Snacks for St Patrick's Day: 5 Easy Grazing Boards That Are Wow-Worthy + Delicious
The key to serving fun, festive party fare that takes your St Patrick's Day gathering to the next level without much fuss? Whipping up an easy-made snack board! Inspired by French charcuterie boards (or fancy meat and cheese platters), these five gorgeous grazing boards double as tabletop decor for your celebration. And they couldn't be easier to make. From a candy board to an Irish cheese board to a butter board, these snacks for St Patrick's Day are sure to delight. Read on for the simple how-to's.
Snacks for St Patrick's Day Idea #1: Sweet & savory board
“While creating this rainbow-hued board, I was inspired by all the vivid colors of my ingredients,” says Jessica Snead (@petalandplatter on Instagram). “This one is fun to look at and devour!” To make this platter, grab an oval wooden cutting board. Then follow Snead’s lead and start with fruits like strawberries, oranges, grapes, star fruit, dried kiwi, blueberries and blackberries. Next, cut veggies like red bell pepper slices, carrot chips and cherry tomatoes. Add deli meats (rolled into rose shapes), cheeses, dips and sweet bite-size snacks like Jordan almonds, macarons and pistachios. Group them together in vertical rows on an oval cutting board in rainbow order.
Snacks for St Patrick's Day Idea #2: Irish meat & cheese board
For Emerald Isle–inspired flavor and flair, serve up an Irish charcuterie board! Many of the world’s finest cheeses come from Ireland. Our favorites? Sharp Cahill Cheddar, pungent Cashel Blue and nutty, smooth Dubliner. To do: Swing by your supermarket for wedges, rounds or shamrock-shaped Irish cheeses. Arrange on the edges of a slate serving board and surround with sliced meats, grapes, green apples, a cup of cornichons, crackers and almonds.
Snacks for St Patrick's Day Idea #3: Rainbow candy board
“A candy board is a blast for both kids and kids-at-heart,” says Erika Dibble, creator behind @saratogagrazingco on Instagram. “And this vibrant display brightens up any St. Patrick’s Day spread!” To get the look, gather gummy candies in red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. Arrange them by hue in a curved rainbow shape on a paddle-like wooden board. For a “pot of gold,” set a mini cauldron and Rolo candies at one end of the rainbow. Add meringue “clouds” at the other end.
Snacks for St Patrick's Day Idea #4: Irish butter board
Make Irish butter — a deliciously creamy butter that has a higher butterfat content than regular butter — a star of your snack spread by serving it up on a trendy "butter board." To make a butter board with Irish flair, use a butter knife or spatula to spread softened Irish butter in a rectangular shape on your board. Add a drizzle of clover honey and microgreens. Display next to toasted baguette slices that guests can use to swipe up the delicious flavor combos.
Snacks for St Patrick's Day Idea #5: Colorful fruit board
A “char-fruit-erie” board, like this one made by Suzanne Cross of A Board Above in Orchard Park, New York (@aboardabove716 on Instagram), can double as a centerpiece. To make, line up colorful cut and whole fruit in a rainbow pattern on a round serving board. Fun options: pomegranate arils, raspberries, mandarin orange slices, pineapple, kiwi, green grapes, blueberries and blackberries. Add sliced banana “clouds” at each end. Tint store-bought fruit dip green with food coloring, then spoon into heart-shaped bowls arranged in a four-leaf clover shape. Top dip with colorful green sprinkles. Add chocolate coins to board to finish.
For more easy St. Patrick's Day recipes, click through these stories:
Beyond Corned Beef: This Traditional St. Patrick’s Day Recipe Is Irish Chef’s Favorite
2 Simple Tricks to Make the Tastiest Corned Beef and Cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day
These 7 Irish Drinks Are Delicious + Authentic — Perfect to Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day