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I’m all about finding fun, new ways to entertain, and this Focaccia Charcuterie Board is my latest obsession. It’s a simple yet fun idea that combines the homemade goodness of focaccia with the crowd-pleasing variety of a charcuterie board. This isn’t just another appetizer platter; it’s a laid-back, mix-and-match, 100% edible charcuterie board that’s sure to get everyone talking and nibbling.
Table of Contents
- Recipe At a Glance
- Ingredients to Make A Focaccia Charcuterie Board
- Popular Substitutions & Additions
- How to Make A Charcuterie Board With Focaccia
- Assemble your charcuterie board
- Tips for Making the Best Charcuterie Board with Focaccia
- How to Store Focaccia Charcuterie Board
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Appetizer Recipes:
- Focaccia Charcuterie Board Recipe
When I first tried baking focaccia at home, I was amazed at how a few basic ingredients could turn into something so good. It’s such a versatile bread and tastes amazing with everything! The fluffy, airy texture combined with a slightly crispy crust creates the perfect charcuterie board base for a variety of toppings. Adding the creamy brie cheese in the middle of the focaccia brings a whole new level of flavor – it melts into a gooey, delicious center that’s just so good.
Plus, you get to play around with different cheese slices, meats, candied nuts, grapes, and strawberries, creating a beautiful and tasty spread. It’s the kind of recipe that’s as fun to put together as it is to eat.
Recipe At a Glance
Cuisine Inspiration: Italian
Primary Cooking Method: Baking
Dietary Info: Vegetarian
Key Flavor: Savory & Rich (Brie and Assorted Charcuterie)
Skill Level: Beginner
Summary
- Simple Yet Impressive: Combines the simplicity of baking focaccia with the elegance of a charcuterie spread, making it perfect for both casual and fancy occasions.
- Customizable Creativity: Offers endless possibilities for toppings, allowing you to tailor it to your taste or the theme of your gathering.
- Melted Brie Centerpiece: Features a gooey, melted brie heart, adding a luxurious twist to the classic focaccia.
- Interactive Dining Experience: Creates a shared, interactive eating experience, perfect for engaging in conversation and enjoyment.
Ingredients to Make A Focaccia Charcuterie Board
- Instant Yeast: Instant yeast helps the focaccia dough rise and creates that lovely, airy texture. It’s a key ingredient for ensuring your bread is fluffy.
- All-Purpose Flour: All-purpose flour is versatile and perfect for achieving a soft, chewy focaccia.
- Avocado Oil: This gives the focaccia a light, slightly fruity flavor, and a wonderful crust.
- Brie Cheese: A wheel of brie is placed right in the center of your focaccia, melting beautifully as it bakes.
- Assorted Charcuterie Items: Such as sliced cheeses, meats, candied walnuts, and pecans, along with grapes and strawberries, for decorating and adding variety to your board.
- Fresh Herbs for Garnish: Adding sprigs of rosemary or thyme can elevate the look and add a subtle aroma to your charcuterie board.
Popular Substitutions & Additions
- Go Dairy-Free. Not a fan of brie? Try swapping it with your favorite vegan cheese option. It’ll melt differently but still adds a unique twist to your focaccia.
- Experiment with Oils. If avocado oil isn’t your thing, olive oil is a great substitute. It brings a different, more traditional Mediterranean flavor to the focaccia.
- Add a Flavorful Spread. Think about spreading a thin layer of pesto or sun-dried tomato paste on the focaccia before adding the brie and other toppings. It’ll give an extra flavor kick.
- Try Different Herbs. Instead of rosemary, why not sprinkle some oregano, basil, or thyme? Each herb brings its own unique aroma and taste to the board.
How to Make A Charcuterie Board With Focaccia
First things first, to make the base of your board, you’ll need to bake a fresh batch of focaccia, which in my opinion, is one of the easiest breads to bake!
How to make focaccia dough
- In the bowl of a stand mixer combine warm water, yeast, salt, flour, and some of the avocado oil. Mix until combined.
- Use a spatula to gently shape the dough together until it forms into a neat ball. Cover the bowl with a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel or oiled plastic wrap. Rest the dough at room temperature until puffed and doubled in size.
How to make focaccia with brie
- Transfer your focaccia dough to the prepared pan. Use your fingers to spread it over the surface of the pan until it reaches each edge.
- Drizzle the dough with oil. Using your fingers, gently press dimples all over the surface of the dough.
- Place the wheel of brie in the middle of the focaccia.
- Bake the focaccia until it’s golden brown and fragrant.
Assemble your charcuterie board
- Add the charcuterie items right on top of the baked focaccia around the baked brie!
