Gilded Acorn Nut Board (Printable)

Elegant nut and cheese board with gold-touched almonds and acorn-shaped cheese cutouts for festive occasions.

# What You Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 1 cup whole almonds
02 - 1/2 cup pecans
03 - 1/2 cup walnuts
04 - 1/2 cup hazelnuts

→ Gold-Sprinkled Almonds

05 - 1/2 cup whole almonds
06 - 1/2 teaspoon edible gold dust or gold leaf flakes

→ Cheeses

07 - 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese block
08 - 8 ounces gouda cheese block
09 - 8 ounces brie or camembert cheese (optional)

→ Accompaniments

10 - 1/2 cup dried apricots
11 - 1/2 cup dried figs, halved
12 - 1/2 cup seedless red grapes
13 - 1/2 cup fresh apple slices
14 - 1/4 cup honey or fig jam

→ Crackers & Bread

15 - 1 cup assorted crackers (gluten-free if needed)
16 - 1 small baguette, sliced

# How-To Steps:

01 - Place 1/2 cup almonds in a small bowl. Lightly mist or brush with water to help gold dust adhere. Sprinkle edible gold dust evenly and toss gently to coat. Set aside to dry for several minutes.
02 - Slice cheddar and gouda into quarter-inch thick slabs. Use a small acorn-shaped cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Optionally, add detail or create a layered two-tone effect with a paring knife.
03 - Distribute the nuts—including gold-sprinkled almonds, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts—in small clusters or bowls on a large serving board or platter.
04 - Arrange acorn-shaped cheese cutouts around the board. Add cubes or wedges of brie or camembert to provide texture variety.
05 - Distribute dried apricots, halved figs, grapes, and fresh apple slices in small piles or fan shapes to enhance color and freshness.
06 - Place honey or fig jam in a small serving dish with a spoon or honey dipper nearby.
07 - Fill remaining spaces on the board with assorted crackers and sliced baguette.
08 - Serve immediately or cover lightly and refrigerate for up to one hour before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but you'll have it done in 25 minutes flat.
  • Everyone finds something they love on this board, whether they're a cheese person, a nut lover, or someone who just came for the golden sparkle.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and vegetarian, so you're not scrambling to accommodate your guests.
02 -
  • If your almonds aren't moist enough before you dust them with gold, the gold won't stick and you'll have a beautiful mess instead of a beautiful board—trust the water spray.
  • Slice your apples and arrange your board as close to serving time as possible because oxidation will turn them brown, and brown apples are the one thing that makes an otherwise gorgeous board look sad.
03 -
  • Prep everything the night before except the apples and the gold dusting—slice your cheese, portion your nuts, arrange your dried fruit—so on the day of, you're just assembling the final picture.
  • The acorn cutter is the signature move, but honestly, any cookie cutter shape works; I've used stars, hearts, and tiny circles when I couldn't find acorns, and nobody complained.
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