Snack Platters. Party Food. Entertainment Spreads. Fruit and Cheese Boards. Crudité Plates.
Call them what you will. My heart belongs to snack platters.
Well that and the Hubby, but for today we’ll ditch my dirty little mind and stick with the food, not that edibles and mad monkey loving can’t be combined.
I don’t judge, well unless a party platter is part of your soiree and then I’ve got some distinct ideas on what should be involved, with or without the kink factor.
The point is snack platters are my jam. I love to dress them up and take them out. I love to pair them with a bottle of bubbly and pass them among friends. I also rather enjoy eating them solo for dinner. I am a woman of many talents.
Skills aside, snack platters are super simple to make, with the end result being a stunning array of colors, textures and tastes. They titillate the taste buds and arouse our senses with their endless possibilities. They offer something sweet, something salty, something creamy, something crunchy, something we can savor on our tongues and toss about our teeth. Snack platters have something for everyone.
Did I mention how easy they are to make? For real, anyone could do it, even Oscar provided he gets some opposable thumbs.
Phalanges aside, all you need is Six Simple Components and you’re good to go.
How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
1. Cheese, Glorious Cheese
In my not so humble opinion, no snack platter is complete without the cheese.
The only perquisite is you ditch the prepackaged cubes and opt to showcase a couple wedges of your favorite flavors. I love to invite the soft cheeses to the party (Blue, Brie, Feta, Goat) because they melt in your mouth. The hard ones should absolutely make an appearance too. After all, options is the name of the game.
2. Fruit
In order to offset all that creamy, delicious and salty cheese, our palates along with our eyes, need some hydration in the form of fruit. I adore berries, but the options are endless. Toss in some dates, figs, tangelos, pear slices, apple wedges, whatever you’ve got really. It’s all welcome.
3. Olives and Nuts
Some would suggest this category is optional, and I would argue olives provide a strong and tangy contrast to the sweet succulent fruit. Pair your favorite fat, juicy ones alongside some sweet or savory nuts for a bite of texture. I swoon for Kalamatas or buttery Castelvetranos.
4. Hooray Veggies
A pop of color, a burst of freshness and a bite of crunch, veggies pack a powerful punch and are an integral part of any balanced spread. The more, the merrier. Bring one, invite their compadres.
5. The Dip
All good veggies need a friend and something to swan dive into. Might I suggest pesto, hummus or a creamy veggie dip. You can go store bought or get crazy and make your own. The sky’s the limit.
Creamy Garlic and Herb Veggie Dip
Artichoke, Cheese and White Bean Dip
6. The Vehicle
Last but certainly not least, whether you’re scooping up dips or morsels of cheese, you need a vehicle to help get those edible from plate to mouth, preferably without any spillage. Crisps, crackers, pita, and bread are all fantastic options.
There you have it. The simple, satisfying, and visually pleasing Art of the Snack Platter.
What’s a must have component on your Party Platters?
Disclaimer: this post was not sponsored by any of the companies shown. I did receive 34 Degrees Crisps from 34 Degrees, but I was not asked to post a review nor was I compensated for my time. I genuinely love their product and eat them all the time, which is why I’m sharing them with you.
Meat cheese olives and veggies with dip are always there for us. Going to follow your tips for our holiday party over here this year though – your platters really are stunning!
Michele @ paleorunningmomma recently posted…Paleo Butternut Sausage Bake with Kale
Thanks Michele. I appreciate that. I love to play with them visually.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
Love me a good party platter, even more if I don’t have to share. I always include some combination of the following: blue or goat cheese, cheddar/Gouda/another hard cheese, a third random cheese (to keep things wild ‘n crazy), jam/honey (love fig jam), grapes, sliced bell pepper, carrot sticks, hummus, toasted baguette slices, crackers, Kalamata olives, a handful of nuts, and a nice bottle of red to wash it all down.
Further proof that we need to hang out.
Yes jam and honey are both fantastic options too. I should have included those. Rats!
Also always with a side of wine.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
Only you could professionalize (?) this post. Your platters always look so beautiful, I’d be hesitant to mess them up. But, then I’d see the artichoke dip and all manners would be out. I must say one of my favorite things about the holiday season is the “wine and cheese” parties where I actually get to try different real cheeses – or coming home to my mama’s refrigerator. I never buy the good stuff – those blocks aint cheap!
mylittletablespoon recently posted…WIAW: Not So Tricky “Tips”
That artichoke Dip is fantastic and made with Greek Yogurt and white beans. You have to try it. I could eat it for dinner all on its own.
You just need one or two of the good blocks. Believe me, it’s worth the price tag and really makes all the difference. Also some grocery stores carry little cheese samples, so for a $1 or $2, you get a smaller sample block. That’s always a fun option.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
B E A UUUTIFUL spread!!! I love all the colors. The vehicle is the most important in my opinion, must have a solid vehicle!
Brittany recently posted…Early Morning Confessions
In all honestly, I’m not sure I could pick a favorite component. I feel like they’re all necessary and complement one another wonderfully.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
Ooooooh I love snack platters. These are the things that get me through wedding and baby showers. The only way I can tolerate all those women and polyester blend in one room is if I have snacks with dip.
Suzy recently posted…Chapter One
Amen! Will you host my baby shower please. I’ll bring the snack platter and we’ll hide in the corner with our plates of food.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
So pretty to look at, and so scrumptious to eat. I often do snack platters all day long this time of year – and weirdly enough if people are careful not to cross contaminate, it’s often the only time I can eat “party food” since fruit and cheese are grain free on their own, as are hummus and crudité!
