Description
This festive Halloween vegetarian grazing board is packed with cheese, crackers, fruit, olives, nuts, and a couple of easy homemade snacks. The centerpiece is a creamy smoked gouda spread served in a carved jack-o’-lantern bell pepper, making this an easy and fun appetizer for Halloween parties and fall entertaining!
Ingredients
For the jack-o'-lantern smoked gouda cheese spread
- 8-ounce block cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups shredded smoked gouda, lightly packed, about 8 ounces
- 2 tablespoons chives, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1 large orange bell pepper, or 2 medium orange bell peppers
For the Halloween vegetarian grazing board
- 1 batch spiced pecans with rosemary
- 1 batch salted date caramel
- 8-ounce container mozzarella ciliegine cheese
- 1 jar green stuffed olives
- 1 log goat cheese
- 1 block aged English cheddar
- 2 boxes crackers
- Moondrop grapes, or any grape variety
- Figs
- 2 green apples, sliced
- Sweet snacking peppers
- 1 bunch purple carrots
- Halloween candies, or other preferred sweets
Instructions
- Make the jack-o’-lantern smoked gouda cheese spread first. Beat the softeend cream cheese on medium low to medium speed in a stand mixer or with a hand mixer until creamy. Add the shredded smoked gouda, chopped chives, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt. Beat on medium low until combined.
- Slice off the very top of the orange bell pepper(s). Reserve the top to use as your jack-o’-lantern lid. Carefully remove the veins and seeds from the pepper then use a paring knife to carve a simple jack-o’-lantern face. Fill the bell pepper with the smoked gouda cheese spread. Cover and store in the fridge until you’re ready to assemble your board.
- When you’re ready to assemble your board, make the mozzarella eyeballs. Cut the ends off of a stuffed green olive to use as the iris and pupil, then set it on top of one of the mozzarella balls. Set these aside on your cutting board for now.
- Add all of the items that will be served in bowls first, including the date caramel, pecans, and any extra olives.
- Add the jack-o’-lantern smoked grouda cheese spread, goat cheese log, and block of cheddar to the board next.
- Add the crackers to the board close to the cheeses.
- Fill in the remaining gaps with the mozzarella eyeballs, grapes, figs, apple slices, snacking peppers, sliced carrots, and Halloween candies if you’re using any.
- Serve and enjoy! Once the board is assembled it should be enjoyed within 2 hours or placed back in the fridge (mostly due to the cheeses). Cover leftover cheese, fruit, veggies, and date caramel and keep them in the fridge. Leftover pecans and crackers can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature.
Notes
Always make sure to check the label of the cheese you buy to ensure it is vegetarian!
Though I have the recipe listed as having 8 servings, the more you add to the board, the more servings you’ll have.
If you don’t want to make the spiced pecans or the date caramel, feel free to use your favorite store-bought roasted nuts and caramel dip.
I ended up using a larger jar of stuffed green olives so that I could use some for the eyeballs and have extras for serving on the board. Feel free to use your favorite olives on the board!
I used a 12 by 15-inch board for the photos. I recommend using something that is similarly sized.
The smoked gouda spread is especially delicious with the sweet snacking peppers! For a quick appetizer without the fuss of making the board, make the cheese spread then use it to fill halved mini sweet peppers. Sprinkle with extra chives before serving.
The fruits and veggies are simply recommendations — fill your board with what you love!
- Category: Appetizer