• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact

Jennifer Cooks

menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Shop
  • Contact
×
Home » Charcuterie Cups

By Jennifer Leave a Comment

Charcuterie Cups

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe
Adorable charcuterie cups filled with deli meat, soft cheeses, fresh fruit, and crackers, perfect for baby showers, game days, or holiday season gatherings.

I whipped up these adorable charcuterie cups recently for a sweet baby shower, and let me tell you – they were a total hit. Not only did they add flair to the food table, but they were also incredibly practical.

No more hovering around a traditional charcuterie board, awkwardly trying to balance grapes and crackers while holding a drink. Each guest had their own individual charcuterie cup – compact, easy to grab, and perfect for mingling.

Adorable charcuterie cups filled with deli meat, soft cheeses, fresh fruit, and crackers, perfect for baby showers, game days, or holiday season gatherings.

After seeing how well they worked at the shower, I knew these cups would become my go-to for many events. They’re the perfect appetizer for weddings, game days, or even a laid-back holiday season cocktail hour.

Whether you're hosting a brunch, party, or tailgate, these hand-held boards offer the ideal solution for serving a variety of flavors without the mess.


Why You’ll Love This Recipe

These easy charcuterie cups bring the best parts of a traditional charcuterie board but without the hassle. No more juggling small items like crackers or cheese slices – instead, each cup offers everything your guests need in one convenient, portable serving. They’re not just practical; they’re also a great way to add some charm to your food table.

With fresh fruit, soft cheeses, and savory deli meat packed neatly into individual servings, these cups are both stylish and stress-free.

You can prep them ahead of time, refrigerate them, and pull them out just before your event – making hosting easier than ever. Swap ingredients to suit the occasion, like adding mini pickles, baby carrots, or different types of cheese, such as goat cheese or cheddar cheese.

Trust me, these little cups will be a perfect addition to your next gathering, and your guests will love the variety of flavors in each bite.

Small cup filled with deli meat, cheese slices, fresh herbs, red grapes, and rustic crackers – perfect for hand-held charcuterie boards.

Equipment List

  • Paper Charcuterie Cups or Clear plastic cups: These hold the individual servings neatly and make for easy cleanup.
  • Wooden Cocktail Skewers: Essential for holding smaller items like mini pickles, fresh fruit, and soft cheeses together.
  • Toothpicks: Perfect for securing folded pepperoni into a rose shape.
  • Sharp knife: Makes slicing cheese and deli meat a breeze.
  • Cutting board: Provides a clean surface for assembling your skewers and cups.

What You’ll Need for DIY Charcuterie Cups

  • Pepperoni: Folded into a rose for a decorative touch.
  • Mini mozzarella balls: A soft cheese that pairs beautifully with basil and tomatoes.
  • Hard salami: Adds savory flavor to the skewers.
  • Post Oak smoked gouda: Brings a smoky depth to your appetizer cups.
  • Dill gherkins: These mini pickles add a tangy crunch.
  • Sartori BellaVitano Merlot cheese: Infused with wine for a subtle sweetness.
  • Dried apricots and cherries: A delightful contrast to the cheeses.
  • Red grapes and green grapes: Provide bursts of fresh flavor.
  • Mixed nuts: Add texture at the bottom of the cup.
  • Rustic crackers and sesame breadsticks: Essential for that satisfying crunch.
  • Blackberries and strawberries: Perfect little sweet treats to balance the savory elements.
  • Rosemary sprig or herb sprig: For garnish and a pop of greenery.

