Ghostly Outline Halloween Board (Printable)

A spooky spread with dark cheeses, fruits, and garnishes arranged to form a ghostly silhouette centerpiece.

# Components:

→ Cheeses

01 - 5.3 oz activated charcoal cheddar or black waxed cheese, cubed
02 - 5.3 oz aged gouda, sliced
03 - 5.3 oz brie, cut into wedges

→ Meats (optional)

04 - 3.5 oz soppressata, sliced
05 - 3.5 oz prosciutto, folded

→ Crackers & Breads

06 - 3.5 oz black sesame crackers
07 - 3.5 oz pumpernickel bread, sliced

→ Fruits

08 - 1 cup black grapes
09 - 1 cup blackberries
10 - 0.5 cup dried figs, halved

→ Vegetables

11 - 0.5 cup black olives
12 - 0.5 cup purple carrots, sliced

→ Spreads & Dips

13 - 0.5 cup black olive tapenade
14 - 0.5 cup blackberry jam

→ Garnishes

15 - Sprigs of rosemary
16 - Edible flowers, dark or purple (optional)

# Method:

01 - On a large, dark-colored serving board or platter, lightly trace a ghost or bat shape in the center using a small bowl or parchment paper stencil as a guide.
02 - Arrange meats, cheeses, crackers, breads, fruits, and vegetables densely around the silhouette, placing the darkest items such as charcoal cheese, black grapes, blackberries, and black olives closest to the outline to enhance the shape.
03 - Leave the interior of the ghost or bat outline empty to reveal the board beneath, forming a clear silhouette.
04 - Set small bowls filled with black olive tapenade and blackberry jam at the corners or desired locations on the board.
05 - Fill remaining spaces with additional fruits, optional nuts, and garnish with rosemary sprigs and edible flowers for visual appeal.
06 - Present immediately to maintain the silhouette's visibility for guests before enjoying the assortment.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes only 30 minutes to create, leaving you time to focus on costumes and decorations instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • The negative space ghost or bat silhouette is genuinely impressive, and people always ask how you made it (spoiler: it's easier than it looks)
  • You can customize every single ingredient based on what you have on hand or your guests' preferences, making it adaptable without losing the dramatic effect
  • It works for vegetarians, meat lovers, and gluten-free guests all at once—no need to make separate platters
02 -
  • The silhouette will disappear the moment people start eating, so photograph it immediately. This became clear to me at my second Halloween party when I forgot to snap a photo before my guests descended upon it like ghouls at a feast.
  • Prep your ingredients in advance but assemble the board no more than 4 hours before serving. Any longer and the board dries out and loses its visual appeal. I learned this the hard way when I assembled one the morning of an evening party.
  • Use a dark-colored board or platter. A white or light-colored board will make your carefully arranged silhouette nearly invisible. The contrast is everything.
03 -
  • If your charcoal cheese is crumbly, chill it for 15 minutes before cutting into cubes. Cold cheese holds its shape better and creates cleaner lines for your silhouette.
  • Arrange ingredients in vertical layers and at angles rather than lying everything flat. A tilted piece of bread or a standing cheese wedge adds dimension that photographs beautifully and makes people feel like this took way more effort than it actually did.
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