Alyssa @ renaissancerunnergirl recently posted…How to Choose a Charity for a Holiday Gift
Yep, that’s exactly what I mean. Snack platters have something for everyone. Gluten free, part vegetarian, part vegan, part raw.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
I want everything on this platter. I love a good snack plate, especially when good cheese is involved!
Kelly @ Kelly Runs For Food recently posted…Friday Favorites 12.11.15
YES! Good cheese must be involved. It elevates the entire platter.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
Great post idea since making your own snack platter is so doable if you know what you need. I know you know that I was never a cheese lover (weird, I know) but I always loved the veggies and some of the good dips. And I like the addition of the candied nuts.
meredith @ Cookie ChRUNicles recently posted…Random Stuff & Next Week’s Meal Plan
The candied nuts definitely take things up a notch and while I love the cheese and feel it’s a must, I feel the same way about the veggies. The crispy crunch you get when you bite into them is the perfect complement to the soft, creamy cheese. A good snack platter needs both to offset one another.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
this is pretty much my perfect meal. i love a smorgasbord. a buffet of small bites. a rainbow of colors and flavors. having a bunch of different flavors and textures and temps is my favorite way to eat. YAYAHH
i love having fig jam or fig preserves with cheese, and i probably can’t stop at one dip. i like a creamy dip and then a non-creamy dip. and PICKLED stuff.
and i also like nut cheeses – i really want to try to make a vegan cheddar! i’m not adverse to any cheese but i just happen to love nuts in cheese form 😀 i get two favs for one.
Yes! Figs and jam are a great addition as well.
I’m curious to try your vegan version of cheddar.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
It’s maybe a good thing for you that we don’t live closer to each other because I’d invite myself over for dinner all the time! I am a bit picky with the kinds of cheese I like but when I like one I eat heaps. And olives are a must! Stefan and I both love olives. Pair them with anything garlic and give me a little bread and I am all set. Though I wouldn’t mind to mix things up with some berries as well.
Okay what am I doing here? I could eat it all and we both know that!
A must on my snack platters are Dolmades, those stuffed vine leaves with rice and herbs. So so good!
Juli@1000lovelythings recently posted…Healthy Orange Cheesecake Smoothie
You’d be welcome all the time. You can even bring some of your own favorites and we could swap cheese and olives.
Meghan recently posted…How To Create The Perfect Party Platter: Simple Yet Stunning
I want to face plant into every single one of those dips!
Jen@jpabstfitness recently posted…Fit Friday
Dip away.
Meghan,
I wanted to crawl through the screen and sample each photo. I think it’s proof I’ve been awake long enough to want to eat! I know my spouse would be totally cool with it (as an appetizer, and then he’d ask what’s for dinner) but often while he’s gone that’s how the kids and I will eat dinner. In fact last night our dinner was assorted cheese, some slices of ham (because I couldn’t find the charcuterie tray–I think the kids ate it), homemade pickles + Branston pickle, tangelos from the band fruit fundraiser, and the vehicle was a multigrain bread from Costco. Oh yum.
Great post, and I cannot decide between boards so I will pin to party food, to wine and cheese ideas, and to amazing dips as well as awesome veggie apps and snacks.
Kirsten recently posted…Magic Cookie Bar Truffles and Amazon Gift Card Giveaway for #ChristmasWeek!
Yes pickles are a fantastic option for snack platters. Crispy, crunchy, sweet or salty depending on the kind. Genius addition.
Any chance I can come to this party you’re hosting? Haha! Awesome recipes and array of foods here, that dip will be a hit!
Yep come on over. The more, the merrier.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Number Nine is Fine
Us Brits are a funny bunch, but one thing we are bloody good at is a cheese board! I love a mix of soft, hard and blue cheeses, grapes, olives, sundried tomatoes, Apple slices and carrot sticks. Add some cold meats and salami and boom! Jen’s idea of perfection!
It’s really easy to get good cheese in the UK – we have a lot of amazing british cheeses but also get a lot shipped over from France – like our bries and goat cheeses. Australia…. Not so much. Sigh. Apart from the cheese barrel in wine country – when I need my cheese fix I will be heading out there for a feast!
Jen @ Chase the Red Grape recently posted…Friday Favourites – Fluidstance Review!
I would love to consume a British snack plate put together by. It would be pretty cool to see the subtle differences.
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Number Nine is Fine
I love cheese and a cheese plate is always my favorite part of any party it shows up to!
This is a great tutorial and I hope to make use of it soon. I wish my husband would be cool with a cheese plate for dinner, but he says he’s not french???
I think you should make him a snack platter for dinner. Include cheese, fruit, veggies, dips and maybe even a little meat and I bet he comes around to the idea. Either that, or tell him, if he’s still hungry, he has to feed himself. That should work. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Number Nine is Fine
You know how I feel about snack plates <3 Although yours definitely look way fancier than mine ever do. And mine never involve olives because… olives 😯 I also almost always try to sneak some chocolate on there… and nut butter. Basically, I'm all over the place 😆
Amanda @ .running with spoons. recently posted…link love 12/13
You are so missing out on olives, although I did forget about the chocolate so I’ll call it even. 🙂
Meghan recently posted…Week in Review: Number Nine is Fine