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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 prepare them yourself or set out the charcuterie and cups separately so folks can make their own, charcuterie cups make excellent cocktail hour apps that are easy to take with you while you mingle. 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 Handheld recipes section! Also be sure to check out some of my other easy app ideas, like my Butter Board, Cheesy Pull Apart Bread, Tinned Fish Board, Baked Brie, and any of my dip recipes.

What to Put in a Charcuterie Cup

Produce

• Strawberries, Halved
• Blackberries
• Red grapes

Meat

• Salami, folded

Cheese

• Brie bites
• Gouda, cubed
• Manchego, cut into triangles

Carbs

• Bread sticks, halved
• Rustic Bakery Sourdough Flatbreads
• Honey sticks

Accoutrement

• Cornichons
• Olives
• Dried apricots
• Rosemary sprigs

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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.

Charcuterie Cup Substitutions

As always, I hope you make this board your own! If you or any of your guests have dietary restrictions, be sure to cater to them. And don’t forget: some cheeses are naturally low in lactose!

Here are some of my favorite swaps:

Crackers

• Schär Gluten-Free Italian Breadsticks 
• Absolutely! Grain Free Original Flatbreads 

Cheese

• Un-Brie-Lievable Cashew “Cheese” 
• Daiya Dairy-Free Smoked Gouda Block

Rules for DIY Charcuterie Cups

If you plan to customize this board, 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!

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Charcuterie Cup Vessels

• Cups (these are the ones I used!)
• Short jars
• Lowball glasses
• Ramekins
• Wooden cones
• Small paper trays

Charcuterie Cup Beverage Pairings

Since these cups are just mini charcuterie boards, the best pairings have to do with what you choose to add! Find more about pairing in my Wine 101. 

Here’s a little taste:
“When it comes to pairing wine with cheese, I focus on these three things – contrasting, complementary, and regions: 

• Contrasting means the wine and cheese have opposite characteristics, like how acidic wines cut through rich, creamy cheeses. 
• Complementary means the wine and cheese have similar characteristics, like an earthy wine with a bloomy cheese.
• Regional means the wine and cheese hail from the same area, which sometimes makes for a great pair (but not always!).”

If you want to be really advanced, you can get this wine glass topper so you can drink and snack all in one hand!

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 serve-ability up a notch and make for a party-perfect option, wedding or otherwise. Try them for:

• Baby showers
• Anniversary parties
• Birthday parties (you can absolutely make a kid-friendly version!)
• Book clubs
• Holiday parties
• Office gatherings

Check out these charcuterie cups for more nuptial inspiration!

https://www.instagram.com/p/CwLI-41r_be

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cu13Q2KuqEo

https://www.instagram.com/p/CjhB74NrG32

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ceg-tuku-QK

Show Me Your Charcuterie Cups

I hope this post inspires you to make these DIY charcuterie cups. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the snacks and apps 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.

Photos by Haley Hunt Davis of Salt Worth Creative. Food styling with Ryan Norton.