Charcuterie boards are all the rage! Seems a tad incongruous, given hosting and gathering are rather discouraged these days, but I get it–we all need to make the most of our hearth and home during this trickiness. It’s also super important to celebrate the everyday, which is exactly why in our house, charcuterie boards are a trend with which we’re very much on board. I love the ease of them–in the making of and in the pleasing of every palate. We often host a weekly kid-friendly happy hour with friends (and continue to do so with a member of our close-knit pod during these COVID days), and this appetizer is always such a win. With the season of sweetness on us, I’m delighted to share this kid-friendly Valentine’s Day charcuterie board idea with all of you!
Kid-Friendly Valentine’s Day Charcuterie Board
At our stage and age of kiddos, I shoot for a few things in any social bites we serve:
- easy to prepare
- foods my kids will actually eat
- affordable
- hearty proteins included to fill them up in a lasting way (because who wants to serve a lovely happy hour spread and then also make dinner??)
- general healthiness and at least a few food groups (so I can check a nice box on my mom goals for the day 😉 )
- bonus points if you can specialize it or theme it out…like with a Valentine’s theme!
So how do you meet these criteria AND theme out a Valentine’s Day charcuterie board? Read on, friends, and I’ll tell you exactly how to affordable, easily craft a kid-friendly Valentine’s Day charcuterie board you and your family will love.
What you need for your kid-friendly Valentine’s Day charcuterie board:
- A board! (PRO TIP: I bought wood serving boards a few years ago when hosting my husband’s 40th, and I have never looked back. I use them every single time we have company–so versatile!)
- White block cheese (you choose the flavor), cut into bite-sized pieces
- Grape tomatoes
- Mini pepperoni (we used turkey pepperoni to up the healthiness factor)
- Princess Goldfish crackers (same flavor as regular Goldfish, but have Valentine’s benefit of being pink!)
- craisins
- strawberries, halved
- spreadable strawberry cream cheese
- ranch dip (make your own or buy ready-made at the grocery)
- red food dye
How to craft your kid-friend Valentine’s Day charcuterie board
- Make a small heart in the middle of the board with the craisins
- Outline the craisins with the Goldfish crackers
- Ring the crackers with grape tomatoes
- Outline the tomatoes with your cuts of cheese.
- Finish the heart shape with the halved strawberries.
- Spoon the cream cheese into a bowl (let’s be fancy, right? 😉 )
- Stir several drops of red food dye into the ranch dressing until desired pinkness is achieved, then spoon into serving bowl.
- Place cream cheese and ranch dips beside your carefully crafted heart and voila!
For this special Valentine’s happy hour, we really went all out and served the kids cranberry punch (cranberry juice mixed with lemon-lime soda) while we sipped on our wine. Beverages are an optional embellishment, so do what works for you.
I get it, friends, I truly do. These COVID days are BRUTAL. Doing anything and everything we can to make the most of the small things is key to our sanity and survival. Someday we’ll look back on all of this and pat ourselves on the back for being the boss parents we are during this time. In the meantime, invite a pod friend over, or just treat your family and make a Valentine’s charcuterie board to bring smiles your way. xoxo
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Janine Huldie says
I love this idea and definitely going to try your fun, Valentine recipe now for my whole family here. Hugs and thanks for sharing 🙂
Meredith says
I love charcuterie boards because they are so easy, and how fun to put the Valentine’s spin on it, right? Thanks, Janine! 🙂
Jan says
I will make this for the kiddos when I watch them in early February. It will be a nice early Valentines Day treat!
Meredith says
They will love it! And think you are the coolest grandma ever 🙂
Meredith says
So cute! I do charcuterie boards on the big holidays and never really thought to do them more often. I think I need more of them in my life!
Meredith says
Meredith, it is truly the easiest dinner! And easy clean-up too 🙂 Everyone can grab whatever they like, I feel like I have served a healthy dinner and DONE! Let me know how you get on with it 🙂