Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board Recipe

Halloween is honestly one of my favorite excuses to make silly snacks. Nothing gets my family grinning faster than a bright Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board.

This easy recipe shows how to turn fresh fruit into a snack that looks just like a jack-o’-lantern. It’s healthy and festive, so everyone can dig in without guilt.

Whenever I bring out this fruit board, it’s like an instant spotlight on the party table. I love how simple it is, and I can always sneak in everyone’s favorite fruits for a personal twist.

Why I Love Them

Making Jack-o’-Lantern fruit boards is just plain fun for me. The colors pop, and it’s hard not to smile at a goofy fruit face.

Plus, it’s a treat that’s actually good for you. Not something you get to say about most party snacks.

These boards turn an ordinary snack into something a little special. I get to play around with whatever fruit is in season or on sale.

Arranging the fruit into a jack-o’-lantern face is probably my favorite part. It’s like edible art, but low-stress.

People get excited to pick their favorite fruit pieces. It’s a nice way to share something festive without spending hours in the kitchen.

Equipment

For my Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board, I just use a few basics from the kitchen.

Here’s what I use:

• 1 large round wooden board or tray (at least 15 inches wide)
• 1 small paring knife for cutting fruit details
• 1 medium chef’s knife for slicing larger fruits
• 2 cutting boards (one for fruit, one for cheeses or meats if you add them)
• 1 small bowl (for dips or fruit pieces, about 4 inches across)
• Several small serving tongs or forks (3 to 5)
• A couple of paper towels or clean cloths for wiping hands and surfaces

A round board works best—makes it way easier to shape the pumpkin face. The paring knife is great for carving out the little details, like eyes and a mouth.

The chef’s knife is just for slicing up bigger things—melon, oranges, whatever. I use two cutting boards to keep things neat and avoid cross-contamination.

I like having tiny tongs or forks so people can grab fruit without sticking their hands in everything. And yeah, paper towels are a must for sticky fingers.

This simple setup means I’m not stuck cleaning up forever afterward.

Ingredients

When I’m making my Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board, I like to get everything ready first. Here’s what I usually grab for a board that feeds about six people.

Fruit:

• 2 cups orange melon (like cantaloupe), cubed
• 2 cups pineapple, cubed
• 2 large oranges, peeled and sliced into rounds
• 1 cup green grapes
• 1 cup purple grapes
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 small apple, sliced thin

Extras for the Board:

• 4 oz cheddar cheese cubes
• 2 oz chocolate chips (for the jack-o’-lantern face)
• 1 small bunch fresh mint (optional, for garnish)

Optional Add-Ons:
Sometimes I throw in pretzel sticks or a few crackers for crunch.

I always wash and pat all the fruit dry before arranging. Keeps things looking fresh and less slippery.

If I want a bigger board, I just double everything. Using chocolate chips for the faces on orange slices is a fun touch.

Instructions

First up, I wash and dry all the fruit. It just looks and tastes better that way.

I use a small paring knife to peel and slice as needed. Nothing fancy, just whatever works.

I arrange orange slices, clementine segments, and cantaloupe cubes in a circle to make the pumpkin shape. I try to keep them packed close so the shape holds.

For the eyes, nose, and mouth, I use black grapes or blueberries. I mess around until I get a face I like—it doesn’t have to be perfect.

Then I add green apple or celery sticks at the top for a makeshift stem. It’s simple but gets the idea across.

Optional: If there are gaps, I toss in extra fruit like strawberries or kiwi. More color, more fun.

Tips:

• Toothpicks help keep fruit from rolling away (trust me, it happens).
• I cut off any sharp edges from fruit pieces—no one wants a poked lip.

I keep the board chilled until it’s time to serve. Makes a big difference in keeping everything juicy and fresh.

Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board

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This festive Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board is a healthy, fun, and creative Halloween party snack. Made entirely from fresh fruit and a few optional extras, it turns your party platter into a cheerful edible pumpkin. Easy to make and sure to get smiles from kids and adults alike!

Prep Time 30 minutes minutes

Total Time 30 minutes minutes

Serving Size 6 People

Equipment

• 1 large round wooden board or tray (at least 15 inches wide)
• 1 small paring knife
• 1 medium chef’s knife
• 2 cutting boards
• 1 small bowl (about 4 inches across)
• 3–5 small serving tongs or forks
• Paper towels or clean cloths

Ingredients

Fruit:

• 2 cups orange melon like cantaloupe, cubed
• 2 cups pineapple cubed
• 2 large oranges peeled and sliced into rounds
• 1 cup green grapes
• 1 cup purple grapes
• 1 cup blueberries
• 1 cup blackberries
• 1 small apple sliced thin

Extras for the Board:

• 4 oz cheddar cheese cubes
• 2 oz chocolate chips for the jack-o’-lantern face
• 1 small bunch fresh mint optional, for garnish

Optional Add-Ons:

• ½ cup pretzel sticks
• ½ cup crackers

Instructions

• Wash and dry all fruit. Pat dry thoroughly to avoid slipping or soggy spots on the board.
• Slice fruit as needed using a paring knife for details and a chef’s knife for larger fruits.
• Arrange the jack-o’-lantern shape:
• Use orange slices, cantaloupe cubes, and pineapple chunks to form a circle or oval pumpkin base.
• Create the face using blueberries, black grapes, or chocolate chips for the eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Add the “stem” at the top using apple slices, green grapes, or celery sticks.
• Fill in gaps with additional fruit like berries, kiwi, or extra orange pieces for more color and volume.
• Add extras: Place cheddar cheese cubes, mint leaves, and optional pretzels or crackers around the board for variety.
• Chill until ready to serve. This helps keep the fruit fresh and vibrant.

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Substitute

Sometimes I don’t have all the fruit I want for my Jack-o’-Lantern Fruit Charcuterie Board. So I just swap things out for whatever’s handy, or whatever people actually like.

If I’m out of clementines, I’ll use mandarin oranges or just regular orange segments. They peel easy and look just as cheerful.

Instead of grapes (1 cup), I’ll grab blueberries or blackberries. They’re tasty and give a nice color pop.

Here’s a quick substitution table:

For the jack-o’-lantern face, if I’m out of blueberries, I’ll use mini chocolate chips, raisins, or even black grapes. Whatever’s around.

If someone has fruit allergies, I always check first. Sometimes I’ll put out a few extras like mini marshmallows, apple chips, or dried apricots just in case. That way, everyone gets to snack on something.

What Can Go Wrong?

Sometimes, the fruit I grab just isn’t fresh. Old or mushy fruit doesn’t look great and honestly, it can make the board kind of soggy.

I try to check for firm, bright fruit before I even start slicing. Still, sometimes I miss one.

If I cut pieces too big or too tiny, the shapes never fit together right. Then the jack-o’-lantern face ends up looking a bit off.

I usually reach for a small knife and just eyeball the pieces to keep them about the same size. Not exactly scientific, but it works for me.

Fruit likes to slide around on the board, too. When that happens, my design gets all weird and messy.

So I pat the fruit dry with a paper towel—definitely helps with the slipping, though not perfect.

If there’s not enough color contrast, the jack-o’-lantern face just fades into the background. I’ll try to pick a mix of orange, yellow, and green fruits for a little pop.

Here’s a quick list of things I double-check:

• Are my fruit slices about the same thickness?
• Did I dry the fruit a bit before placing it?
• Did I use enough bright, fresh fruit?