Breakfast Charcuterie Board (Easy Brunch Board with Mini Pancakes)
This Breakfast Charcuterie Board is a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch idea for Christmas morning, holiday gatherings, birthdays, showers, or other special occasions when you want to feed a crowd without spending the whole morning at the stove. Mini pancake skewers star on this brunch charcuterie board, and the whole thing comes together in about 30 minutes. It’s festive, budget-friendly, totally customizable, and a fun way to serve brunch to the whole family!
Breakfast Charcuterie Board
I love charcuterie boards… and a breakfast charcuterie board might just be my favorite kind!
Traditional charcuterie boards and cheese boards usually focus on cured meats and a fancy cheese platter, but this breakfast platter swaps in your favorite breakfast foods.
Think of it as one big, colorful breakfast spread where pancakes, fresh fruit, and savory items all share the same board, so everyone can grab their breakfast favorites. Make the little pancakes ahead, pile everything onto one big board, and let everyone dig in.
And those mini pancake skewers… they’re the star of the show and SO cute! Stacking tiny pancakes and fresh berries on cocktail picks is such a fun twist on the classic pancake experience, and they’re the perfect size for little hands.
You still get the comforting taste of fluffy pancakes, just in miniature form and the whole family… or all of your party guests will love these!
For a delightful twist on Christmas morning or Christmas Day, I added a little banana snowman with strawberry hats (more on him below). He’s completely optional, but he makes everybody smile!
I’m sharing exactly how I put my board together, but you don’t have to copy it. Use whatever fruit is on sale, whatever breakfast meat your family likes, and make it your own.
How to Make a Breakfast Charcuterie Board (Video)
Why You’ll Love This Breakfast Board
It feeds a crowd. This simple brunch charcuterie board serves about 15 people, so it’s perfect for holiday mornings, birthday brunches, a baby shower, bridal shower, Mother’s Day brunch, and church get-togethers. It’s such a fun board, and it looks way fancier than it actually is!
You can prep almost everything ahead. You can cook the pancakes, bacon, sausage, and eggs ahead of time, so putting the board together is really just arranging. That makes it a great, easy breakfast option for busy mornings too.
Everybody gets what they like. With such a variety of foods, picky eaters can skip what they don’t want and load up on what they do. Kids especially love picking out their own bite-sized wonders and dipping them in syrup!
It’s an easy charcuterie board for beginners. Once you know the basic steps, this easy breakfast board is honestly the easiest way to take brunch to the next level. Everything is bite-sized for easy serving, and it’s always a crowd favorite!
Brunch Charcuterie Board
This easy brunch charcuterie board is my favorite way to feed a crowd, whether it’s a holiday morning or a casual weekend. Start with the larger items and hot foods, then tuck in smaller bowls of jam, syrup, and dips.
Finger foods like buttermilk biscuits are a great addition, and all the different colors of fresh fruit make it a great brunch board that every breakfast fan will love! Keep reading for all the details of how I assemble my board.
Tools Needed
- Large wooden board or tray (mine is 19×14, but any big board, serving tray, or even a baking sheet will work… large boards just give you more room to play)
- A piece of parchment paper to line the board (optional, but it makes cleanup so much easier)
- Sharp knife or kitchen scissors to slice fruit and portion cheeses
- Small star cookie cutter (for the cheese stars)
- Cheese knives or small spreaders for the cream cheese and jam
- Cocktail picks
- Small serving bowls for the jam, granola, and dips
- Small pitcher for the maple syrup
- Small cast iron skillet for the sausage (optional, but so cute)
- Griddle or large non-stick skillet, large mixing bowl, whisk, and a squeeze bottle for the pancakes
Ingredients
Here’s everything I used on my board, but feel free to swap in whatever your family loves. If you have to go shopping, everything can be found at your local grocery store.
- Mini pancakes – Make a batch of fluffy mini pancakes with my Mini Pancakes recipe. In a pinch, frozen silver dollar pancakes work too!
- Crispy bacon – cooked until nice and crispy – I love to bake big batches in the oven! Want to get fancy? Make bacon roses!
- Sausage links – or patties, whichever your family likes
- Hard-boiled eggs – you can do these in your pressure cooker
- Kiwis – for the pretty kiwi flowers
- Cuties – or any clementines or mandarins
- Grapes – red, green, or both
- Fresh berries – I used blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, and cranberries (fresh cranberries are pretty tart, so they’re mostly there for those gorgeous pops of color). Sugared cranberries would be gorgeous too!
- Bananas – for the banana snowman
- Jam – any flavor you like. I have recipes for blueberry jam, strawberry jam, cranberry jam, and apple jam.
- Maple syrup – real maple or regular pancake syrup
- Granola
- Cinnamon sticks and whole cloves – for the snowman’s arms and face
- Monterey Jack cheese – for the cheese stars (cheddar works too)
- Cream cheese or goat cheese – optional, for spreading on pancakes or mini bagels
- Fresh herbs – I used thyme and sage
- Greenery for garnish – I used orange leaves, but rosemary sprigs look lovely too
Find the full recipe with ingredient measurements in the recipe card below.
