.
You can find more of these ideas in my Handhelds section! Also be sure to check out some of my other favorite app ideas, like my Butter Board, Salami Chips, Cheesy Pull Apart Bread, Antipasto Skewer Board, Baked Brie, Super Bowl Appetizers, and any of my dips.
Charcuterie Cups DIY Recipe
Produce
- Strawberries, Halved
- Blackberries
- Red grapes
Meat
- Salami, folded
Cheese
- Gouda, cubed
- Manchego, cut into triangles
Carbs
- Bread sticks, halved
Accoutrement
- Cornichons
- Olives
- Dried apricots
- Rosemary sprigs
How To Make Charcuterie Cups
- Arrange the apricots and brie bites on a third of the skewers, then arrange olives, cornichons, salami, and gouda on another third. Arrange the blackberries and strawberries on the remaining third of skewers.
- Add the grapes to the bottom of the cups, then add the crackers, breadsticks, honey sticks, and manchego triangles to the back of the cup.
- Add the skewers on top of the grapes (or nestle them in between). Tuck the rosemary sprig into the side of the cup.
Rules of Thumb for Charcuterie Cups
Making your own version? Awesome! Here are several things to keep in mind while arranging all of your charcuterie goodies…
- Pair different flavors together just like you would a regular cheese board (aka salty with sweet).
- Focus on hard cheeses like havarti, cheddar, manchego, and gouda. Soft cheeses tend to lose shape and melt when they come to room temperature.
- Play with different colors and shapes of cheeses, meats, and accoutrement to keep the jar from looking cluttered and one-note.
- Remember to think vertically when you’re organizing! Because you won’t have the room to display everything out nice and flat, play with the different heights and put the tallest items in the back (take a peek at the #CoronaCone hashtag for design inspo). Skewers are your best friends!
- Make sure to separate wet and moist items like olives and fresh produce from crackers and nuts to prevent mushiness!
Charcuterie Cup Vessels
- Cups (these are the ones i used!)
- Short jars
- Lowball glasses
- Ramekins
- Small paper trays
Charcuterie Cups Wedding Inspo
I love charcuterie at wedding events, from showers and rehearsal dinners to cocktail hour or table centerpieces. That’s why I made a Wedding Charcuterie Board! These charcuterie cups kick the serveability up a notch and make for a party-perfect option.
Check out these charcuterie cups for more nuptial inspiration!
Charcuterie Cup Salami How-To
If you want to go beyond folding, take a peek at this video!
Show Me Your Charcuterie Cups
I hope this post inspires you to make these charcuterie cups. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snack 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.
Individual Charcuterie Cups
Description
Ingredients
Produce
- Strawberries halved
- Blackberries
- Red grapes
Meat
- Salami folded
Cheese
- Brie bites
- Gouda cubed
- Manchego sliced
Carbs
- Bread sticks halved
- Rustic Bakery Sourdough Flatbreads
- Honey sticks
Accoutrement
- Cornichons
- Olives
- Dried apricots
- Rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- Arrange the apricots and brie bites on a third of the skewers, then arrange olives, cornichons, salami, and gouda on another third. Arrange the blackberries and strawberries on the remaining third of skewers.
- Add the grapes to the bottom of the cups, then add the crackers, breadsticks, honey sticks, and manchego triangles to the back of the cup.
- Add the skewers on top of the grapes (or nestle them in between). Tuck the rosemary sprig into the side of the cup.
Photos by Haley Hunt Davis of Salt Worth Creative. Food styling with Ryan Norton.
I absolutely love this idea. My daughter and I are obsessed with anything mini. We will definitely try these soon!
I LOVE this idea of the individual servings! Thank you for sharing your tips!