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Turkey-Shaped Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board

This Thanksgiving charcuterie board is arranged to look like a turkey, with a pear centerpiece and salami-and-cheddar tail feathers. Fill the 18x12-inch board with crackers, fruit, and almonds for a festive appetizer.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 440
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the turkey
  • 1 pear medium
  • 2 black olives pitted
  • 1 carrot small
  • 1 cranberry dried
For the tail feathers
  • 8 oz salami thinly sliced
  • 1 block (8 oz) sharp cheddar chilled
For the board
  • 6 oz crackers
  • 2 cups green grapes washed and dried
  • 0.5 cup dried apricots
  • 0.5 cup roasted almonds
  • 2 sprigs rosemary fresh

Equipment

  • 1 18x12-inch serving board

Method
 

Make the turkey
  1. Halve the pear lengthwise.
  2. Place one half cut-side down near the center of an 18x12-inch serving board, with its narrow end pointing up.
  3. Cut the other half into slices and set them aside for the board.
  4. Cut two thin slices from the olives for eyes.
  5. Place the olive slices near the narrow end of the pear.
  6. Cut a small triangle from the cheddar for a beak.
  7. Place the cheddar triangle between the eyes.
  8. Cut two 2-inch sticks from the carrot for feet.
  9. Arrange the carrot sticks below the pear.
  10. Cut the remaining carrot into sticks.
  11. Split the cranberry and place one piece beside the beak as a wattle.
Arrange the tail feathers
  1. Fan the salami in a semicircle behind the pear, overlapping the slices.
  2. Cut the remaining cheddar into thin triangles and tuck them between the salami slices.
Fill the board
  1. Arrange the reserved pear slices, carrot sticks, crackers, grapes, dried apricots, and almonds around the turkey, filling open spaces without covering the tail.
  2. Tuck the rosemary sprigs along the board's edges and serve.

Notes

For clean cheddar triangles, keep the cheddar chilled until cutting. Refrigerate leftovers in a covered container for up to 2 days; this board is not suitable for freezing. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free crackers.