How to Make a Breakfast Charcuterie Board
Don’t let the pretty pictures fool you… this board is mostly just arranging! Here’s how I put mine together.
- Make the mini pancakes. Mix up the pancake batter from my Mini Pancakes recipe, then squeeze quarter-size dots onto a lightly buttered griddle over medium heat. Flip after 1-2 minutes and cook until golden brown on both sides. Spread them out on a baking sheet in a single layer while you cook the rest.
- Cook the breakfast meats. Cook the bacon and sausage links, then drain on paper towels. A small cast iron skillet is a cute way to serve the sausage right on the board.
- Prep the eggs. Halve the hard-boiled eggs and sprinkle them with your favorite seasoning blend (everything bagel seasoning, paprika, or just salt and pepper).
- Wash and slice the fruit. Rinse the berries and grapes and pat them completely dry. Peel the cuties and slice any larger strawberries in half so they’re easy to grab.
- Make the kiwi flowers. Using a sharp paring knife, cut small V shapes around the middle of each kiwi, pushing the knife into the center as you go. Gently pull the two halves apart and you’ll have pretty zigzag edges.
- Make the banana snowman. Hollow out a couple of strawberries and set them on top of a banana as hats. Add cinnamon sticks for arms, then poke whole cloves into the banana for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Cut the cheese stars. Slice the cheese about 1/4 inch thick and cut out stars with a small cookie cutter. Portion any other cheeses, and spoon cream cheese or goat cheese into a small bowl with a cheese knife.
- Build the pancake skewers. Thread mini pancakes and berries onto cocktail picks, alternating as you go. You can also stack a few little pancakes and top them with a berry, securing the stack with a pick.
- Fill the bowls. Spoon the jam and granola into small bowls and pour the maple syrup into a small pitcher.
- Assemble the board:
- Line your board with parchment paper if you like.
- Add the pancake stacks and skewers
- Add fruit and eggs
- Place the meats along the edges
- Add some garnishes and more fruit
- Place bowls of jam, pitcher of syrup, bowl of granola, etc.
- Add the Santa bananas and cheese stars if you’re making the board for Christmas
- Fill in any blank spaces with extra cheese, fruit, and greenery
Pro Tips
- Do all the prep first. Gather everything, wash the fruit, make the pancake batter, cook the sausage and bacon, and boil the eggs before you start building. Assembly goes SO much faster that way.
- Use a squeeze bottle. It’s honestly the best way to keep your small pancakes the same size (a measuring cup or spoon works too, it’s just slower).
- Turn the heat down if they brown too fast. Tiny pancakes cook quickly, so drop to medium-low heat if the outsides are getting dark before the middles are done.
- Wipe the griddle between batches. A paper towel with a little butter is an easy way to keep the pancakes from sticking, and it gives them those pretty golden edges.
- Add the bananas last. Bananas brown quickly, so set the snowman on the board right before serving or brush the banana with a little lemon juice.
- Let folks know the cloves are just for decoration! Nobody wants to bite into a whole clove.
Variations
- Swap the fruit. Use whatever fresh produce is in season or on sale… peaches, raspberries, pineapple, and apple slices are all great options.
- Add more breakfast favorites. Dried fruit, nuts, and extra cheeses fit right in, and so do baked goods like mini muffins, chocolate chip muffins, mini pancake muffins, mini bagels, and mini waffles.
- Try more breakfast charcuterie board ideas. Mini cinnamon rolls, mini donuts, mini croissants, mini quiches, toasted English muffins, and baguette slices with honey butter all look great on a big board.
- Make it a waffle charcuterie board. Use a mini waffle maker to make a stack of tiny waffles, and add French toast sticks for even more fun.
- Change up the pancakes. Stir mini chocolate chips into the batter, add a splash of vanilla extract, or swap in whole wheat flour for part of the all-purpose flour. Whole milk or almond milk both work too (all the swaps are in my mini pancake recipe).
- Set out fun dips. Chocolate sauce, peanut butter, Greek yogurt, and whipped cream are all big hits with pancake lovers.
- Make a pancake cereal station. Pile extra cereal pancakes in a bowl next to the board with small cups and a pitcher of milk so the kids can make their own pancake cereal.
- Theme it for any holiday. Make a Halloween charcuterie board with orange and black treats or mini donut eyeballs, use heart cutters for Valentine’s Day, add flowers for Mother’s Day, or go bright and fruity for a summer charcuterie board.
- Add more savory options. Sausage balls, mini biscuits, country ham, and egg bites are some of my favorites because they hold up so well at room temperature. You can also add ham roll-ups, deviled eggs, hash brown bites, or mini bagels with cream cheese. Cubes of cheddar or pepper jack round it all out nicely.
