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Simple Charcuterie Board
By Snejana Andreeva
on Nov 05, 2024, Updated Nov 08, 2025
If you know me, you know I love a good charcuterie board . Just give me some cheese 🧀, meat, olives 🫒 and bread 🥖, and I’m perfectly happy—no full meal needed! Growing up, meat and cheese boards were a big part of how we socialized. It’s common to bring them out when guests come over—sip a little, snack a little, and laugh a lot.
- Why You’ll Love My Simple Charcuterie Board
- How to Prepare
- Nonna’s Tip 👩🍳
- Variations and Substitutions for Simple Charcuterie Board
- Similar Recipes
- Best Served With
- Common Questions
- Simple Charcuterie Board Recipe
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Snejana Andreeva (@themodernnonna)
Why You’ll Love My Simple Charcuterie Board
These individualized charcuterie boards are perfect for hosting big gatherings, date nights, girls’ nights, or any other special occasion 🍷. The setup takes no time at all, and it’s completely customizable as well.
You can follow my recipe as described, or you can freestyle instead and create your own mini charcuterie based on what you typically like to snack on. Add dried cranberries for a Christmas 🎄 feel or cut heart-shaped cheese for Valentine’s Day ❤️—the options are endless! Whatever theme you choose, these simple charcuterie boards are elegant, convenient , and guaranteed to be a highlight at your next event.
How to Prepare
🌀 To make the salami skewer (pick), take one piece of thinly sliced salami, fold it in half, and then take one end and roll it towards the other end. The salami should look like a little lily (or cone). Repeat this step with the other two slices.
🫒 Now, add one olive through the cocktail pick. Next, add the rolled salami pieces and add one final olive at the end.
🧀 Next, take the charcuterie topper , place the salami skewer at the back, the cubed cheese to the right and the crackers to the left.
🍇 Now, add the grapes in the middle of the topper, and a handful of pistachios at the front.
🌿 Garnish with thyme sprigs or rosemary.
🍷 Repeat this process with the second wine glass . Enjoy with any wine of choice.
Nonna’s Tip 👩🍳
To make the salami skewer: fold a thinly sliced piece of salami in half, then take one end and roll it towards the other end, and then skewer.
Variations and Substitutions for Simple Charcuterie Board
- Feel free to use any nuts or seeds of your choice to garnish the boards. Use almonds, 🌰 chestnuts, pecans, or dried fruit such as apricots or cranberries.
- You could also add a piece or two of dark 🍫 chocolate to each board as well.
- Use whatever cheeses you love here: a small wedge of brie , some parmesan shards, or mini bocconcini would be wonderful as well.
- Have fun with the cold cuts variations, too. Try prosciutto, prosciutto cotto, 🌶️ spicy salami, or mortadella as well.
Similar Recipes
Holiday Charcuterie Board
20 mins
Holiday Butter Board
20 mins
Antipasti Christmas Wreath
10 mins
Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
20 mins
Grape Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
15 mins
Garlic Bread Christmas Tree
30 mins
Best Served With
- Your favorite mini crackers , either gluten-free or regular.
- Your favorite 🍷 wine, white or red, to complement your cheese and meat selections. Reds like Pinot Noir or a Merlot pair well with salami and 🧀 hard cheeses, while whites like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc go nicely with mild cheeses and lighter meats. A nice non-alcoholic wine variety will also work perfectly.
- Serve this alongside a number of other beautiful holiday appetizers , such as my Baked Hazelnut Brie , Cheese Stuffed Dates , and Grape Christmas Tree Cheese Ball .
Common Questions
Yes, you can use any cold cuts you prefer, like prosciutto, mortadella, or even pepperoni. Choose thinly sliced meats for easy folding and skewer assembly.
Any cheese you enjoy works well. Add cubed cheddar or gouda, a small wedge or two of brie, or some parmesan shards as well.
Almonds, cashews, pecans, or chestnuts can work in place of pistachios, or you could try adding seeds, or dried fruit for added texture as well.
Yes, you can prepare the components a few hours in advance, for example, you can have the salami skewered and wrapped tightly in plastic wrap. I would assemble everything as close to serving time as possible to keep everything fresh and crisp.
