Gilded Acorn Nut Board (Printable Version)

Nut-forward board featuring gold almonds and acorn-shaped cheeses for elegant sharing.

# What You Need:

→ Nuts

01 - 1 cup whole almonds
02 - 1/2 cup pecans
03 - 1/2 cup walnuts
04 - 1/2 cup hazelnuts

→ Gold-Sprinkled Almonds

05 - 1/2 cup whole almonds
06 - 1/2 teaspoon edible gold dust or gold leaf flakes

→ Cheeses

07 - 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese block
08 - 8 ounces gouda cheese block
09 - 8 ounces brie or camembert (optional)

→ Accompaniments

10 - 1/2 cup dried apricots
11 - 1/2 cup dried figs, halved
12 - 1/2 cup seedless red grapes
13 - 1/2 cup fresh apple slices
14 - 1/4 cup honey or fig jam

→ Crackers & Bread

15 - 1 cup assorted crackers (gluten-free if needed)
16 - 1 small baguette, sliced

# How To Make It:

01 - Place 1/2 cup almonds in a small bowl. Lightly mist or brush with water to help the gold dust adhere. Sprinkle edible gold dust evenly and toss gently to coat. Set aside to dry for a few minutes.
02 - Slice cheddar and gouda into 1/4-inch thick slabs. Using a small acorn-shaped cookie cutter, cut out acorn shapes. Optionally, use a paring knife to add detail or create a two-tone effect by stacking cheese layers.
03 - Distribute all nuts, including gold-sprinkled almonds, pecans, walnuts, and hazelnuts, in small clusters or bowls on a large serving board or platter.
04 - Position the acorn-shaped cheese cutouts around the board, interspersed with cubes or wedges of brie or camembert to add texture variety.
05 - Distribute dried apricots, figs, grapes, and apple slices in small piles or fan shapes to introduce color and freshness.
06 - Place honey or fig jam in a small serving dish accompanied by a spoon or honey dipper.
07 - Fill any remaining gaps on the board with assorted crackers and sliced baguette to complete the presentation.
08 - Serve immediately, or cover lightly and refrigerate for up to 1 hour before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks impossibly fancy but takes barely half an hour, which means you can actually enjoy your guests instead of being stuck in the kitchen.
  • Every element can be swapped for what you have on hand—there's no weird specialty ingredient that ruins the whole thing if you can't find it.
02 -
  • The gold dust needs moisture to stick, but too much water will make the almonds soggy and heavy—a light mist is the difference between stunning and sad.
  • Your acorn cutter needs to be sharp and your cheese needs to be cold from the fridge; warm cheese tears, and a dull cutter creates ragged edges that ruin the whole effect.
03 -
  • Chill your cheese block in the freezer for twenty minutes before cutting and using your acorn cutter—cold cheese is forgiving, warm cheese is a disaster.
  • Buy edible gold dust from a reputable source and verify it's food-grade; it's inexpensive and makes such a difference in how people react when they see it on the board.
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