Vegetarian Halloween Grazing Board

This killer vegetarian Halloween grazing board is a fun and spooky way to get you into the Halloween spirit. It makes an impressive and more adult, savory affair, just perfect to balance all the sugary snacks you’ve been eating.

If you’re familiar with cheese boards, you are going to love this Halloween version. It may seem a little intimidating at first, but it is actually fun and easy to assemble. Here’s my version, made entirely vegetarian, with real ingredients only (no candies, sugary treats or artificial flavors). This adulthood version makes a great appetizer board for a cozy Halloween party at home or a movie night.

What is a Halloween grazing board?

The Halloween grazing board is the same theory as a cheese board or a charcuterie board. It’s a generous smorgasbord and a lovely array of little bites that look very inviting, and are perfect for any appetizer or potluck party.

The Halloween version features some non edible items for decoration to set the tone for a spooky atmosphere. Make them appear in a subtle and discrete way, just enough to make you shiver when seeing them on top of this elegant cheese platter.

1/ Gather the non edible items you need

First thing first, choose the board or the platter. Anything from a wooden board or a marble board will do. And if the only thing you have is a baking tray, then be it!

Then, you will need a few Halloween and fall props to make your Halloween grazing board. A few ideas include:

• Mini pumpkins of choice in different colors. I like to mix white and orange mini pumpkins (check these 10 mini pumpkin varieties for more inspiration).
• Realistic plastic skeleton arm, hand or skull for decoration.
• Mini spider webs and plastic spiders (I recommend these ones, but if you need some for your Halloween garden decoration, simply use the leftovers of a bigger bag).
• Edible candy eyeballs (I used and always use these ones).
• 1 black marker (optional). I used mine to write R.I.P. on the coffin.

2/ The cheese selection

Like for a classic cheese board, try to choose different cheese varieties based on their types. There is no right or wrong really, but if you need some guidelines, here’s what I used and why:

• Camembert and Brie. Both are soft cheese, and I used one to shape the coffin.
• Parmesan cheese. I like this firm, granulated cheese that is easy to crumble. Perfect to make you believe that a mouse nibbled the cheese here and there.
• Blue cheese. Because it’s mold! Any kind would do, just pick your favorite.
• Cheddar cheese. For the orange color. I used a marble cheddar.
• Mini mozzarella balls. I like to use them because they look like gigantic eyeballs.

Display the cheeses on the board, and start slicing them to make them more inviting on the grazing board. You can also use foot shaped cookie cutter to make foot prints with slices of cheese. This works great with cheddar for instance.

3/ Add seasonal fruits (& vegetables)

Next, you will want to add fresh seasonal fruits on the grazing board. I used grapes, satsuma mandarins, pomegranate seeds, a mix of olives and some habanero peppers (for decoration only; be careful they’re hot!). Sliced apples, pears, and halved figs would also be beautiful on the platter.

4/ Garnish with crackers and nuts

Finally garnish the empty spots on the Halloween grazing board with some crackers of choice (plain, with seeds, with herbs) and a mix of nuts (I used walnuts, pecans and almonds). Don’t forget the Halloween decoration props and you’re good to go!

What else could you add to your grazing board?

This is the basic and easiest version of a cheese grazing board for Halloween. It’s frugal and offers some delicious appetizer options to your guests.

Now there are plenty of other vegetarian ideas to pimp up your grazing board. If you have more time ahead of you and want to make sure that no one leaves the room hungry, consider adding  this Carrot and Turmeric Hummus, maybe a Sweet Potato Toasts with Kale Guacamole or a Smoky Red Lentil Dip, or simply a Guacamole. And if you want to go the extra mile, why don’t you add homemade crackers with seeds?

More Halloween recipe ideas

Here are a few Halloween recipe ideas for your little ones:

• Haunted House Halloween Cake
• PB & J Mummy Hand Pies
• Chewy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Eggless Brownie Batter Dip with Cinnamon Pita Chips
• Easy Chocolate Frosted Donuts

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