Cheese and Charcuterie Heart Box

Don’t throw away that cute box your Valentine’s Day chocolates came in! Use it to make an extra special Cheese and Charcuterie Heart Box to snack on with your love.

I Love a Yummy Tradition

Got Valentine’s Day chocolates? Hold onto that box! I’ve been making a variation of this Cheese and Charcuterie Heart Box for years (see here and here) and I am so excited to share it with you! It’s such a super cute, versatile, and yummy way to serve your Valentine’s Day appetizer.

Watch Me make a Cheese and Charcuterie Heart Box

Join me in the kitchen as I create this incredible Valentine’s Day charcuterie box!

Delicious and Fun

Whether it’s just you and your someone special, or you’re sharing it with the whole family, it’s a festive way to celebrate the day. So easy to customize and serve! I’ve used the same box (and lid!) several years in a row, and each time it’s so delicious and fun.

Ingredient Options

Because you’re making this in a container with limited space, there’s no need to go overboard on ingredients. A little of this, a bit of that. Use what you have on hand and keep favorites handy to replenish, if you like. Be sure to reference my How We Charcuterie and Cheese Board post for details on all of our favorite meats, cheeses and accompaniments. Here are some of the ingredients we’ve enjoyed in our cheese and charcuterie heart boxes over the years:

Charcuterie (Meat):

• prosciutto
• salami
• mortadella

Cheese:

• mini Brie bites cheese rounds
• sharp cheddar cheeses
• cheese cubes
• aged white cheddar
• crumbled blue cheese

Crackers:

• heart-shaped crackers
• beet crackers
• Fig and Olive crisps

Fresh Fruits:

• strawberries
• raspberries
• blueberries
• apple slices
• red grapes
• green grapes
• cherries with the stem
• fresh figs

Dried Fruits:

• dried figs
• dried apricots
• dried apricots, cut into heart-shapes
• dried cherries 

Nuts:

• Marcona almonds
• candied pecans
• sesame cashews

Pickled Items:

• black olives
• pimento stuffed green olives
• cornichons

Spreads:

• honey with honeycomb
• mustard with mustard seeds
• strawberry jam
• pepper jelly
• fig preserves

Valentine’s-Inspired Additions:

• M&M’s Valentine’s Cupid’s Mix Chocolate Candies
• Reese’s Valentine’s Pink Peanut Butter Hearts 
• Sour Pucker Lip Candies
• Cherry Hearts
• Twizzler Nibs
• Jelly Belly Hearts
• Chocolates, of course!

How to Make a Cheese and Charcuterie Heart Box

Wash fresh fruits and set aside to dry. Drain olives and cornichons. Cut apricots into heart shapes using a mini-heart-shaped cookie cutter. Cut a heart out of the middle of the mini Brie bites with a mini heart-shaped cookie cutter, *you can use both parts of the round in the box. Cut strawberries into heart-shapes. Roll slices of prosciutto and other cut meats into rose shapes or cut into heart shapes using a heart-shaped cookie cutter.

Fill each compartment with charcuterie, cheese, accompaniments and other festive Valentine-inspired goodies. Serve and enjoy! After enjoying it, remove the plastic tray from the box and clean the tray with soap and water to save and use again next year! 

Tips:

• Check out the “orphan” cheese box at Whole Foods or Central Market for small portions of cheese.
• Order your meats from the meat counter where you can order as many slices of each meat as you wish.
• Check your pantry & fridge for nuts, dried fruits, fresh fruits, olives, crackers, etc.
• Check the refrigerated snack section of your store for snack-sized containers of meat, cheese & crackers. Usually near the lunchables or grab & go prepared section of the store.
• To keep the apples from browning, slice them and add them to the box last and expose as little of the white portion as possible.

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Bonus Valentine’s Dessert Board!

Using the lid of your candy box, make a super sweet Valentine’s Dessert Board to share with those you love! Just mix plain and peanut M&M candies in a small heart-shaped bowl. Place the bowl in the center of the chocolate box lid and arrange Valentine inspired treats around the bowl, filling the lid completely. Here are some of my favorite ingredient options:

• Little Debbie Be My Valentine Snack Cakes
• Red Velvet Chips Ahoy!
• Strawberry flavored yogurt covered pretzels
• Gummy X’s and O’s (sold at Trader Joe’s and Target)
• Strawberry Creme Wafer Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Lava Cake Hershey’s Kisses
• M&M’s Valentine’s Cupid’s Mix Chocolate Candies
• M&M’s Valentine’s Peanut Chocolates 
• Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Mini Heart Cookies  
• Lady Gaga Oreos
• Cupid corn 
• Heart sugar cookies (found in the bakery section of most grocery stores – I get mine at Target)

More Ways to Say “I Love You, Let’s Eat!”

This February 14th, shower the ones you love with festive eats and treats from Our Favorite Lovey-Dovey Valentine’s Day Boards. From the sweet to the salty, and everything in between, these snack boards are the perfect way to say, “I love you, now let’s eat!”

If you make this Cheese and Charcuterie Heart Box, be sure to snap a picture and share it with me or tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see.  I love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes I share. Enjoy!

xoxo,

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