A New Recipe Card!!
- Check off each step in instructions!
- Add ingredients to your shopping list!
Video
Equipment
- ▢ cocktail pick
- ▢ charcuterie topper
- ▢ wine glasses
Ingredients
- ▢ 6 slices salami
- ▢ 4 olives , pitted
- ▢ 8 cubes cheese , any of choice
- ▢ 8 crackers , mini
- ▢ 6 grapes
- ▢ 16 pistachios
- ▢ 1 sprig thyme , or rosemary, for garnish
- ▢ 8 oz wine
Instructions
- ▢ Note: feel free to use any nuts, seeds, cheeses, or cold cuts of choice. You can get as creative as you wish and make different variations. Everything I use for this recipe will be linked in the recipe card above and throughout the body of this post.
- ▢ To make the salami skewer (pick), take one piece of thinly sliced salami, fold it in half, take one end and roll it towards the other end. The salami should look like a little lily (or cone). Repeat this step with the other two slices.
- ▢ Now, add one olive through the cocktail pick. Next, add the rolled salami pieces and add one final olive at the end.
- ▢ Take the charcuterie topper, place the salami skewer at the back, the cubed cheese to the right, the crackers to the left, grapes in the middle, and pistachios at the front.
- ▢ Garnish with thyme sprigs or rosemary.
- ▢ Repeat this process with the second glass. Enjoy with any wine of choice.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Simple Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- cocktail pick
- charcuterie topper
- wine glasses
Ingredients
- 6 slices salami
- 4 olives pitted
- 8 cubes cheese any of choice
- 8 crackers mini
- 6 grapes
- 16 pistachios
- 1 sprig thyme or rosemary, for garnish
- 8 oz wine
Instructions
- Note: feel free to use any nuts, seeds, cheeses, or cold cuts of choice. You can get as creative as you wish and make different variations. Everything I use for this recipe will be linked in the recipe card above and throughout the body of this post.
- To make the salami skewer (pick), take one piece of thinly sliced salami, fold it in half, take one end and roll it towards the other end. The salami should look like a little lily (or cone). Repeat this step with the other two slices.
- Now, add one olive through the cocktail pick. Next, add the rolled salami pieces and add one final olive at the end.
- Take the charcuterie topper, place the salami skewer at the back, the cubed cheese to the right, the crackers to the left, grapes in the middle, and pistachios at the front.
- Garnish with thyme sprigs or rosemary.
- Repeat this process with the second glass. Enjoy with any wine of choice.
Video
Nutrition
Simple Charcuterie Board https://themodernnonna.com/simple-charcuterie-board/ November 5, 2024
Home › Recipes › Cookies & Snacks
Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
By Snejana Andreeva
on Dec 15, 2022, Updated Nov 08, 2023
My lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies melt in your mouth . This recipe is one of those recipes that you’ll need to triple, because it’s THAT good. 🍋Whether you’re a lemon lover or simply looking for a unique and delicious cookie, these Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies are a must-try. They’re perfect for any occasion, from a casual afternoon tea to a fancy dessert spread.
- Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
- How to Prepare
- Nonna’s Tip 🍋
- Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions
- Other Holiday Recipes
- More Holiday Cookies
- Common Questions
- Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Recipe
Why You’ll Love Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies
These lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies are ideal for anyone who cannot tolerate 🥚 eggs as they are completely egg-free . The dough takes 5 minutes to whip up, so these cookies are easy enough for anyone who is not even a baker. They’re only 5 ingredients , which you probably already have on hand. I can honestly say that this is one of those cookie recipes that you cannot get enough of.
How to Prepare
🥣 Use a stand mixer with the paddle attachment or a hand-held mixer and bowl to cream butter and cream cheese for about 2 minutes until smooth.
🍋 Add sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth . Then add flour, and mix until a sticky dough forms. Scrape down the sides to fully incorporate any remaining flour.
🧊 Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour.
🥄 Remove dough from the refrigerator, use a small ice-cream scooper to portion the cookies, rolling each in a touch of flour to prevent sticking.
🍓 Place rolled cookies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper . Flatten each with your thumb, creating an indent, and add a teaspoon of preferred jam/preserve to the center.
