Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board with a Turkey-inspired Arrangement Recipe

ByLana Polati
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Introduction

This Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board is a festive and creative centerpiece that’s perfect for your holiday gathering. Featuring a turkey-shaped pear surrounded by an array of cheeses, meats, nuts, and crackers, it’s as fun to look at as it is to eat. Impress your guests with this easy-to-assemble, delicious spread.

A circular wooden board displays a turkey-shaped snack platter arranged in layers to look like a colorful turkey tail. Starting from the outer edge, there is a row of round beige crackers, followed by a layer of whole almonds with a dark brown texture. Inside this, there is a row of bright orange cheese cubes, then a layer of light pinkish slices of meat, a row of pale pistachio nuts, and another layer of darker pink round meat slices. Next is a layer of yellow and white marbled cheese slices, and closer to the center is a smaller circle of crackers. The turkey body in the middle is a whole brown pear with two small round white eyes, a small yellow triangular beak, and yellow strips forming legs with dark almonds arranged like feathers on each side. Red berries accent the bottom sides. The board sits on a white marbled surface, with small white plates holding crackers, cheese cubes, almonds, and pistachios around it, and a blue cloth to the left. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 1 fresh pear
  • Candy eyes (edible)
  • Assorted cheese (such as cheddar, Colby, gouda)
  • Sliced turkey
  • Sliced ham
  • Assorted crackers
  • Roasted almonds
  • Roasted pistachios
  • Peanut butter (optional, for sticking decorations)

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Cut the fresh pear in half vertically. Place one half flat side down on the bottom of your charcuterie board to serve as the turkey’s body.
  2. Step 2: Attach the edible candy eyes to the top part of the pear to create the turkey’s face. Cut a small triangle from cheese for the nose and shape cheese pieces for the legs. Use a small dab of peanut butter if needed to help the eyes and nose stick securely.
  3. Step 3: Fan assorted crackers around the pear to mimic turkey feathers, spreading them evenly.
  4. Step 4: Cut cheese into slices or small cubes and arrange them in a continuing fan shape around the crackers.
  5. Step 5: Layer sliced ham, pistachios, sliced turkey, more cheese, crackers, and roasted almonds in the fan pattern to resemble feathers extending outward from the pear.
  6. Step 6: Scatter roasted almonds and pistachios around the board to fill any gaps and add texture.
  7. Step 7: Check that everything is neatly arranged, with the pear turkey body clearly visible and the other ingredients beautifully fanned out.
  8. Step 8: Place the charcuterie board in a central spot for guests. Provide small serving utensils if needed for easy serving.

Tips & Variations

  • Substitute or add your favorite nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, for extra crunch and flavor.
  • For a sweeter touch, include dried fruits like cranberries or apricots in the feather layers.
  • Use honey or mustard dips on the side to complement the meats and cheeses.
  • If candy eyes aren’t available, small dots of cream cheese and black olives can serve as turkey eyes.

Storage

If not serving immediately, cover the charcuterie board tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Use within 24 hours for best freshness. When ready to serve again, allow the board to come to room temperature for 15–20 minutes to enhance flavors. Avoid refrigerating after assembly if possible to keep crackers crisp.

How to Serve

A wooden board displays a turkey-shaped snack with six colorful layers arranged in an arc above it. The bottom layer is light golden round crackers, followed by a layer of marbled orange and white cheese squares. Above that is a layer of circular brown deli meat slices, then a line of light beige pistachios. Next comes a row of more deli meat slices, then bright orange cheese squares, and finally a row of whole almonds at the top. The turkey body is made from a brown pear with almond wings, round crackers forming a fan shape for tail feathers, and eyes with a small cheese triangle as a beak and legs. Around the board are white plates with cheese squares, crackers topped with meat and cheese, and scattered almonds, pistachios, and a few red berries, all on a white marbled surface. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare the board in advance?

Yes, you can prepare most of the ingredients and slice the pear up to a few hours before serving. Assemble just before your guests arrive to keep everything fresh and crackers crisp.

What if I don’t have candy eyes?

Use small dots of cream cheese topped with tiny olive or grape pieces to create eyes, or omit them entirely and let the pear stand on its own as the turkey’s body.

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Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board with a Turkey-inspired Arrangement Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 59 reviews
  • Author: Lana
  • Total Time: 15 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 6-8 1x
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Description

This Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board is a festive and creative centerpiece featuring a pear turkey surrounded by an assortment of cheeses, meats, crackers, nuts, and edible decorations. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this no-cook recipe combines savory and crunchy elements arranged beautifully to mimic a turkey with fanned feathers.

Ingredients

Scale

Produce

  • 1 fresh pear

Dairy

  • Assorted cheese (such as cheddar, Colby, gouda – sliced or cubed)

Meat

  • Sliced turkey
  • Sliced ham

Pantry

  • Assorted crackers
  • Roasted almonds
  • Roasted pistachios
  • Candy eyes (edible decorations)
  • Peanut butter (for sticking eyes and nose)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the pear: Cut a fresh pear in half vertically. Position one half flat side down in the center bottom of your charcuterie board to serve as the turkey’s body.
  2. Create the turkey’s face: Attach the edible candy eyes to the top rounded part of the pear. Cut a small triangle out of cheese to act as the turkey’s nose. Use small cheese pieces to make the legs. Dab a little peanut butter to help stick the eyes and nose in place if needed.
  3. Fan crackers: Arrange and fan assorted crackers around the pear to resemble the turkey’s feathers.
  4. Arrange cheese: Slice or cube cheese and place it around the crackers continuing the feather fan pattern.
  5. Add meats and nuts: Fan sliced ham, turkey, pistachios, cheese, crackers, and almonds alternately around the pear. Layer these ingredients to continue the feather effect.
  6. Fill gaps: Scatter roasted almonds and pistachios around the board to fill empty spaces and add texture and variety.
  7. Final check: Make sure the arrangement is visually appealing with the pear clearly forming the turkey’s body and the other components fanning out as feathers.
  8. Serve: Place the completed charcuterie board in a central location for guests to enjoy. Provide small serving utensils if necessary.

Notes

  • You can substitute the pear with an apple or other firm fruit if preferred.
  • If you have nut allergies, omit nuts and substitute with extra crackers or dried fruit.
  • Use a variety of cheese and meats to cater to different tastes.
  • The peanut butter is just for sticking decoration pieces, it is optional and can be replaced with cream cheese or a similar spread.
  • This is a no-cook recipe, great for quick holiday prep and impressive presentation.
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Thanksgiving charcuterie board, holiday appetizer, pear turkey, cheese platter, no-cook recipe, festive snack, turkey centerpiece

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