How to Make Individual Charcuterie Cups

These individual charcuterie cups are a fun twist on the traditional charcuterie board and are filled with meat, cheese, fruit, and so much more. Also called a jarcuterie, they’re an easy way to serve everyone their own individual assortment of charcuterie favorites.

I love the look of a beautifully arranged charcuterie board, but I don’t necessarily want to graze off the same board as everyone else. That’s what makes these individual cups such a fun idea for entertaining. Everyone gets their own little charcuterie assortment, and they look just as pretty displayed for a party.

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What is a jarcuterie?

A jarcuterie is an individual charcuterie cup served in a small jar instead of arranging everything on one large board. Each jar is filled with a variety of bite-sized charcuterie favorites, such as meats, cheeses, fruit, crackers, nuts, olives, and even a little chocolate.

Jarcuterie is especially fun for parties and get-togethers because each guest gets their own serving. The jars are easy to pick up and carry around while mingling, and you can customize the ingredients to fit the occasion or your guests’ preferences.

How to Make Individual Charcuterie Cups

Making individual charcuterie cups is all about layering the ingredients so everything is easy to grab while creating a pretty presentation. Here’s how I assembled mine:

Start with the bottom layer. I added nuts and chocolate to the very bottom of each jar, followed by bite-sized pieces of cheese.

Add the skewers. I threaded fresh salami and olives onto decorative picks and tucked them into the jars. The picks make smaller ingredients easy to grab and add some height to the cups.

Add the taller ingredients. I layered cheese slices and breadsticks toward the back of each jar to give the charcuterie cups height and create a fuller presentation.

Finish with fresh fruit. Lastly, I topped each jar with grapes and raspberries. Blueberries, strawberries, or even dried fruit would also work well.

What to Put in Charcuterie Cups

Part of the fun of making charcuterie cups is choosing a variety of flavors, colors, and textures. You don’t need to use the exact ingredients I used in mine. Choose a few favorites from each category, or mix and match them based on what your guests enjoy.

• Meats: Salami, prosciutto, pepperoni, or other cured meats.
• Cheeses: Cubed or sliced cheddar, gouda, brie, mozzarella, or another favorite cheese.
• Fresh fruit: Grapes, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, or apple slices.
• Dried fruit: Apricots, cranberries, cherries, or dates.
• Crunchy additions: Crackers, breadsticks, pretzels, or nuts.
• Something salty: Olives, pickles, or cornichons.
• Something sweet: Chocolate pieces, chocolate-covered nuts, or another small treat.

Displaying your individual charcuterie cups

One of the best things about individual charcuterie cups is that you can display them in so many different ways. Arrange them on trays in different areas of your party so guests can easily pick one up while they mingle.

My favorite way to serve them is on a traditional charcuterie board. I love how the individual jars give everyone their own serving while the wooden board keeps the look and feel of a classic charcuterie spread. For an extra decorative touch, you can add fresh herbs, greenery, or other seasonal accents around the jars to dress up the display for the occasion.

Common Questions About Charcuterie Cups

How Far in Advance Can You Make Charcuterie Cups?

You can make charcuterie cups ahead of time, but for the freshest results, I recommend assembling them the day you plan to serve them. You can also save time by cutting the cheese, preparing the meat, washing the fruit, and assembling the skewers ahead of time. Keep everything refrigerated in separate airtight containers until you’re ready to assemble the cups.

If you assemble the cups in advance, cover and refrigerate them until serving time. Wait to add crackers, breadsticks, and other crunchy ingredients until closer to serving so they don’t become soft.

What Size Cups Are Best for Charcuterie Cups?

I used 4-ounce jars for my individual charcuterie cups, but there really isn’t a right or wrong size. Think about how much food you want in each cup and what else you plan to serve. A smaller jar works well when you have plenty of other appetizers or are serving a full meal, while a larger cup gives you more room if you want the charcuterie to be a bigger part of the menu.

Whatever size you choose, look for a cup or jar that guests can easily hold while they mingle.

What Should You Avoid Putting in Charcuterie Cups?

Avoid ingredients that are overly wet, messy, or difficult to eat from a small container. Wet ingredients can also make crackers and breadsticks soggy. Bite-sized foods that guests can easily pick up with their fingers or a small skewer work best.

Charcuterie Cups for Any Occasion

Have fun creating your individual charcuterie cups and making them your own. Choose your favorite meats, cheeses, fruits, and snacks, or change up the ingredients to fit the occasion. With so many possibilities, it’s easy to customize them for almost any gathering.

These charcuterie cups would be perfect for an Outdoor Party, a Mother’s Day brunch, or even a Father’s Day celebration. If you’re planning a special gathering, my Mother’s Day Table Décor Ideas and Father’s Day Table Decorations have plenty of inspiration for creating a beautiful table to go along with them.

And if you love the idea of individual servings, take a look at my DIY Individual Charcuterie Box for another fun way to serve charcuterie.

xoxo,
Molly