🔥 Preheat the oven to 350°F and bake the lemon cheesecake thumbprint cookies for 13-15 minutes or until the edges are light and golden brown .
❄️ Allow the cookies to cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. They can be stored at room temperature for up to a week.
Nonna’s Tip 🍋
You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.
Lemon Cheesecake Thumbprint Cookies Variations and Substitutions
- Try adding a decorative topping like chopped nuts or a sprinkle of coarse sugar for holiday decoration.
- I have not tried this recipe with gluten-free flour , but feel free to experiment with a gluten-free 1-1 replacement and let me know how it goes!
- Instead of lemon extract , you could try almond, vanilla, orange or another you have on hand.
- Feel free to experiment with different jams or preserves , for example, you could use strawberry, raspberry, apricot or even marmalade.
- You could try dairy-free or vegan alternatives to the butter and cream cheese if you or your guests have allergies.
Other Holiday Recipes
Antipasti Christmas Wreath
10 mins
Holiday Butter Board
20 mins
Holiday Candy Cane Prosecco
5 mins
Holiday Cheese Board
20 mins
More Holiday Cookies
Looking for an even fancier-looking cookie? Try my puff pastry cookies .
Easy Gingerbread Cookies
3 hrs 23 mins
Italian Amaretti Cookies
25 mins
3 Ingredient Sugar Cookies
20 mins
Shortbread Butter Cookies
27 mins
Common Questions
Feel free to use any jam or preserve you enjoy. I love fig or apricot but you are more than welcome to use any you have on hand.
The lemon extract is optional so don’t worry if you don’t have any on hand. You can also use pure vanilla extract, or almond extract, or leave them plain. Or, if you don’t have pure lemon extract, but still want the flavor, you can also use the zest of a lemon in the recipe.
You MUST refrigerate the cookie dough for at least one hour and you have to use a touch of flour to roll each one as they will stick.
Feel free to freeze the cookie dough tightly wrapped for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and shape as usual.
The cream cheese and butter must be softened in order for the cookies to bake correctly.
You can use salted or unsalted butter. I have made them with both and both results are delicious.
While 1 cup of flour weighs 160g in my kitchen, it might weigh anywhere from 120 to 180g in your kitchen and there’s a few reasons for that. The weight of ingredients may vary due to the brand of ingredients, the brand and style (wet vs dry) of measuring cups and spoons, and the technique for measuring into cups: scooping and leveling versus spooning the ingredients into the cup measure. For best results, go by the weight listed in the recipe.
A New Recipe Card!!
- Check off each step in instructions!
- Add ingredients to your shopping list!
Video
Equipment
- ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
- ▢ Mixing Bowls
- ▢ Baking Sheet
- ▢ Parchment Paper
Ingredients
- ▢ ½ cup cream cheese , softened
- ▢ ½ cup white sugar
- ▢ 1 stick softened salted butter
- ▢ 1.5 teaspoons lemon extract , optional if you don’t have any on hand
- ▢ 1 ¼ cup all-purpose flour , + 2 extra tablespoons for rolling the balls
- ▢ 18 teaspoons jam , I used fig preserve
Instructions
- ▢ In a stand mixer using the paddle attachment, cream the butter and cream cheese together for about 2 minutes or until smooth. You can also use a hand-held mixer and a bowl as well.
- ▢ Once creamy, add the sugar and lemon extract and mix until smooth. Add in the flour and mix until a sticky dough forms. If there’s any flour on the sides, you can scrape it down and mix again until fully incorporated.
- ▢ Cover the cookie dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for one hour. After an hour, take out the dough, remove the plastic and use a small ice-cream scooper to scoop out the cookies. I scoop each cookie, roll it in a touch of flour as it will stick to your hands if you don’t.
- ▢ Repeat this step for all 18 cookies. Place each rolled cookie onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Press each one down with your thumb to make an indent. Add a teaspoon of any jam/preserve you like to the middle.
- ▢ Preheat the oven to 350F and bake until the edges are light and golden brown. This should take 13-15 minutes depending on the oven.
- ▢ Let them cool completely and optionally dust with icing sugar. These are perfectly stored at room-temp for up to a week.
My Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
