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–+ servings
Full breakfast charcuterie board on a wooden tray with bagels, croissants, waffles, yogurt, bacon, cheese, fruit, muffins, and donuts.

Breakfast Charcuterie Board

40aprons.com/breakfast-charcuterie-board/
This simple breakfast charcuterie board is your stress-free entertaining solution! Loaded with fresh bagels, flaky croissants, golden waffles, and all the fixings from cream cheese to smoked salmon, it's a gorgeous and tasty spread ideal for holiday brunches, family gatherings, or lazy weekend mornings.
Prep 20 minutes
Total 20 minutes
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 12

Equipment

  • Large serving board, platter, or cutting board minimum 18 x 24 inches
  • 9-12 small to medium bowls various sizes for toppings and spreads
  • Honey dipper
  • Small pitcher or gravy boat
  • Spoons for serving one per bowl
  • Butter knives or small spreaders one per spread

Ingredients

Carb Bases

  • 6 to 8 bagels (variety of flavors)
  • 4 to 6 croissants
  • 6 to 8 waffles (homemade or frozen, toasted)
  • 4 to 6 donuts (or 12 to 16 donut holes)

Spreads and Toppings

  • 16 to 24 ounces cream cheese (2 to 3 flavors)
  • ½ cup jam (or preserves)
  • ½ cup peanut butter (or almond butter)
  • ¼ cup butter (softened or in pats)
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons honey
  • ½ cup maple syrup

Proteins

  • 4 ounces smoked salmon
  • 8 to 10 strips bacon (cooked crispy)
  • 4 to 6 slices cheese (cheddar, swiss, or muenster)

Yogurt Bar

  • 2 cups plain Greek yogurt
  • 2 cups vanilla yogurt
  • 1 cup granola
  • ½ cup sliced almonds

Fresh Additions

  • 1 cup fresh strawberries
  • ½ cup fresh raspberries
  • ½ cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 small cluster grapes
  • ½ red onion (thinly sliced)
  • 2 tablespoons capers

Optional Additions

  • 4 to 6 muffins (blueberry or chocolate chip)
  • 2 to 3 cinnamon rolls
  • 4 to 6 hard-boiled eggs (sliced into rounds)
  • 1 tomato (sliced)

Instructions

Prep the Board and Add Bowls

  • Line a large serving board or platter (at least 18 x 24 inches) with parchment paper for easy cleanup, or place on a large kitchen towel to catch crumbs.
  • Fill 2 to 3 small bowls with 8 ounces of cream cheese each (try plain, vegetable, and strawberry for variety).
  • Scoop 2 cups of plain Greek yogurt into one medium bowl and 2 cups of vanilla yogurt into another medium bowl.
  • Fill additional small bowls with ½ cup of jam, ½ cup of peanut butter or almond butter, ¼ cup of butter (softened or in pats), 2 tablespoons of capers, 1 cup of granola, and ½ cup of sliced almonds.
  • Place bowls strategically across board, spacing them evenly so there's a bowl every 6 to 8 inches. These are your anchor points.

Add the Carb Bases

  • Toast 6 to 8 bagels until lightly golden (or leave fresh if preferred), and arrange in small stacks or singles in spaces around bowls.
  • Place 4 to 6 croissants in remaining spaces. Leave whole or slice a few in half for sandwich-making.
  • Stack 6 to 8 waffles (homemade or toasted frozen) in groups of 2 to 3 around bowls.
  • Scatter 4 to 6 donuts or 12 to 16 donut holes in remaining spaces between larger items.

Add the Proteins and Toppings

  • Arrange 4 ounces of smoked salmon in elegant folds or rolls near bagels and cream cheese.
  • Fan out 8 to 10 strips of cooked crispy bacon across one section.
  • Thinly slice ½ of a red onion and separate rings. Place near salmon.
  • Add 4 to 6 slices of cheese (cheddar, swiss, or muenster) folded or stacked near croissants.
  • Optional: Place 4 to 6 hard-boiled eggs (sliced into rounds) and 1 sliced tomato near croissants and bagels for sandwich-making.

Fill in With Fruits and Sweets

  • Cluster 1 cup of fresh strawberries (whole or halved), ½ cup of fresh raspberries, ½ cup of fresh blueberries, and 1 small cluster of grapes in empty spaces between larger items.
  • Optional: Place 4 to 6 muffins (blueberry or chocolate chip) in a small stack. Add 2 to 3 cinnamon rolls if desired.
  • Tuck small handfuls of sliced almonds and granola in any remaining gaps to create abundance.

Add the Finishing Touches

  • Place a small bowl with 2 to 3 tablespoons of honey on the board with a honey dipper for guests to drizzle their own. Alternatively, drizzle honey over yogurt bowls before serving for presentation.
  • Set out a small pitcher with ½ cup of maple syrup near waffles.
  • Add a butter knife or small spreader to each bowl of spread. Place a small serving spoon in yogurt bowls.
  • Step back and look at board. Fill any large empty spaces with more fruit, an extra donut, or additional toppings.
  • Serve immediately and enjoy!

Recipe Notes

Make it Dairy-Free: Replace cream cheese with dairy-free cream cheese, use coconut yogurt instead of regular yogurt, and swap butter for vegan butter. Everything else stays the same.
Make it Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free bagels, waffles, and muffins. Add more fruit and yogurt to make up for fewer bread options.
Make it Protein-Packed: Double the bacon and smoked salmon, add turkey sausage links, hard-boiled eggs, and protein-rich nut butters. Include Greek yogurt with higher protein content and add some string cheese or cheese cubes.
Storage: Leftover bagels and croissants can be wrapped tightly and frozen for up to 3 months. Opened cream cheese and yogurt stay fresh in the fridge for 7-10 days. Smoked salmon should be consumed within 3 days once opened. Store leftover waffles individually wrapped in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Make Ahead: Prep all components the night before (slice onions, cook bacon, portion cream cheese, wash fruit) and store covered in the fridge. Assemble the board 15-30 minutes before serving for best freshness.
Scaling: This board serves 8-12 people for a full breakfast, or 15-20 as part of a larger brunch spread. For smaller groups (4-6 people), cut all quantities in half. For larger gatherings, multiply the recipe as needed.

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Net Carbs: 0g
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://40aprons.com/breakfast-charcuterie-board/