How to Make Charcuterie Cups

  • Start with the mixed nuts: Add a couple of tablespoons to the bottom of each cup. This anchors everything else.
  • Arrange the long crackers and breadsticks: Position them toward the back of the cup, leaving space for skewers upfront.
  • Assemble the pepperoni rose skewers:
    • Overlap five slices of pepperoni.
    • Fold them in half and roll them tightly into a rose.
    • Secure with a toothpick and add a basil leaf, a mini mozzarella ball, and a cherry tomato to finish the skewer.
Pepperoni rose skewer with mini mozzarella balls, fresh basil, and cherry tomatoes – a beautiful addition to individual charcuterie cups.
  • Make the gouda and gherkin skewers:
    • Skewer a mini pickle, a cube of smoked gouda, and folded slices of salami.
Hard salami and Post Oak smoked gouda skewered with mini pickles for hand-held charcuterie boards.
  • Prepare the merlot cheese and dried fruit skewers:
    • Alternate between dried cherries, dried apricots, and cubes of BellaVitano Merlot cheese.
Sartori BellaVitano Merlot cheese skewered with dried apricots and cherries, offering a sweet and savory flavor combination.
  • Create the grape skewers:
    • Thread red and green grapes, alternating between colors.
Red and green grapes skewered for easy individual servings in charcuterie cups
  • Add fresh fruit and garnish:
    • Drop a blackberry and a strawberry into each cup.
    • Garnish with a rosemary sprig for an elegant touch.
  • Cover and refrigerate: Keep the cups cool until ready to serve.
Adorable charcuterie cups filled with deli meat, soft cheeses, fresh fruit, and crackers, perfect for baby showers, game days, or holiday season gatherings.

This post may contain affiliate links. I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Visit my Amazon Store for everything you need to cook up a storm, bake delicious treats, and whip up your favorite beverages!

Chef Secrets & Tips

  • Prep in advance: Assemble these appetizer cups up to a day before your event. Just cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate.
  • Cheese variety: Swap gouda for cheddar cheese or try adding mini cheese balls made with goat cheese or blue cheese for extra variety.
  • Use baby carrots: Add baby carrots to the skewers for a pop of color and crunch.
  • Flexible crackers: No sesame breadsticks? Use pita chips or bagel chips instead.

Serving Suggestions

These individual charcuterie cups are perfect for any occasion:

  • Baby showers: Cute and convenient for mingling guests.
  • Game days: Hand-held charcuterie boards that are easy to snack on.
  • Holiday season parties: Add festive touches like cranberries or holiday-themed skewers.
  • Cocktail hours: Pair with a crisp white wine or sparkling water.
  • Brunch gatherings: Complement with light sandwiches or fruit salads.

Individual charcuterie cups displayed on a party table – a great option for weddings, baby showers, and cocktail hours.

Commonly Asked Questions

Q: Can I use different types of cheese?
A: Absolutely! Cheddar cheese, pepper jack, or mini cheese balls made with goat cheese are all excellent choices.

Q: How far in advance can I make these cups?
A: They can be made 24 hours in advance. Just keep them covered and refrigerated until ready to serve.

Q: What other deli meat works well?
A: Try prosciutto or smoked turkey for a lighter option.


Storage Tips

  • Storage: Keep any leftover cups covered in the fridge to maintain freshness.
  • Shelf life: These appetizer cups will stay fresh for 1-2 days in the fridge.

These adorable charcuterie cups are a fun way to serve up variety without the mess of a good charcuterie board.

Whether you're hosting a casual game day, an elegant baby shower, or a festive holiday season gathering, these small cups pack a punch of flavor and charm. With fresh fruit, cheese slices, mini pickles, and herb sprigs, they’re a perfect appetizer for any occasion.

Plus, they’re easy to customize with different types of cheese or deli meat to suit your event. Serve these hand-held charcuterie boards at your next party, and watch them disappear—because let’s face it, who doesn’t love their own little cup of deliciousness?

Small cup filled with deli meat, cheese slices, fresh herbs, red grapes, and rustic crackers – perfect for hand-held charcuterie boards.

More Fun Appetizer Recipes

  • 7 Layer Dip Cups
  • Balsamic Kettle Chips with Blue Cheese and Truffle Oil
  • Cranberry Crostini
  • How to Make an Epic Charcuterie Board

I love hearing from you..please leave a comment & rating!

SaveSaved! SaveSaved!
Small cup filled with deli meat, cheese slices, fresh herbs, red grapes, and rustic crackers – perfect for hand-held charcuterie boards.

