Jarcuterie is the cutest spin on the ever-popular charcuterie boards that are forever loved by families and party-goers across the world! Charcuterie Jars make for the most delicious way to entertain.
Instead of a board or platter, charcuterie elements are served in individual containers or jars.
It’s the best kind of self-serve appetizer, and it might just be the cutest hors d’oeuvre you’ll ever see!
These darling jarcuterie appetizers are sure to be a new favorite with all your friends and family.
They’re perfect to serve for a happy hour gathering, or even served fireside with blankets and toasty cocktails or wine! They are also wonderful for showers, and for New Year’s Eve.
Charcuterie is the art of assembling cured meats, but it’s often paired with a wide variety of other foods. As you can see throughout these images, the options are endless!
Jarcuterie
What is jarcuterie? Jarcuterie are personal charcuterie boards wrapped up into a jar for easy grazing!
They’re also known as graze cups or graze bouquets. Whatever you call them, they’re the best food idea (along with Hot Chocolate Bombs) to come out of the past couple years.
They’re packed full of all of your favorite fruits, cheese and crackers, meats, olives, herbs and even fruits and veggies. The options are endless! You can even include my miniature Cheese Ball Bites.
There are no rules for charcuterie, whether it’s served in an adorable jarcuterie format, traditional charcuterie board, or as a festive cheese and crackers display.
It’s a beautiful starter than can easily be enjoyed as a meal in and of itself! It’s well balanced, wholesome, and such a deliciously beautiful opportunity for creativity.
Why You’ll Love these Charcuterie Jars
- Easy to serve, easy to enjoy!
- Pretty
- Individual servings
- Can be prepared ahead
- Customizable
Ingredients and Substitutions
The options are endless, but these are some amazing suggestions to make it your own!
- Cheese – A beautiful wedge, cubes on a skewer or a miniature brie
- Meats – Cured meats including genoa salami, prosciutto, capicola, soppressata, calabrese, mortadella, pepperoni and more.
- Fruits – Blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, dried orange or apricots are beautiful options. You can even include an individual fruit skewer for a beautiful and festive touch.
- Olives – it’s so easy to get creative with a variety of stuffed olive flavors!
- Gherkins
- Crackers
- Breadsticks
- Crostini
- Pretzels
- Herbs – Rosemary and thyme are beautiful and versatile.
- Nuts – Almonds, pecans, walnuts or candied nuts are all great options.
Tools + Supplies
- Jars – We used these hexagon jars and these jelly jars for the two jarcuterie versions shown in this post.
- Heart Crackers
- Christmas Tree Crackers
- Star Crackers
- Mini Star and Heart Cookie Cutters
How to Make Jarcuterie
- First, fill the base of the jar or cup with nuts and fruits like grapes.
- Next, add crackers, crostini or breadsticks in the back.
- Add fruits, cheeses, cured meats, olives and or gherkins to skewers and place in front at varying heights.
- Garnish with fresh herbs for a pop of color and fragrance.
Tips
- Keep it small, these are intended to be personalized servings
- Vary the height to create visual interest
- Add a variety of colors and textures
- Garnish with an herb
- Use skewers as needed
- Add an edible flower for garnish for Valentine’s or spring and summer occasions
Frequently Asked Questions
They’re customizable offering an array of options to suit everyone. It’s the perfect way to showcase cured meats with accompaniments to highlight them.
Historically a French term, charcuterie is pronounced “shar-koo-tuh-ree”) and is the creative art of preparing and presenting cured meats.
Serving Suggestions
- Wrap a bow around it to make it a graze bouquet
- Use clear plastic cups for to-go options
- Garnish with a decorative party pic for the occasion
- Wrap jar or cup in a cellophane bag for transport
- Cut cheeses or fruits into shapes (see Fresh Fruit Skewers for ideas!)
- Wrap meats into flower shapes, roll or thread on skewers
- Deliver with wine or champagne for New Year’s Eve, Valentine’s Day (aka Galentine’s) or a girls’ night in!
How to Store
- Room Temperature – Most of the items in charcuterie boards and jars can be left out at room temperature for up to two hours while serving.
- Refrigerator – After serving, store the leftover cheeses, fruits and meats from any remaining jars for up to 2-3 days in the fridge.
More Easy Appetizers
Jarcuterie
Ingredients
- 8 ounces cheese wedges, cubes and miniatures
- 4 ounces meat capicola, mortadella, salami, prosciutto
- 1 cup nuts candied, almonds, cashews, pecans or walnuts
- 1 cup fruits dried or fresh
- herbs rosemary or thyme
- 8 crackers breadsticks, pretzels, or crostini
Instructions
- In a jar or plastic cup, layer nuts, fruits and cheeses to fill the cup.
- Add fruits and cheeses on skewers at varying heights.
- Garnish with a cracker and herb.
Julie’s Tips
Tips
- Keep it small, these are intended to be personalized servings
- Vary the height to create visual interest
- Add a variety of colors and textures
- Garnish with an herb
- Use skewers as needed
- Add an edible flower for garnish for Valentine’s or spring and summer occasions
- See the tools + supplies section under the ingredients in the post for links to jars and crackers.
Video
Estimated nutrition information is provided as a courtesy and is not guaranteed.
Would you please let me know what size jars and where you found them. Also where dod you get Christmas tree crackers? Thank you love your ideas
Hi Carla,
We just updated this post to include that information. I hope that’s helpful to you!
Enjoy, and happy holidays!
Julie