I put together a fall charcuterie board for my church small group and there were several with gluten or dairy sensitivities so I’m sharing what I used in case you are looking for allergy friendly options for your fall gathering charcuterie boards. Fall pumpkin and leaf shaped cheeses on charcuterie boards are always such a hit in the fall. I’ve posted about them before but included them again on this board. They add a cute fall aesthetic, I couldn’t resist! Read on for more details:
Why a Charcuterie Board?
Charcuterie boards are not just visually beautiful, they are also incredibly versatile. You can customize them to suit your guests’ dietary needs and preferences, making them perfect for any occasion. With an array of flavors, textures, and colors, a charcuterie board invites everyone to graze and mingle, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Gluten Free Dairy Free Charcuterie Board Options:
Meats (make sure they are gluten free, not all brands are) Boar’s Head makes gluten free meats.
- Candied bacon made with gluten free bacon, brown sugar and black pepper. Some bacon may contain traces of gluten so just make sure you get the gluten free bacon
- Pepperoni – I love an excuse to make a pepperoni rose. Again, make sure you get gluten free pepperoni
- Salami – I folded mine up and prepped them for a salami river and then later realized I never added them to my board. Make sure you get gluten free…and remember to add them to your board!
- Hummus – read labels to make sure they are gluten and dairy free. I used Boar’s Head pumpkin hummus and it tasted like pumpkin pie. It was a hit with everyone!
Crackers
- Simple Mills Honey Cinnamon seed and nut flower crackers are gluten and dairy free and were the perfect complement to the pumpkin hummus
- Almond Flour Crackers – gluten and dairy free
Fruits
Fruits and vegetable are naturally gluten and dairy free – win. I used
- Blueberries
- Grapes
- Strawberries
- Cucumbers
- Olives
Other Items:
- Honeycomb – several of my friends had not tried honeycomb on a charcuterie board. I love a bite with cracker cheese and honeycomb. The savory and sweet are a delicious combination.
- Nuts and seeds
Fall Shaped Cheeses
Most in our group could eat dairy so I included cheeses in fall shapes.
Pumpkin Shaped Boursin Cheese
Boursin cheese is gluten free. I put mine in plastic wrap in the shape of a pumpkin and used a wooden skewer to make indentations on the sides to look like a pumpkin. I broke one of the gluten free crackers to use as a stem.
Leaf-Shaped Cheeses
Crackers Barrel makes cracker cut cheese slices that are the perfect size for my leaf shaped cookie press. The one I used is no longer available but this set is very similar and comes with other cute fall shapes. The acorns!
For a video of using the press, see here. To make the leaf shaped cheeses, just use a slice of cheese and cut it with the cookie cutter. Then before removing it, press the stamp into the top of the cheese to give it the leaf veins. It takes a few times to figure out the right amount of pressure. They are so cute and festive, it’s worth it!
This board was such a hit with everyone and those with food allergies were so happy to have gluten and/or dairy free options. As you’re prepping your board you could take photos of the nutritional info on packages to have with you to give your gluten or dairy sensitive friends peace of mind when grazing.
Prep this fall charcuterie board for Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or any fall gathering. With its festive fall shaped cheeses and dietary inclusive options, it’s sure to be a centerpiece that brings happiness and flavor to your celebration. Happy grazing with friends and family!
