How to Build a Grazing Platter for Any Occasion
Check out how to build an amazing grazing platter suited with breakfast and brunch items for everyone!
I don’t know about anyone else, but my favorite meal of the day is breakfast, and especially when there’s a breakfast grazing platter involved! One Friday evening, I thought of several breakfast grazing platter ideas to bond with my family over a good Saturday morning breakfast. With all that I have on my plate, and as much as I like to cook, I didn’t want to spend copious amounts of time in the kitchen. I thought a great way to put a grazing platter together for our breakfast would be to gather several items that were already made, or that I wouldn’t have to cook. You can use this simple method I’m going to share with you to make your own delicious grazing platter for any occasion. It’ll look beautiful and most of all, it’ll be dressed to impress!
So, what is a grazing platter anyway?
Similar to charcuterie. If you’ve never heard of a charcuterie board, the basis is simple. It’s generally a wooden board filled with cold cut meets and/or various cheeses that are easily hand held. Charcuterie boards are often consumed when paired along with the serving of wine. A grazing platter is similar in concept to a charcuterie board. Though not specific to charcuterie items or cheeses, a grazing platter does have several small bits and pieces of various kinds of foods fit for nibbling, or grazing. I’m a person who loves to graze, and thought it fit to call this kind of board a “grazing board”, “grazing platter”, or even a “grazing plate”.
Think “Small”. When I say “small” I specifically am referring to the cuts of food you place on your grazing board. For example, I have waffles, but they’re cut into hand-held pieces. Whatever you want to add to your breakfast or brunch grazing platter, make sure they are suited for grazing.
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When should you make a grazing platter?
Special Occasions. Grazing platters are great to celebrate special occasions. Baby showers, birthdays, anniversaries, you name it, are all great occasions to break out your skills to make a grazing platter! You can add any kinds of food you want too. Just always think small bites, and elevate your selections where you can for a good experience.
Spending time with kids and the family. When I made this grazing board it was really just to spend time with my family and eat together. My son is a foodie just like me, and he had an awesome time picking out his favorites off this grazing board….and taking bites and placing bitten pieces of food back onto the board too LOL!
For a gift. Making a grazing platter for someone as a “Thank You” or “I’m Thinking of You” is a unique way to get your point across and let’s someone know you really care. Building a grazing platter is really a labor of love.
Making time to pamper yourself. When you get time to yourself, a grazing platter is a great way to indulge. You can make a grazing platter of any size - small to huge. If you’re taking a nice bubble bath make a small grazing platter of assorted chocolates or cheeses to pair with a nice glass of wine! Once you start making grazing platters, or even smaller grazing plates, you’re gonna be hooked!
Here’s what you’ll need to make a grazing platter.
A large tray or board. To create this grazing platter I used this large, beautiful lacquer wood tray. You can use any tray or board that will meet the needs of the size of grazing plate you’re wanting to make.
Small bowls. Small bowls are needed to serve as anchors to not just create dimension in your grazing platter, but also to serve as containers for things like sauces, condiments, or other items.
Spoons. Obviously if you’ve got sauces and condiments, you’ll need spoons for dipping.
Food. Again, you can use any food you like for the theme of your board. For this board I made breakfast and the details on what I placed on my grazing platter are below.
Prep tip: To make a grazing platter of any kind filled with a variety of foods, the key is to spend as little time cooking as you can. Don’t be afraid to buy frozen items you can pop straight into the oven for a quick cook, microwavable items, or even boxed items that can come right out of the package onto your grazing plate! The less work you need to do, the better. You just want everyone to eat up and have a great time!
Holiday-Themed Grazing Platters
Valentines Day
Savory Options
Heart-Shaped Cheese
Heart-Shaped Deli Meat
Sweets
Red Fruits like strawberries, raspberries, and cherries
Pink Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Heart-Shaped Cookies
Chocolate Kisses
Heart-Shaped Gummy Candies
Heart-Shaped Rice Krispies Treats
Pink Candy-Coated Popcorn
Valentine’s Day Puppy Chow
St Patrick’s Day
Savory Options
Guacamole Dip
Vegetables and Dip like Snap Peas, Cucumbers, and Broccoli
Green Tortilla Pinwheels
Mini Pickles
Green Olives
Sweets
Green Twizzlers
Green M&Ms
Cupcakes and Cookies with green frosting or sprinkles
Shamrock cookies
Clover Rice Krispie Treats
Green Candy-Coated Popcorn
Autumn
Stone Fruits like Peaches
Grapes
Apples
Salami and other Deli Meats
Mini Pickles
Assorted Cheeses
Easter
Savory Options
Boiled Eggs or Deviled Eggs
Sausage Links
Bacon
Sweets
Bunny Pancakes with Whipped Cream Tails
Easter Egg Cookies
Fruits like Strawberries and Bananas
Christmas
Peppermint Candies
Ginger Bread Cookies
Chocolate Covered Pretzels
Gourmet Marshmallows
Christmas Candies
Put your grazing platter together with the items below.
Once you try building a grazing platter, feel free to connect with me on Instagram and let me know how it went. I can’t wait to hear from you. Until next time!