Fourth of July is a holiday made for backyard gatherings with your friends— so why complicate hosting with elaborate dishes when this red, white and blue charcuterie board is so simple?
With just a trip to the grocery store and without any cooking, you can pull together a show-stopping patriotic celebration. Filled with cheeses, fruits, meats, mini waffles, and sweet dips, you’ll be amazed at how delicious and how easy it is to put something like this together.
Looking for more patriotic recipes? Check out our Uncle Sam Pancakes, 4th of July Breakfast Casserole, and Stars & Stripes Toast.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive and Fun: This charcuterie board brings patriotic colors to your breakfast table.
- No Cooking Required: Just assemble and serve for an easy and delicious spread.
- Versatile: Pairs well with drinks like iced coffee or mimosas, and complements other snacks.
Recipe Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh Fruits: Use fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries for the best flavor and presentation.
- Greek Yogurt: Choose 2% or whole milk Greek yogurt for a creamier texture.
- Mozzarella Balls: These add a nice creamy element to the board.
How To Make a 4th of July Charcuterie Board (Step by Step)
Prepare the fruit: Wash and dry the berries. Slice large sections of watermelon, roughly 1-½ inches thick. Using a star cookie cutter, cut out pieces of watermelon.
Prepare the mini waffles: In an oven or toaster, warm the waffles. Remove them from the oven and set aside.
Sweeten the yogurt: In a small bowl, add just a dash of maple syrup to the yogurt. Mix well with a spoon to combine. Set aside.
Assemble the charcuterie board: Start with your largest items: the block of cheese, bowl of yogurt, and star cutouts of watermelon. Arrange around your board. Using the rest of the ingredients, fill in the additional spots.
Proceed with the next largest items: the strawberries, the waffles, and the crackers. Finish by distributing the rest of the berries, the nuts, and the mozzarella balls around the board until there are no spaces left on your board.
Serve: Enjoy!
Recipe Tips
- Fruit Layout: Have fun with the fruit layout! Create stripes, a flag, stars, or a random pattern to make it festive.
- Extra Ingredients: Keep extra ingredients on hand to replenish the board as needed.
- Board Organization: You can create zones, like a meat zone, a fruit zone, and a waffle zone to keep things organized.
Storage & Reheating
This charcuterie board is best enjoyed fresh. If you have leftovers, store the fruit, cheese, and meats separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to a day. Reassemble when ready to serve again.
Additions & Substitutions
Additions:
- Nut Butter: Add small bowls of almond or peanut butter for dipping.
- Fresh Herbs: Sprinkle fresh mint or basil leaves for extra flavor.
Substitutions:
- Dairy-Free: Use dairy-free cheese and yogurt alternatives.
- Different Fruits: Swap in other red and blue fruits like cherries or blackberries to keep the patriotic theme.
Recipe FAQs
What can I serve with this 4th of July charcuterie board?
For breakfast or brunch, it goes well with yogurt, fresh fruit, and smoothies. If you’re serving it later in the day, consider pairing it with sparkling water, lemonade, or even a light wine. It also complements other snacks like deviled eggs, mini sandwiches, or a fresh salad. The combination of sweet and savory makes it a perfect addition to any meal or gathering.
Can I make this vegan?
Definitely! Try using a few types of vegan cheese and a few more nuts like macadamia nuts, cashews, or pecans. There are really great mini-vegan pastries available now too. Check out the freezer section of your grocery store for ideas.
I don’t have a star cookie cutter. What can I do?
The star cookie cutter adds a really fun element to the board, but it’s not absolutely necessary. You can also try to cut stars out using a small stencil, or just cut cubes or triangles.
Can I use frozen berries?
You cannot use frozen berries in this charcuterie board. When these fruits start to defrost, they will lose their form. Stick with fresh fruits for this board for the best success.
Other Red White & Blue Recipes You’ll Love:
- Strawberry Shortcake Muffins
- Strawberry Raspberry Smoothie
- Blueberry Strawberry Smoothie
- Strawberry French Toast
- Blueberry Baked Oats (Without Banana)
- Blueberry Cinnamon Rolls
Red, White & Blue Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 14-18 fresh strawberries
- 2 cups fresh blueberries
- 2 cups fresh raspberries
- 1 ½ cups fresh blackberries
- 1 cup candied walnuts
- 16-20 mini waffles
- 1 cup Greek yogurt preferably 2% or whole
- 30-35 crackers
- 15-20 mini mozzarella balls
- ½ cup maple syrup divided
- 1 mini watermelon or half a large watermelon
- 8 oz assorted salamis and prosciutto
- 8 oz white cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Wash and dry 14-18 fresh strawberries, 2 cups of fresh blueberries, 2 cups of fresh raspberries, and 1 ½ cups of fresh blackberries. Set aside.
- Cut the mini watermelon, making rounds or semi-circles that are 1 ½ inches thick.
- Use a star cookie cutter to cut out pieces of watermelon.
- Heat 16-20 mini waffles in your toaster oven or toaster.
- In a small bowl, add 2 teaspoons of maple syrup to the yogurt. Mix well with a spoon. Set aside.
- Put the remaining maple syrup in a small bowl. Set aside.
- If the mozzarella balls are stuck together, separate them.
- Assemble the board, starting with your largest items and moving to the smaller ones, making sure to fill out the board.
- Finish with the berries, the nuts, and the mozzarella balls tucking them into the final spaces until there are none left
- Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
Arielle is a food and drink photographer based in Washington, D.C. She was previously a social science researcher before she fell in love with photography.