Heart of Romance Board (Printable)

A visually stunning heart-shaped spread with cheeses, cured meats, and vibrant fruits in red and pink tones.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 3.5 oz brie, cut into wedges
02 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, shaped into small rounds
03 - 3.5 oz manchego, sliced thinly

→ Cured Meats (omit for vegetarian)

04 - 2.8 oz prosciutto, folded
05 - 2.8 oz salami, rolled
06 - 2.1 oz coppa, fanned out

→ Fresh Fruits

07 - 1 cup strawberries, halved
08 - 1 cup raspberries
09 - 1 cup red grapes, halved
10 - ½ cup pomegranate seeds

→ Vegetables

11 - 8 to 10 mini sweet red peppers, sliced
12 - ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved

→ Accompaniments

13 - ½ cup pink beet hummus
14 - ½ cup red pepper jelly
15 - ½ cup candied pecans
16 - ½ cup dark chocolate–covered almonds
17 - ¼ cup heart-shaped candies (optional)

→ Crackers & Bread

18 - 1 cup heart-shaped crackers or thinly sliced baguette

# How-To:

01 - Use parchment paper to sketch a large heart shape on a platter or use a heart-shaped tray if available.
02 - Place small bowls of beet hummus and red pepper jelly in the upper curves of the heart shape.
03 - Distribute cheeses evenly within the heart, spacing wedges and slices for visual harmony.
04 - Fold or roll prosciutto, salami, and coppa, then position them to accentuate the heart outline and introduce texture.
05 - Fill spaces with strawberries, raspberries, red grapes, and pomegranate seeds to enhance red and pink hues.
06 - Fill remaining gaps with sliced mini sweet peppers, halved cherry tomatoes, and candied pecans for color and crunch.
07 - Distribute dark chocolate-covered almonds and optional heart-shaped candies to elevate the romantic theme.
08 - Arrange heart-shaped crackers or baguette slices along edges or in small clusters within the heart shape.
09 - Ensure the board appears full and lush; serve immediately for best freshness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely stunning with zero actual cooking required—just thoughtful arrangement and a heart full of intention.
  • Everyone finds something they love on the board, whether they're a cheese devotee, cured meat enthusiast, or fruit-first person.
  • The whole thing comes together in 25 minutes, giving you more time to enjoy the moment instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
02 -
  • The most important lesson I learned the hard way is that assembly timing matters—arrange everything no more than an hour before serving, or soft cheeses will sweat and fruits will weep, making your careful arrangement look tired instead of fresh.
  • Room temperature is non-negotiable for cheese flavor. I used to pull everything straight from the cold fridge and wondered why the board tasted flat. Now I always let cheeses sit out for 15 minutes before serving, and suddenly the brie tastes like butter clouds and everything tastes like itself again.
03 -
  • Line your board with parchment paper before you start arranging if you're worried about staining. I used to worry about this endlessly until I realized that a board bearing the marks of good food and good times is far more beautiful than a pristine one.
  • Keep everything except the most delicate berries in a cool place right before serving. The cold gives textures more presence and flavors more clarity, and guests appreciate biting into a perfectly cool piece of cheese.
  • If you're assembling this ahead, place a piece of parchment or plastic wrap over the board and refrigerate. Remove it 20 minutes before serving so the cheeses can breathe and wake up to room temperature.
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