Thanksgiving Leaf Fall Board (Printable)

Autumn-inspired board featuring leaf-cut cheeses, crackers, dried fruits, and nuts in warm colors.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz sharp cheddar cheese
02 - 5.3 oz gouda cheese
03 - 5.3 oz brie cheese

→ Crackers

04 - 7 oz whole wheat crackers
05 - 5.3 oz multigrain crackers

→ Dried Fruits

06 - 2.8 oz dried apricots
07 - 2.8 oz dried mango
08 - 2.1 oz dried cranberries
09 - 2.1 oz dried figs

→ Nuts

10 - 2.1 oz pecan halves
11 - 2.1 oz walnuts

→ Fresh Fruits & Garnishes

12 - 1 small apple, thinly sliced
13 - 1 small pear, thinly sliced
14 - Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional)

# How-To Steps:

01 - Use small leaf-shaped cookie cutters to cut cheddar, gouda, and brie into assorted leaf shapes.
02 - Press the same cookie cutters into large crackers and dried apricots, mango, and figs to create leaf shapes; save small scraps for snacking or garnish.
03 - Randomly arrange the leaf-shaped cheeses, crackers, and dried fruits across a large wooden board or platter to imitate a scattered falling leaves effect using warm brown, red, and orange hues.
04 - Fill empty spaces with nuts, dried cranberries, and fresh fruit slices, fanning them out to introduce texture and vibrant color.
05 - Garnish with rosemary sprigs for an aromatic touch. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes less than an hour and requires zero actual cooking—just creativity and beautiful ingredients arranged with care
  • Everyone finds something they love, from the sharp cheddar to the soft brie, the crunch of pecans to the chew of dried apricots
  • It becomes the centerpiece conversation starter that your guests will remember long after the meal ends
02 -
  • Room temperature changes everything—if your board sits out too long, the brie becomes gooey and hard to eat gracefully. Keep it cool until the last moment, and set it in a cool spot away from the oven heat.
  • The apple and pear slices will oxidize and brown if you cut them too early. I learned this the hard way when my beautiful board looked tired after 30 minutes. Prep them last, or toss them very lightly with lemon juice and add them just before serving.
  • Those cookie cutters are your best investment. Cheap ones bend and don't cut cleanly. Spend a little more on quality cutters—they'll change your life and your board.
03 -
  • Freeze your cheese for 15 minutes before cutting—it firms up beautifully and the cutters slice through cleanly without sticking or dragging
  • The scraps from cutting shapes aren't waste; they're delicious snacks and can fill in small gaps where whole shapes don't fit, creating a more organic look
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