Pink and Red Themed Board

Ingredients for Pink and Red Themed Board

I always start my shopping trip at the specialty cheese counter because those unique items anchor the whole board visually. My go-to store is Trader Joe’s for their interesting flavored cream cheeses and that gorgeous cranberry stilton that photographs so well. Pro tip for selecting watermelon: choose seedless varieties and tap the outside listening for a hollow sound, which indicates ripeness and good water content.

For the Cheese Selection:

• 8 ounces strawberry cream cheese (let sit at room temperature 15-20 minutes before serving)
• 6 ounces cranberry stilton cheese (or any cheese with visible red cranberries) – I recommend asking the cheese counter staff for samples before buying
• 6 ounces red wax gouda cheese (the bright red wax coating adds beautiful color impact)

For the Meat Selection:

• 4 ounces red pepper salami (thinly sliced)
• 4 ounces pepperoni (regular sliced, to be cut into hearts) – My preference is using 2-3 inch cookie cutters for best proportion

For the Fruit Selection:

• 1 pink grapefruit (segmented, seedless Ruby Red variety works best)
• 2 cups watermelon (seedless, cut into heart shapes using cookie cutters) – In my experience, chilling watermelon in the fridge before cutting makes cleaner, crisper shapes
• 1 cup fresh raspberries (choose firm berries without any white mold or soft spots)

For the Sweet Elements:

• 12 red velvet cookies (store-bought from bakery section or homemade)
• ½ cup strawberry jam (placed in small decorative serving bowl)
• 1 cup pink yogurt-covered pretzels – I usually find these in the bulk candy or snack aisle

For Decoration:

• 1 large red or pink serving platter (12 to 14 inches diameter works perfectly)
• 2 tablespoons heart-shaped confetti (must be food-safe, check packaging labels)
• 3 to 5 mini faux roses (for decoration around board edges only)

Step-by-Step Instructions

I recommend laying out all your ingredients on the counter before you start so you can visualize color distribution and plan your arrangement before committing items to the board.

Step 1: Select your largest red or pink serving platter as the foundation. Place a small decorative bowl filled with strawberry jam in an off-center position rather than dead center, which creates a more dynamic, professionally styled look that draws the eye naturally around the board.

Step 2: Arrange your three cheeses in different sections of the board, spacing them evenly in a loose triangle pattern for visual balance. Cut the cranberry stilton and red wax gouda into bite-sized slices or small cubes for easy guest serving. Leave the strawberry cream cheese as a spreadable mound with a small cheese spreader or butter knife placed nearby.

Step 3: To make salami roses, fold each slice in half, then roll it tightly starting from one end, securing the bottom while letting the top fan out like petals. Alternatively, fan salami slices out decoratively in overlapping clusters. Use your 2-3 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to punch heart shapes from pepperoni slices, working on a cutting board to keep your board clean. Arrange pepperoni hearts in small piles of 3-5 near the cheese sections.

Step 4: Use your heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut watermelon into festive shapes, working over a cutting board or plate to catch the juice. Segment your pink grapefruit by first cutting away all peel and white pith, then carefully sliding your knife along each membrane to release individual segments. Arrange watermelon hearts standing slightly upright for dimension, tuck grapefruit segments into gaps, and cluster fresh raspberries in groups of 5-7 between cheese and meat sections.

Step 5: Place red velvet cookies in a neat row along one edge of the board or stack them in a small tower for height variation. Scatter pink yogurt-covered pretzels throughout all remaining gaps, filling the board completely to create that abundant, overflowing look that makes charcuterie boards so appealing.

Step 6: Scatter heart-shaped confetti very sparingly across the board, using just enough for festive accent without overwhelming the food. Tuck mini faux roses around the outer edges of the platter or carefully between food clusters, making absolutely certain the decorative flowers don’t touch any food directly for safety and sanitary reasons.

Perfect Pairings for Your Pink and Red Themed Board

This colorful Valentine’s board pairs beautifully with beverages and dishes that enhance the romantic theme without competing visually with your carefully curated color palette.

Rosé or Pink Champagne: Bubbly pink wine creates perfect color coordination with your board while providing refreshing acidity that cuts through rich cheese and complements both sweet and savory elements. The effervescence also feels celebratory and special for Valentine’s occasions.

Sparkling Water with Strawberry Garnish: For guests who prefer non-alcoholic options, sparkling water with fresh strawberry slices continues the pink theme and provides a refreshing palate cleanser between bites of rich cheese and sweet treats.

Chocolate Fondue Station: A small pot of melted dark or white chocolate gives guests an interactive dipping element for strawberries and cookies. For more dessert inspiration, try our caramel apple cheesecake bars as an additional sweet offering.