Easy DIY Charcuterie Cups

Whip up easy DIY charcuterie cups for baby showers, game days, or your next party. These adorable individual cups are a perfect appetizer with a variety of flavors.
No ratings yet
Print Pin Rate
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Keyword: appetizers for a crowd, holiday appetizer, Party Foods
Prep Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 8
Author: Jennifer Locklin

Equipment

  • Paper Charcuterie Cups or Clear Plastic Punch Cups
  • Wooden Cocktail Skewers
  • Colorful Cocktail Picks
  • Toothpicks
  • Chef Knife
  • Cutting Board

Ingredients

Pepperoni Rose Caprese Skewers:

  • 40 slices pepperoni
  • 8 Mozzarella Cheese Pearls 1-8oz package
  • 8 cherry tomatoes
  • 8 basil leaves

Salami & Post Oak Smoked Gouda & Gherkin Skewers:

  • 8 cubes Post Oak Smoked Gouda
  • 16 slices Hard Salami
  • 8 Dill Gherkins

Sartori BellaVitano Merlot Cheese Dried Apricots, Dried Cherries Skewers:

  • 16 cubes Sartori BellaVitano Merlot Cheese
  • 8 Dried Apricots
  • 8 Dried Cherries

Multicolored Grape Skewers:

  • 16 Seedless Red Grapes
  • 16 Seedless Green Grapes

Filler & Crackers:

  • 1 cup mixed nuts
  • 8 Rustic Bakery Handmade Sourdough Flatbread – Olive Oil & Sel Gris
  • 8 Alessi Sesame Autentico Italian Crispy Bread Sticks broken into halves
  • 8 Blackberries
  • 8 Strawberries
  • 8 branches Rosemary if desired for garnish
Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

  • Start with Mixed Nuts:
Add 2 tablespoons of mixed nuts to each container as the base.
  • Arrange Crackers and Breadsticks:
Place the crackers and breadsticks toward the back of the container, leaving room at the front for the skewers.

Pepperoni Rose Caprese Skewers:

  • Lay out 5 slices of pepperoni, slightly overlapping.
  • Fold them all in half and roll tightly to form a rose. Secure the rose with a toothpick through the side.
  • Add a folded basil leaf, followed by a mozzarella pearl, and finish with a cherry tomato.

Sartori BellaVitano Merlot Cheese, Dried Apricots, and Cherries Skewers:

  • Skewer a dried cherry, a cube of BellaVitano Merlot cheese, a dried apricot, and finish with another cheese cube.

Multicolored Grape Skewers:

  • Alternate between red and green grapes, adding four grapes per skewer.

Salami, Post Oak Smoked Gouda, and Gherkin Skewers:

  • Skewer a dill gherkin, followed by a cube of Post Oak Smoked Gouda.
  • Fold two slices of hard salami in half, then in half again, and add both to the skewer.

Add Fresh Fruit and Garnish:

  • Place one blackberry and one strawberry in each cup.
  • Optional: Add a sprig of fresh rosemary for a decorative touch.

*Nutrition information is automatically calculated based on ingredient data and should be considered an estimate. When multiple ingredient options are provided, the first listed is used for calculation. Optional ingredients and garnishes are not included in the nutrition analysis.

Did you make this recipe? Tag @jennifercooks123 on Instagram and hashtag it #jennifercooks so we can see all the deliciousness!

Filed Under: Appetizers Tagged With: appetizer, appetizers for a crowd, party food, Quick and Easy

About Jennifer

I’m Jennifer Locklin, author and owner of Jennifer Cooks. I am a trained chef and passionate about good food, cooking for family and friends, and creating recipes that form lasting memories from one generation to the next. I hope you find inspiration for cooking and creating here!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hello! I'm Jennifer Locklin, the creator of Jennifer Cooks. Cooking is a cherished tradition passed down in my family, deeply rooted in love and shared experiences.

My blog showcases tried-and-true recipes that promise to turn your cooking into memorable moments.

More about me →


Follow Us:

  • Mail
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • Tumblr

Yummly Publisher
my foodgawker gallery

Recent Posts

  • Old-Fashioned Vanilla Butter Meltaway Cookies
    Vanilla Butter Meltaway Cookies
  • Creamy Poblano and Shrimp Enchiladas
    Creamy Shrimp and Poblano Enchiladas
  • Cold Green Bean Salad with Citrus Vinagrette and garnished with orange supremes, blue cheese, toasted walnuts, and pomegranate arils.
    Green Bean Salad with Citrus Dressing
  • Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch Dip
    Chuy’s Jalapeno Ranch

Footer

↑ back to top

Quick Links

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

Information

  • Home
  • Recipes

Copyright © 2024 JENNIFER COOKS

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required