Breakfast Charcuterie Boards: My Favorite Way to Celebrate the Morning
Let’s be real—mornings should feel a little bit special, even if it’s just you, your family, or a couple of friends grabbing a bite before diving into the day. That’s why I absolutely love putting together a breakfast charcuterie board!
There’s just something about having all your breakfast favorites, bright pops of fresh fruit, and a few fun extras laid out on a big board that instantly makes the first meal of the day feel like a mini event.
I probably don’t have to tell you—if you’ve been here before!—That I’m a huge fan of grazing boards. My collection includes everything from summer charcuterie boards and Mediterranean grazing trays to holiday snack platters and picnic boards. Each one is designed to bring people together around great food, and this breakfast board is the perfect way to kick off a new favorite tradition.
Don’t forget to explore my other board ideas for endless inspiration and themed options you can mix and match—all year round. If you are in summer then make sure to check out my Summer Charcuterie Board Ideas later.
You don’t have to fuss or overthink it. Whether you’re planning a lazy weekend brunch, a birthday, a baby shower, a holiday morning like Christmas—or just want a fun way to jazz up regular breakfast—these brunch boards are always a hit. And let’s be honest, anything that gets the whole family lingering (and smiling) around the table is a win in my book.
Why You’ll Love a Breakfast or Brunch Board
Here’s why my breakfast charcuterie boards and brunch boards might just become your new go-to:
So many options! You can add bakery treats, cheeses, colorful fruit, smoked salmon, crunchy veggies, mini waffles, and all those sweet toppings.
Make it healthy: You can make your board healthy by adding simple items like turkey slices, fresh fruits, cottage cheese or even my banana cottage cheese pancakes to the board for the health consious guests or yourself.
Great for special occasions (think baby showers, Mother’s Day, or holiday mornings) and for just making any morning more fun.
Mix of homemade and store-bought items: There’s zero shame in grabbing pastries or pre-sliced cheeses from the grocery store for a quick and easy charcuterie board. Or you can make your own matcha muffins and savory egg bites from my recipes if you like.
Perfect for grazing: Everybody picks their favorites, tries something new, and comes back for “just one more bite.”
Room temperature foods work best: So you can prep ahead, cover with parchment paper, and relax until it’s time to eat.
So much fun to put together! Pull out small bowls, smaller bowls, and mini ramekins for dips, cream cheese, seeds, and edible flowers. Sprinkle in pops of color with fresh herbs and fruit.
If you’ve only ever made a traditional charcuterie board, I can’t wait for you to try a breakfast version!
What You’ll Find in This Post
Three easy-to-put-together breakfast charcuterie boards: Classic, Healthy, and Indulgent styles, each with its own ingredient lists, seasonal touches, and assembly tips.
Why you should try these breakfast charcuterie boards: The benefits of offering a variety of meats, cheeses, and fresh fruits so everyone can enjoy what they like without fuss.
Pro tips to build a board that will look great and have a perfect balance of flavors: Full instructions on assembling, displaying, and keeping your grazing board fresh.
Pro Tips for Building Your Own Breakfast Board
Start with a big board or grazing tray. For easy cleanup, pop some parchment paper underneath.
Anchor your “centres” with small bowls—jams, yogurt, soft cheeses, spreads, honey, and sweet toppings.
Think clusters. Arrange foods in little groups so everyone can grab their favorite breakfast items without feeling shy or awkward.
Add pops of color with fresh produce—fresh strawberries, kiwi, blueberries, anything bright and in season.
Top with fresh herbs or edible flowers for those decorative elements that make your board look next level (and totally TikTok-worthy).
Serve at room temperature for best results. Load up any hot foods, like mini cinnamon rolls or golden waffles, right before serving.
Store leftovers in an airtight container and bring out again as a snack board—nothing goes to waste here!
Your Three Delicious Charcuterie Board Ideas
Classic Breakfast Charcuterie Board
Cheeses:
- Cream cheese (a must with bagels and smoked salmon)
- Brie or camembert wedges
- Aged cheddar cubes
- Goat cheese log (honey or herby if you want that brunch board “extra”)
Meats:
- Smoked salmon
- Mortadella slices
- Smoked ham slices
- Turkey breast slices
- Hard-boiled eggs (halved or sliced)
Bakery
- Mini croissants (or halved large ones if that’s what you’ve got)
- Artisan bread or sourdough, sliced
- Mini bagels (if you want, you can use my sourdough bagel recipe)
Fruit & Veggies
- Strawberries (halved for max “wow”)
- Blueberries and raspberries
- Sliced kiwi
- Apple or pear slices
- Orange wedges
- Sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes
Extras
- Red onion slices & capers (for that lox board vibe)
- Assorted jams (pop in smaller bowls)
- Butter (small dish)
- Honey or maple syrup
- Almonds or walnuts
Assembly Steps for Classic Breakfast Charcuterie Board
1. Prep the Board:
Lay down parchment paper on a large board for easy cleanup. Place small bowls for cream cheese, assorted jams, butter, honey, and capers in different corners of the board.
2. Arrange the Bakery Items:
Cluster mini croissants, sliced sourdough, and mini bagels in separate sections around the board.
3. Add the Cheeses:
Fill small bowls with brie or camembert wedges and place nearby. Add aged cheddar cubes and slices or coins of goat cheese log close to the bakery group.
4. Set Proteins:
Fold or roll mortadella, smoked ham, and turkey slices, then arrange in tidy groups near the cheeses. Layer smoked salmon beside the mini bagels for easy assembling.
