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How to Make a Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board - Step 8
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Thanksgiving Turkey Charcuterie Board

A festive, no-cook Thanksgiving charcuterie board with layers of deli meats, cheeses, crackers, and fruit arranged like feathers around an adorable pear turke
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Servings: 12
Calories: 159kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 medium firm pear such as Bosc or Bartlett
  • 8 ounces thinly sliced deli turkey
  • 5 ounces thinly sliced salami
  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese cut into small cubes, with a little reserved for the turkey face and feet
  • 6 ounces white cheddar Monterey Jack, or another firm white cheese, cut into small triangles
  • 1 sleeve buttery crackers
  • 1 sleeve multigrain crackers
  • 1 cup red seedless grapes
  • ½ cup dried cranberries
  • 1 cup pecan halves
  • 6 –8 small sprigs fresh rosemary
  • 2 whole cloves for the eyes

Instructions

  • Place a sheet of parchment paper on a work surface. Use a large skillet lid or another large round object as a guide to trace a circle onto the parchment paper. Cut out the circle and place it in the center of the charcuterie board. This will serve as a guide for creating an even, round turkey feather shape.
  • Place the pear at the bottom center of the parchment circle with the narrow end pointing upward. This will form the turkey body.
  • Fold the deli turkey into loose ribbons or small ruffles. Arrange it in a curved fan directly behind the pear to create the first layer of feathers.
  • Arrange a row of the butter crackers in a semicircle behind the turkey, slightly overlapping the crackers to create a full, even layer.
  • Tuck some of the white cheese triangles around the crackers, positioning the points outward to add another feather-like detail.
  • Scatter the dried cranberries in a narrow curved row around the deli turkey, filling in small spaces between the inner feather layers.
  • Fold the salami slices in halves or quarters and arrange them in a wide semicircle behind the inner cracker layer.
  • Arrange the cheddar cubes in an even curved row behind the salami.
  • Add the red grapes in a curved band behind the cheddar cubes.
  • Create the outer feather layer with the multigrain crackers, slightly overlapping them around the top half of the parchment circle.
  • Tuck the remaining pale cheese triangles between some of the outer crackers with the points facing outward to create additional feather details.
  • Fill the remaining open spaces around the bottom and sides of the turkey with pecans, additional grapes, dried cranberries, and fresh rosemary sprigs.
  • Decorate the pear turkey just before serving. Make two tiny starter holes using a toothpick or the tip of a paring knife and gently press in the whole cloves for the eyes. Add a small cheddar triangle for the beak, a dried cranberry for the wattle, and small pieces of cheddar at the base of the pear to create the feet.

Notes

  • Use a parchment template for an even shape. Tracing a large skillet lid onto parchment paper makes it much easier to keep the charcuterie arrangement round and symmetrical while building the feather layers.
  • Use a firm pear so the turkey body holds its shape and stays neat while the board is being assembled.
  • Build the board from the center outward. Starting with the pear and inner feather layers makes it easier to maintain the turkey shape.
  • Fold the meats loosely instead of laying them flat. This gives the board more volume and helps it look abundant without requiring extra ingredients.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcal | Carbohydrates: 7g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 217mg | Potassium: 52mg | Fiber: 0.4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 0.4mg | Calcium: 236mg | Iron: 0.1mg