How far in advance can I prepare it?

Due to the size, you probably won't be able to fit it in your fridge so it's best to assemble shortly before serving. However, you can prep everything ahead like cutting up your cheeses and storing in airtight containers in the fridge until ready to assemble the board.

What size board works best for this turkey charcuterie board?

A large round board or serving platter works best to spread out the layers of "turkey feathers" and to follow the rounded edge as a guide. I used a 14-inch board (since that is what I have) but you can use any size depending on how large you want your charcuterie board to be.

In what order should you place items on the board?

I like to start off by making the turkey body out of the pear and placing it on the bottom center of my board. Then for the nicest layering effect, start arranging the various charcuterie ingredients in semi-circle shapes starting at the top and working in, ending around the pear. Alternate colors and textures of your ingredients for each arc and have fun with it!

How do I store leftovers?

Wrap up any cheese and meats separately and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Crackers are best stored separately at room temperature.

Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board

Description

This turkey shaped Thanksgiving charcuterie board is such a cute appetizer idea. So easy to pull together and guaranteed to be a total hit at Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving.

Ingredients

Scale

1 pear, for turkey body
2 cloves, for eyes
small piece of cheddar cut into triangle, for beak
2 pecan halves or candied pecans, for feet
charcuterie board ingredients (variety of meats, cheeses, nuts, crackers, olives, etc.), see notes
round board or platter (any size, mine was 14 inches)

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Instructions

Grab your board: A round board or platter works best – any size you like! For mine, I used a 14-inch round wooden board.
Make the turkey body: Cut a pear in half lengthwise and place one half cut-side down near the bottom center of your board. For the eyes, insert 2 whole cloves. Cut a tiny cheddar triangle for the beak (you can use a dab of honey to secure) and position two pecan halves or candied pecans at the bottom of the pear for feet (once again, honey can help keep them in place).
Arrange the tail feathers: Start building the “feathers” by layering all your favorite charcuterie goodies in a semi-circle rainbow shape, starting at the top of the board and working your way in. Mix up the colors and textures for visual interest. For mine, I started with a layer of leaf shaped tortilla chips fanned out in an arc across the top. Then came two types of sliced hard salami, followed by aged white cheddar triangles, seed crackers, cheddar cubes and finally some ruffly folded prosciutto above the pear. I finished it off with some almonds at the bottom and a few Castelvetrano olives placed between the white cheddar triangles.
Enjoy: Now for the best part – serve it up! Let everyone soak in the cuteness for a minute and then lead the way and dig in!

Notes

Charcuterie Board Ingredients: Use any variety of charcuterie board goodies that you love (cheeses, meats, crackers, nuts, olives, etc.). Since they will all be arranged in rainbow shaped layers to form the tail feathers, picking ingredients in a fall color palette makes it extra pretty. For my board, I used leaf shaped tortilla chips (found at Trader Joe’s), two types of hard salami, aged white cheddar, Castelvetrano olives, seed crackers, cubed cheddar, prosciutto and almonds.
Prep Time and Yield: This will totally depend on the size of your board and how detailed you want to get with arranging.
Make It Your Own: This is meant to be super versatile! These steps are just a guide but the magic of a charcuterie board is how customizable it is. Play around, get creative and fill it with your favorites. The possibilities are endless! And if you want a little inspirations, the step-by-step photos in the post will walk you through what I did.