Heart of Romance Board (Printable Version)

A colorful heart-shaped assortment featuring cheeses, meats, fruits, and sweet accompaniments with romantic hues.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 3.5 oz brie, cut into wedges
02 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, shaped into small rounds
03 - 3.5 oz manchego, thinly sliced

→ Cured Meats (omit for vegetarian option)

04 - 2.8 oz prosciutto, folded
05 - 2.8 oz salami, rolled
06 - 2.1 oz coppa, fanned out

→ Fresh Fruits

07 - 1 cup strawberries, halved
08 - 1 cup raspberries
09 - 1 cup red grapes, halved
10 - 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds

→ Vegetables

11 - 8–10 mini sweet red peppers, sliced
12 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Accompaniments

13 - 1/2 cup pink beet hummus
14 - 1/2 cup red pepper jelly
15 - 1/2 cup candied pecans
16 - 1/2 cup dark chocolate-covered almonds
17 - 1/4 cup heart-shaped candies (optional)

→ Crackers & Bread

18 - 1 cup heart-shaped crackers or thinly sliced baguette

# Directions:

01 - On a large platter or board, outline a heart shape using parchment paper or use a heart-shaped tray.
02 - Position small bowls containing beet hummus and red pepper jelly at the upper curves of the heart shape.
03 - Distribute cheeses in several areas within the heart, spacing to create visual balance.
04 - Fold or roll prosciutto, salami, and coppa, placing them strategically to define the heart shape and add texture.
05 - Scatter strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, and pomegranate seeds evenly for vibrant red and pink accents.
06 - Fill remaining spaces with sliced mini sweet peppers, halved cherry tomatoes, and candied pecans.
07 - Place dark chocolate-covered almonds and optional heart-shaped candies for a romantic finishing touch.
08 - Nestle crackers and baguette slices along the edges or in small piles within the heart shape.
09 - Ensure all gaps are filled for a lavish appearance and serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely stunning with barely any effort—people always assume you spent hours when you really didn't
  • Everyone finds something they love on the board, from the creamy cheeses to the tart berries to those irresistible chocolate-covered almonds
  • There's zero cooking involved, so you can put it together while chatting or while guests arrive
  • It's elegant enough for a date night but casual enough for a girls' night or a party appetizer
02 -
  • Temperature matters more than you think—take your cheeses out of the fridge about 30 minutes before serving so the brie is creamy and the goat cheese isn't rock hard. Cold cheese tastes like nothing.
  • Moisture is the enemy—pat your berries dry with a paper towel before arranging or they'll weep juice all over your beautiful presentation and make everything soggy.
  • Color placement changes everything—think about how colors flow and balance. You don't want all the red fruits bunched in one corner. Imagine the board as a clock face and place colors strategically around it.
03 -
  • Buy your cheeses and cured meats from a good deli counter where you can talk to someone who actually knows their products—the difference in quality is immediately visible and tastes completely different
  • Arrange your board no more than 2 hours before serving so everything stays fresh, the cheese stays creamy, and the berries don't start weeping
  • The secret ingredient is confidence—even if something isn't perfectly placed, serve it like it's exactly as you intended. Your certainty makes it beautiful.
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