5. Distribute Fruits & Veggies:
Fill open spaces with vibrant clusters of halved strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, sliced kiwi, apple/pear slices, and orange wedges. Add small mounds of cucumber slices and cherry tomatoes.
6. Finish with Extras:
Garnish with red onion slices near the salmon and bagels. Sprinkle almonds or walnuts in a few open areas. Tuck in sprigs of fresh mint or basil and edible flowers for color and freshness.
Healthy Breakfast Charcuterie Board
Cheeses:
- Cottage cheese (small bowl)
- Blueberry goat cheese (optional—but one of my favorites!)
Other Protein & Dairy
- Greek yogurt (whole milk or low fat, in a small bowl)
- Turkey or chicken breast slices
- Hard-boiled eggs (quartered)
- Almond or peanut butter (small ramekin)
Fruit & Veggies
- Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries
- Cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices
- Sliced peaches or nectarines
- Sliced banana
- Baby spinach or arugula
Bakery
- Seeded wholegrain bread (sliced)
- Crisp breads or rice cakes
- Homemade matcha muffins or cottage cheese protein egg bites (optional if you can bake ahead). These are great for leftovers for your own breakfast too, so it’s worth making.
- Here’s the recipe for GF sweet matcha muffins.
- Here’s the recipe for savory protein egg bites.
Extras
- Pumpkin seeds or granola clusters
- Hummus (small bowl)
- Chia seeds (sprinkle on yogurt)
- Mint or fresh basil
- Edible petals
Assembly Steps for Healthy Breakfast Charcuterie Board
1. Start with the Small Bowls:
Place small bowls for cottage cheese, blueberry goat cheese, Greek yogurt, hummus, nut butters, and any granola or seeds in an even layout. Sprinkle chia seeds over the Greek yogurt bowl.
2. Layer Bakery Items:
Fan out seeded wholegrain bread slices, cluster crisp breads/rice cakes, and stack mini matcha muffins or egg bites in dedicated corners away from wet ingredients. Or you can place them in a separate basket next to the board. I recommend egg bites to be in it’s own dish, as they may express some moisture when cooking down. Muffins are ok next to other breads.
3. Arrange Proteins:
Neatly roll or fold turkey and chicken breast slices and position them near the bakery items.
4. Add Fruits & Veggies:
Make clusters with strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and assorted sliced peaches, nectarines, and banana. Layer cherry tomatoes, cucumber slices, and small handfuls of baby spinach or arugula throughout the board.
Indulgent Breakfast Charcuterie Board
Cheeses:
- Creamy brie wheel (softened)
- Mascarpone or cream cheese (small bowl)
Meats:
- Mild Hungarian or Italian salami slices
Bakery:
- Mini pancakes or golden waffles
- Mini cinnamon rolls or scrolls
- Chocolate croissants (halved or whole)
- French toast triangles
Fruits:
- Strawberries and blueberries
- Figs or Medjool dates
- Red or green grapes (in little clusters)
- Sliced mango
- Sliced fresh peaches
Extras:
- Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread (mini bowl)
- Maple syrup or honey
- Dark chocolate-coated almonds
- Dark chocolate block (broken into bit sized pieces)
- Roasted wallnuts or pecans
- Dried apricots or cranberries
- Mini chocolate chip muffins
- Mint or edible flowers
Assembly Tips for Indulgent Breakfast Charcuterie Board
1. Anchor with Bowls:
Distribute small bowls with mascarpone or cream cheese, Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread, maple syrup, and honey evenly on the board.
2. Place Bakery Treats:
Stack mini golden waffles or pancakes in one section. Line up mini cinnamon rolls and arrange French toast triangles fanned out in a clear group.
3. Add Cheeses:
Slice the creamy brie wheel and place wedges in a small bowl or fan them out neatly near the bakery items. Or you can leave it as a single centerpiece if you prefer.
4. Add (Optional) Savory Protein:
If using, fold smoked ham or turkey and group at the edge of the platter for guests who prefer savory bites.
5. Arrange Fruits & Extras:
Create small clusters with strawberries, figs, Medjool dates, grapes, and sliced mango. Place mini chocolate chip muffins in a separate section. Scatter dark chocolate almonds, other roasted nuts, dried apricots, and cranberries in gaps.
6. Final Garnish:
Add fresh mint leaves and edible flowers throughout for extra pops of color and a bakery-meets-dessert feel.
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A Few Questions I Always Get
How do I keep things fresh?
Cover your assembled board with plastic wrap or store everything in airtight containers until serving. Baked goods and fruit usually keep well if you prep the night before. You can also get a board with a locking lid on Amazon. (very convenient)
What’s the best way to serve?
Big board or platter for a crowd, snack trays or smaller boards if you’re serving 2-3. I like clustering everything and not stressing about it being “perfect”—open spaces just make it easier to grab and go!
Do I have to make everything from scratch?
Not at all! Store-bought items, pre-made pastries, and deli cheeses totally count—this is all about making your life easier and your breakfast brighter.
Final Thoughts
Honestly, making a breakfast charcuterie board is the easiest way I know to make any morning feel next level. It’s about slowing down, adding color and abundance, and having so much fun mixing your favorite (and maybe a few new) breakfast foods. Try classic combos, mix in brunch board favorites like smoked salmon or mini waffles, and don’t forget those sweet toppings and little decorative moments.
So, next time you want a perfect addition to your brunch game—whether it’s for a baby shower, a holiday morning, or just a regular old Saturday—try setting out a breakfast board. And don’t forget to check out my other board ideas if you’re looking to switch things up with the seasons or for your next get-together!
