Jarcuterie: Cheese Boards in a Jar

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jarcuterie cheese in a jar

Back at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic when we were still hanging out with friends virtually or from a safe distance, I fell in love with single-serve Charcuterie Cones (or #CoronaCones, as I call them). Even though individual servings are less of a concern now, I love the adorable jarcuterie trend so much that I plan to continue doing it for mess-free appetizers and fun holiday-themed décor (like my Easter Basket Cheese Baskets)–or even when I want a “cheese board” that’s the perfect size for just me, like this Charcuterie Bouquet. You can find all of these ideas in my Handhelds section of the blog. And be sure to check out my specific tips for Cheese Boards for One or Two. I have a whole section of these small board ideas too.

The beauty of jarcuterie is that it can be anything you want it to be, as long as it’s in a jar (or any single-serve vessel)! Try turning my Movie Candy Board, Elevated Veggie Platter, or Trader Joe’s Cheese Board into a tasty, single-serve snack-in-a-jar too.

jarcuterie individual charcuterie boards

Ingredients

Cheese

  • Pepper jack, cubed
  • Manchego, sliced

Meat

  • Salami secchi, thinly sliced
  • Salami, folded and on a skewer

Produce

  • Grapes
  • Raspberries

Accoutrement

  • Cocoa dusted almonds
  • Dried apricots
  • Marinated olives, pitted and on a skewer
  • Rosemary sprig, for garnish

Carbs

  • Breadsticks, broken in half
  • Flatbreads, broken in half
personal charcuterie board jarcuterie

Put It All Together

  • Start with a short jar, small bowl, or vessel of your choosing
  • Add the almonds to the bottom, then add the cubed cheese and salami secchi
  • Break the flat bread pieces to the back of the jar, then layer the salami skewer and sliced cheese triangles in front
  • Next, add the olive skewer, grapes, apricots, and raspberries
  • Finish off by adding the breadstick pieces in the back, then tuck the rosemary sprig into the center to serve

Rules of Thumb

First things first, there are really only three main things you need to keep in mind when making jarcuterie. Remember: there is no wrong way to cheese board–even in a jar!

  • Look for a short glass or jar so it makes grabbing goodies a whole lot easier!
  • 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. Give salami rosettes a try! 
  • 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!

Pro tip: Avoid soft cheeses, unless they’re self-contained brie bites (like these ones from Supreme linked here or found at Sprouts), because they end up getting smooshed and can get warm/melty much faster than the harder cheeses.

How-to video

Check out this Tiktok video for the play-by-play. And follow me there for more tips & tricks.

If Not a Jar…

Try one of these!

  • Stemless wine glasses (or other glass drinkware), like I used here
  • Mugs
  • Waffle ice cream cones
salami rose jarcuterie
Charcuterie Cone jarcuterie
jarcuterie charcuterie in a cup

Some Other Jarcuterie Examples

This jarcuterie by Sarah Juenemann from @grazingkc is a great use of brie bites. As I mentioned above, I don’t recommend soft cheeses for these, with the exception of brie bites because they stay in tact. Put them on a fun cocktail pick to hold them in place and you have a beautiful and tasty addition to your jarcuterie.

jarcuterie for one brie bite

And this from beautiful line-up of jarcuterie as far as the eye can see from @thewanderingboard showcases how these jars can be a great appetizer for a crowd. I’ve seen that used for weddings, birthday parties and bridal showers.

jarcuterie charcuterie board for one

Some Favorite Flavor Combos

When making jarcuterie, think of all your favorite charcuterie staples and reduce them to a single serving. Check out my Cheese Board 101 for more tips.

  • Hummus and crudite 
  • Candy on Candy
  • Fruit and dessert
  • Meat and cheese 
  • Deconstructed pizza

Show Me Your Jarcuterie!

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

jarcuterie cheese in a jar

Jarcuterie: Charcuterie in a Jar

5 from 1 vote

Description

This adorable, mess-free, individual serving size cheese board is the perfect size for one person.

Ingredients
  

Cheese

  • Pepper jack cubed
  • Manchego sliced

Meat

  • Salami folded and on a skewer
  • Salami secchi thinly sliced

Produce

  • Grapes
  • Raspberries

Accoutrement

  • Cocoa dusted almonds
  • Dried apricots
  • Marinated olives pitted and on a skewer
  • Rosemary sprig for garnish

Carbs

  • Breadsticks broken in half
  • Flatbreads broken in half

Instructions

  • Start with a short jar, small bowl, or vessel of your choosing
  • Add the almonds to the bottom, then add the cubed cheese and salami secchi
  • Break the flat bread pieces to the back of the jar, then layer the salami skewer and sliced cheese triangles in front
  • Next, add the olive skewer, grapes, apricots, and raspberries
  • Finish off by adding the breadstick pieces in the back, then tuck the rosemary sprig into the center to serve
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1 Reviews

  1. Ema wrote:

    5 stars
    Went on a wine walk with a friend and I made these to snack on! The perfect treat to carry around with one hand.

    Posted 11.28.22 Reply