Serving Suggestions
This board is a full meal on its own, but a pot of coffee, an iced coffee, hot chocolate, or a pitcher of orange juice makes it feel extra special. For a really big crowd, add a few hot sides like hash browns, a breakfast casserole, or a pan of cinnamon rolls, brunch classics everybody loves.
Storage Instructions
To store leftovers, take the board apart and put each item in its own airtight container or zip-top bag in the fridge. Eat the meats, eggs, and cut fruit within 3-4 days.
Leftover pancakes freeze beautifully! Lay them in a single layer on a baking sheet, freeze until firm, then transfer them to a freezer bag for later. Warm them in the microwave or toaster for a quick breakfast.
FAQ
What goes on a breakfast charcuterie board? Pretty much any of your favorite breakfast items or favorite brunch foods! Mini pancakes, fresh fruit, breakfast meats, hard-boiled eggs, cheeses, mini muffins, and a few dips are a great way to start. The best thing to use is brunch foods that are easy to grab with your fingers and taste good at room temperature, so most food items hold up well on the board.
What’s the difference between a breakfast charcuterie board and a brunch charcuterie board? Honestly… not much! Breakfast board, brunch board, brunch platter, or charcuterie breakfast board… they’re all the same idea with different names. Call it whichever one fits your party.
Can I make a breakfast charcuterie board ahead of time? Yes! Cook the pancakes, meats, and eggs ahead and keep the fruit washed and ready in the fridge. Assemble the board about an hour before serving, and try not to leave it sitting out for more than 2 hours.
Can I use store-bought pancakes? Absolutely. Frozen silver dollar pancakes are a great shortcut, and nobody will mind.
How do I keep the pancakes warm? Keep them on a baking sheet covered with foil in a warm oven (low heat, not high heat) until you’re ready to build the skewers. They’re also really good at room temperature.
Is this board good for kids? Yes! Kids love the tiny pancakes and the banana snowman. For toddlers, just slide the pancakes and berries off the cocktail picks first.
How big of a board do I need? My board is 19×14 and holds enough for about 15 people. For a smaller crowd, use a smaller board and cut the amounts in half.
A Brunch Board Your Whole Family Will Love
They say breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and this epic brunch board makes it so much fun! It’s one of my favorite ways to serve brunch because it looks like an epic charcuterie board but is really just a little bit of prep and a whole lot of arranging.
It’s the perfect way to celebrate Christmas morning, a birthday, or any day you want breakfast to feel special. Make it your own with your family’s favorite fruits and treats, and snap a picture for social media before everyone digs in (good luck holding them off that long!).
Tried this board? I’d love to hear how it turned out! Please leave a comment and a star rating below… it helps my blog grow, and I’d be so grateful!
Breakfast Charcuterie Board (Easy Brunch Board with Mini Pancake Skewers)
Description
A festive breakfast charcuterie board loaded with mini pancake skewers, fresh fruit, bacon, sausage, and a cute banana snowman. It’s a crowd-pleasing brunch idea for holidays and special occasions that serves about 15.
Ingredients
- 1 batch Mini Pancakes
- 8 slices bacon, cooked
- 1 lb sausage, cooked
- 3 hard boiled eggs
- 3 kiwis
- 4 cuties
- 1 lb grapes
- 1/2 cup blackberries
- 1/2 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1/4 cup fresh cranberries
- 2 bananas
- 1/2 cup jam (any flavor)
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1 cup granola
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- Handful of whole cloves
- Monterey Jack cheese, sliced 1/4 inch thick
- Fresh thyme and sage
- Greenery for garnish (such as orange leaves)
Instructions
- ook the mini pancakes on a lightly buttered griddle over medium heat until golden brown on both sides.
- Cook the bacon and sausage and drain on paper towels.
- Slice the hard boiled eggs in half and sprinkle with your favorite seasoning.
- Wash and dry the fruit and peel the cuties.
- Cut V shapes around the middle of each kiwi and pull the halves apart.
- Hollow out 2 strawberries and place them on top of a banana as hats. Add cinnamon sticks for arms and whole cloves for the face.
- Cut stars from the sliced cheese with a small cookie cutter.
- Thread mini pancakes and berries onto cocktail picks.
- Fill small bowls with jam and granola and pour the maple syrup into a small pitcher.
- Line your board with parchment paper if you like.
- Add the pancake stacks and skewers
- Add fruit and eggs
- Place the meats along the edges
- Add some garnishes and more fruit
- Place bowls of jam, pitcher of syrup, bowl of granola, etc.
- Add the Santa bananas and cheese stars if you’re making the board for Christmas
- Fill in any blank spaces with extra cheese, fruit, and greenery
Notes
- Prep all the components ahead so assembly goes quickly.
- Add the banana snowman right before serving so the banana doesn’t brown.
- Store leftovers separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
