4th of July Charcuterie Board

Looking for a festive showstopper for your 4th of July party? This red, white, and blue charcuterie board is part snack tray, part edible art, and all kinds of fun. It features a buttercream-piped American flag star surrounded by salty and sweet treats like Chex Mix, popcorn, cookies, strawberries, and chocolate bars. It’s perfect for patriotic holidays, BBQs, or summer gatherings – and it’s easier to pull off than it looks!

Whether you’re hosting a crowd or just bringing the wow factor to the table, this board serves up fun for all ages. And with our step-by-step instructions and pro tips, you’ll nail it on your first try.

• 7 oz buttercream frosting, softened to room temperature

• Red food gel coloring

• Navy blue food gel coloring

• Chex Mix

• Popcorn

• Shortbread cookies

• Fresh strawberries

• Chocolate bars (break them into smaller pieces)

• Red, white, and blue sprinkles

Yields: 1 charcuterie board (serves up to 10 if snacking lightly)

1. Color the Frosting

Divide the buttercream into three small bowls. Place a slightly larger amount in the bowl for white, and tint the other two using a few drops of red and blue gel coloring. Fold gently with a spatula to combine. Add color gradually – gel is potent and can affect the texture if overused.

Tip: Mix with a folding motion to avoid air bubbles that can ruin the look of your piped dots.

2. Set Up Your Piping Bags

Fit your 4B piping tip into a piping bag. Snip a small hole first (you can always enlarge it), and pull the tip through halfway. Fill separate piping bags with red, white, and blue frosting. Use clips or rubber bands to seal the tops.

Pro Tip: Use a tall glass to hold your piping bags open while filling them. Twist and secure the tops to prevent frosting leaks!

Use a separate tip for each color, or rinse the tip with warm water and dry it well between color switches.

3. Prepare the Strawberries

Wash and dry your strawberries, then slice them with a serrated knife for neat, uniform pieces. Treat with lemon juice to keep them looking fresh, then pat dry before adding to the board.

4. Pipe the Star Design

Start with white frosting. Pipe a dot near the top center of your board to mark the top of your star. Add a column of 5 dots downward, then build out the arms and legs of the star with more rows of dots. Fill in the shape, leaving the top left section empty.

Switch to the blue frosting and fill in the empty section of the star. Clean the piping tip or swap it before using red. Add red stripes across the white portion to create a flag-inspired design.

If you feel unsure, you can always practice on parchment paper first.

5. Build Your Snack Board

• Fill in the spaces around your star with Chex Mix, especially in the corners and crevices.
• Add popcorn near the edges.
• Place shortbread cookies on each corner of the board, then tuck strawberry slices between them.
• Distribute chocolate pieces throughout.
• Sprinkle the red, white, and blue blend over the blue section for a finishing touch.

You can use bowls for loose snacks like Chex Mix or popcorn to keep things tidy. The charcuterie board will look best (and make snacking easier) if you group similar items together.

• Provide napkins, small plates, and tongs or spoons for guests.
• Keep the board out of direct sunlight or heat to prevent frosting from melting.
• If making ahead, pipe the star and refrigerate. Add strawberries and sprinkles right before serving.