Thanksgiving Leaf Fall Board (Printable View)

A vibrant autumn board with leaf-shaped cheeses, dried fruits, crackers, and nuts for festive gatherings.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz sharp cheddar cheese
02 - 5.3 oz gouda cheese
03 - 5.3 oz brie cheese

→ Crackers

04 - 7 oz whole wheat crackers
05 - 5.3 oz multigrain crackers

→ Dried Fruits

06 - 2.8 oz dried apricots
07 - 2.8 oz dried mango
08 - 2.1 oz dried cranberries
09 - 2.1 oz dried figs

→ Nuts

10 - 2.1 oz pecan halves
11 - 2.1 oz walnuts

→ Fresh Fruits & Garnishes

12 - 1 small apple, thinly sliced
13 - 1 small pear, thinly sliced
14 - Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Using small leaf-shaped cookie cutters, cut cheddar, gouda, and brie slices into assorted leaf shapes to evoke autumn leaves.
02 - Press the same cookie cutters gently into large crackers and dried apricot, mango, and fig pieces to form leaf shapes; reserve scraps for garnish or eating.
03 - Randomly spread the leaf-shaped cheeses, crackers, and dried fruits across a large serving board to create a cascade of warm fall colors.
04 - Fill spaces with pecans, walnuts, cranberries, and thin fresh fruit slices fanned out for texture and color contrast.
05 - Add fresh rosemary sprigs for aroma; serve immediately or cover and chill until ready to serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's absolutely stunning to look at, and guests genuinely pause when they see it, giving you that quiet moment of pride before they dive in
  • Zero cooking required means you can prepare it while handling other dishes, and everything can be assembled hours ahead
  • The combination of textures and flavors means there's something for everyone, from the creamy brie to the crispy nuts to the chewy dried fruit
02 -
  • Don't cut your board more than 4 hours in advance, or the fresh fruit will start to brown and the cheeses will dry slightly at the edges. I learned this the hard way at my first attempt.
  • A sharp knife makes an enormous difference when cutting cheese. A dull knife creates jagged edges and can smear the surface. Invest in a good cheese knife, or use a very sharp chef's knife, and wipe it between cuts.
03 -
  • Keep your cookie cutters in the freezer for 15 minutes before cutting cheese, they'll release cleaner and your cheese will have sharper edges
  • If any piece doesn't cooperate, don't force it. Sometimes an apricot will crack or a cracker will shatter, and that's just part of it. Those pieces become snacking bits or filler, nothing is wasted
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