Assorted Crackers and Bread: Plain water crackers, butter crackers, or toasted crostini provide neutral vehicles for the flavored cheeses without adding competing colors to your pink and red palette. Garlic bread rolls make an excellent savory accompaniment.

Fresh Baguette Slices: Thinly sliced toasted baguette adds satisfying crunch and serves as a neutral canvas for spreading the strawberry cream cheese or building mini sandwiches with salami and cheese combinations.

Presentation and Serving Tips

This pink and red themed board is best served fresh within 2 hours of final assembly to maintain optimal cheese texture, fruit freshness, and overall visual appeal. If you need to prepare components ahead, you can cut the watermelon hearts and arrange cheese and meats up to 2 hours early, then add delicate elements like grapefruit segments, raspberries, and decorative confetti just before guests arrive.

Store any leftover board components separately in the refrigerator after removing all decorative confetti and faux roses completely. Cover cheese and meats loosely with plastic wrap or transfer to airtight containers. Cheese and cured meats will keep for 3 to 5 days when properly stored, while cut watermelon and fresh fruit should be consumed within 24 hours for best quality and food safety.

Pro tip: photograph your finished board immediately after assembly while everything looks pristine and untouched, before guests start picking at it. Natural window light during daytime works much better than harsh overhead lighting for capturing those vibrant pinks and reds accurately. I recommend letting your strawberry cream cheese sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before serving so it becomes soft and spreadable enough to easily spread on crackers without tearing them.

FAQs

Pink and Red Themed Board

A monochromatic Valentine’s Day charcuterie board featuring pink and red cheeses, meats, fruits, and sweets arranged on a festive platter for Instagram-worthy presentation.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 0 minutes mins

Total Time 20 minutes mins

Servings: 10 portions

Course: Appetizer, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Calories: 265

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

• 8 oz strawberry cream cheese let sit at room temperature 15 to 20 minutes before serving
• 6 oz cranberry stilton cheese or any cheese with visible red cranberries
• 6 oz red wax gouda cheese red wax coating adds color
• 4 oz red pepper salami thinly sliced
• 4 oz pepperoni regular sliced, to be cut into heart shapes
• 1 pink grapefruit segmented, seedless Ruby Red variety
• 2 cups watermelon seedless, cut into heart shapes, chilled before cutting
• 1 cup fresh raspberries firm berries without mold or soft spots
• 12 red velvet cookies store-bought or homemade
• 0.5 cup strawberry jam for small decorative serving bowl
• 1 cup pink yogurt-covered pretzels
• 2 tbsp heart-shaped confetti food-safe only, not craft confetti
• 3 mini faux roses for decoration around board edges only

Equipment

• Large red or pink serving platter (12 to 14 inches diameter)
• Small decorative serving bowls for jam
• Heart-shaped cookie cutters (2 to 3 inches, various sizes)
• Cheese knives and spreaders
• Cutting board

Method

 

1. Select your largest red or pink serving platter (12 to 14 inches) as the foundation. Place a small decorative bowl filled with strawberry jam in an off-center position for dynamic visual appeal.
2. Arrange your three cheeses in different sections of the board, spacing them evenly in a loose triangle pattern. Cut the cranberry stilton and red wax gouda into bite-sized slices or small cubes. Leave the strawberry cream cheese as a spreadable mound with a cheese spreader nearby.
3. To make salami roses, fold each slice in half, then roll it tightly starting from one end. Alternatively, fan salami slices decoratively. Use 2 to 3 inch heart-shaped cookie cutter to punch heart shapes from pepperoni slices. Arrange pepperoni hearts in small piles of 3 to 5 near cheese sections.
4. Use heart-shaped cookie cutters to cut watermelon into festive shapes over a cutting board. Segment pink grapefruit by cutting away all peel and pith, then sliding knife along membranes to release segments. Arrange watermelon hearts standing upright for dimension, tuck grapefruit segments into gaps, and cluster raspberries in groups between cheese and meat sections.
5. Place red velvet cookies in a neat row along one edge or stack them for height. Scatter pink yogurt-covered pretzels throughout all remaining gaps to fill the board completely.
6. Scatter heart-shaped confetti sparingly across the board for festive accent. Tuck mini faux roses around outer edges, making absolutely certain decorative flowers don’t touch any food directly.

Notes

Use food-safe confetti only. Keep faux roses away from food contact. Let cream cheese sit at room temperature 15 to 20 minutes before serving. Best served fresh within 2 hours. Can assemble up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerate. Remove decorative elements before refrigerating. Serves 8 to 10 as appetizer portions. Not suitable for freezing.