Tips for Making the Best Charcuterie Board with Focaccia
- Watch the Dough Rise. Keep an eye on your focaccia dough as it rises. The perfect rise makes for a light and airy bread. If your kitchen is cool, it might take a bit longer, but patience is key here.
- Get Creative but Don’t Overcrowd. While it’s fun to add a variety of toppings to your charcuterie board, remember not to overcrowd your focaccia. This allows each ingredient to shine and makes for easier eating.
- Prep Your Brie. Let your brie come to room temperature before adding it to the focaccia. This helps it melt more evenly and blend with the bread’s flavors.
- Add Freshness. Garnish your charcuterie board with fresh herbs or a sprinkle of sea salt just before serving. This small touch makes a big difference in taste and presentation.
- Balance Your Flavors. When selecting items for your charcuterie, aim for a balance of sweet, savory, and tangy flavors to complement the richness of the brie and focaccia.
How to Store Focaccia Charcuterie Board
After enjoying your Focaccia Charcuterie Board, store any leftovers by first removing the charcuterie toppings. Wrap the focaccia bread tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil, or place it in an airtight container. If you have leftover charcuterie items, store them separately according to their type – cheeses in cheese paper or airtight containers, and fruits in a separate container.
How Long Will Focaccia Charcuterie Board Last in the Fridge?
The focaccia bread itself can last in the fridge for up to 3-4 days. However, for the best flavor and texture, it’s ideal to enjoy it within the first 2 days. As for the charcuterie items, their shelf life can vary, so it’s best to check each item individually and consume them accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
To avoid sogginess, add moisture-rich toppings like tomatoes or mozzarella balls right before serving. Also, make sure the focaccia is fully cooled before adding these items.
There are a few reasons this might happen. First, check if your yeast is fresh. Expired yeast can lead to dough not rising. Also, ensure that the water you used was warm but not too hot, as extremely hot water can kill the yeast.
Absolutely! You can prepare the dough and let it rise in the fridge overnight. This slow rise can even enhance the flavor.
For an easy addition to your next gathering, try this Focaccia Charcuterie Board. It’s straightforward to make, and the results will have your guests oohing and awing.
More Appetizer Recipes:
- Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board
- Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter
- Baked Brie Appetizer
- Easy Cheese Board
- Brie Stuffed Meatballs
- Chickpea Stuffed Mushrooms
- Whipped Cottage Cheese Dip
- Lebanese Mezze Board
- Smoked Salmon Board
- Fruit and Butter Board
If you try this feel good Focaccia Charcuterie Board recipe or any other recipe on Feel Good Foodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave a comment below! It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. We would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots, share it on Instagram so we can repost on Stories!
Focaccia Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
For the Brie Focaccia
- 1 ½ cups warm water
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 (4.5-ounce) wheel brie cheese
For the Charcuterie
- Sliced cheeses
- Candied walnuts
- Candied pecans
- Red & green grapes
- Strawberries
- Beef salami
Instructions
- In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine warm water, yeast, salt, flour and ¼ cup of the avocado oil. Beat at high speed until well combined and sticky, about 1 minute. Use a rubber spatula scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.
- Use the spatula to gently shape the dough together until it comes into a neat ball. Cover the bowl with a clean, slightly damp kitchen towel or oiled plastic wrap. Rest the dough at room temperature until puffed and doubled in size, at least 1 hour and up to 12 hours.
- Coat a 10 x 15-inch or 9 x 13-inch sheet pan with 1 tablespoon of the oil. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, using your fingers to spread it over the surface of the pan until it reaches each edge. Cover the dough once again with the kitchen towel or oiled plastic wrap. Rest at room temperature for 30 minutes longer.
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- Drizzle the dough with the final 1 tablespoon of oil. Using your fingers, gently press dimples all over the surface of the dough. Place the wheel of brie in the middle of the focaccia.
- Bake the focaccia until it’s golden brown and fragrant, 25 to 30 minutes. Remove the focaccia from the oven and allow it to cool to the touch for 10 minutes.
- Add the charcuterie items right on top of the baked focaccia around the baked brie. Cut into the brie and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Would this work with gluten-free all-purpose flour?
I haven’t tried making this focaccia bread with gluten-free all-purpose flour but I think it could work. I hope you try it out and let me know how it goes!
Should the focaccia board be precut to simplify serving? Or do the guests just tear a piece off and add what they want to it?
I usually have guests tear pieces off but you could precut or have knives handy for guests to cut their own pieces. Whatever works best!
Do you have to use a stand up mixer? I don’t have one but would love to make this bread.
You don’t! A hand mixer will work here too.