Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board: The Cutest No-Bake 4th of July Snack Tray You’ll Ever Serve!
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I had way too much fun making this Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board, and trust me, your July 4th guests are going to lose it over this red, white, and blue cutie!
I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a holiday food moment, especially when it’s a no-bake 4th of July snack tray that doubles as edible art. This Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board is part cheese board, part patriotic centerpiece, and 100% snackable fun. It’s easy to pull together, doesn’t require the oven (praise hands!), and has all the red, white, and blue flair you need to wow guests without stressing out.
With a cheese wheel for a face, pretzel curls, and a blueberry-and-salami top hat? Uncle Sam has never looked this snackable. It’s festive, it’s creative, and it might just be my favorite Fourth of July centerpiece yet. This charcuterie board screams, “Happy Birthday, America!”, in the most delicious way possible.
Why You’ll Love This Adorable Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board:
- It’s the ultimate no-cook party trick, and no one has to know how easy it was.
- It doubles as decor AND dessert (hello, edible art!).
- You can totally customize it with whatever you’ve got in your fridge and pantry.
How to Make the Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board:
This July 4th charcuterie board is a total star-spangled showstopper, and it looks just like Uncle Sam himself! It’s also one of those projects where the messier it gets, the cuter it looks. So grab your snacks, your favorite cheese round, and a board big enough to hold all this patriotic deliciousness and let’s make it!
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need:
Setting up your Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board is a breeze with a few simple tools to help shape and arrange everything just right. Think of these as your charcuterie magic wands:
- Large rectangular serving board or tray
- Paring knife
- Small cookie cutter (star-shaped)
- Small bowls or ramekins (for candy or dips)
- Toothpicks or mini flags for decoration
Ingredients You’ll Need
You can swap and improvise, but here’s what made my Uncle Sam shine:
- Camembert or Brie cheese round
- star-shaped crackers
- pretzels
- salami
- semi-hard white cheese slices (for cutting stars)
- A little braided cheese
- 8 mini mozzarella balls
- blueberries
- strawberries
- pecan halves
- red candy piece or dried cherry
- red, blue, and white candies
- green grapes
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step One: Build the Face
- Begin by cutting off a small section from the top of the circle of Brie – this is Uncle Sam’s face.
- Use a paring knife to remove the white rind and use some of it to create a mustache and beard. (Yes, we’re giving him a cheese-rind beard. Iconic.)
- Roll a little piece of leftover cheese into a ball, and place it on his face right above the mustache for his nose.
- Add halved blueberries for eyes, a dot of mayo for his pupils, and a cherry candy for his mouth. I may have giggled once I had his face made!
Step Two: Create the Hat
- Use a star cookie cutter to cut stars out of the cheese slices.
- Then carefully place Uncle Sam’s face on the lower right side of the board you will be using to serve your Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board.
- Next, add rows blueberries along the top edge of his face to make the brim of his hat.
- Pop on some star crackers because even his hat deserves to shine!
- Above the blueberries, layer mini mozzarella balls and salami slices into bold red-and-white stripes for the top part of the hat. Honestly, this whole thing is giving snack runway model energy!
Step Three: Add HIs Tie and Hair
- Beneath his face, tuck some pecans for his little bowtie or fancy ruff. He’s a dapper little cheese guy.
- Then use little strips of braided cheese to give Uncle Sam his signature sideburns.
- Arrange a decorative ribbon of cheese stars and salami and place small sauce boats or bowls with the bright candies.
Step Four: Fill in the Goodies
- Now cut the strawberries into four pieces and break the grapes into small bunches. Arrange the berries, grapes, and some pretzels randomly.
- Line one side with crackers (for sandwich building), and fill in any remaining spots with more fruit, pretzels, or crackers to finish it off.
And there you go! Your Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board is party ready!
Pro Tip:
Cheese gets extra cooperative if you let it sit at room temp for 10–15 minutes. Also, if your Brie tries to slide off the board like mine did… just call it artistic flair.
Extra Flair Ideas:
- Toothpick flags, sparkly star sprinkles, or ribbon-tied spoons are your secret weapons for cute overload.
- Add a bowl of this 2-ingredient patriotic fruit dip or another creamy spread if you want people to hover around the board all party long.
Recipe Tips and Tricks:
- Make the face ahead of time, cover it in plastic wrap, and chill it until serving.
- Cut your cheese stars in batches and stash extras for filling in gaps.
- Use little bowls to hold candies or help “anchor” slippery ingredients.
Recipe Variations, Additions, and Substitutions:
- No Brie? No problem! Swap in Boursin or another soft cheese for the face—it’s creamy, flavorful, and just as cute.
- Want a veggie twist? Try cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices for the hat instead of meat and mozzarella. It’s crisp, fresh, and still super festive!
- Going vegan? Totally doable! Use coconut-based cheese and vegan salami to build your plant-powered Uncle Sam.
- No rind to shape? Use slices of white cheese to craft that iconic mustache and beard look.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q: Can I make this board the night before?
A: Totally! Just wait to add the crackers and juicy fruit so everything stays fresh.
Q: What if I don’t have star-shaped crackers?
A: Use a cookie cutter and make your own from cheese, melon, or even watermelon slices.
Q: Is this kid-friendly?
A: YES! Kids love helping place the pieces—and they’ll 100% eat more fruit when it looks like Uncle Sam.
Too Cute Not to Share!
Did you make this cutie? Tag me on Instagram @funfoodcrafts or use #funfoodcrafts so I can cheer you on! Whether your Uncle Sam is perfectly posed or adorably lopsided, I need to see it. Bonus points for extra cheese curls and sparkle.
Looking for more red, white, and blue snack fun?
Check out these other festive favorites some of which are found on my other blog, Bullocks Buzz:
Printable Recipe Card
Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board - Star-Spangled No-Bake 4th of July Treat!
This Uncle Sam Charcuterie Board is a no-bake 4th of July snack tray packed with festive red, white, and blue goodies. It’s cute, customizable, and the star of any patriotic party spread!
Ingredients
- ½ cup blueberries
- ½ cup red, blue, and white candies
- 3 ½ oz salami
- 1 Camembert cheese
- 2 oz semi-hard cheese
- A little bit of braided cheese
- 8 mini mozzarella balls
- 8 strawberries
- 6-8 pecan halves
- 1 cup crackers, stars, and pretzels
- 1 red candy or dried cherry
- 1 bunch of grapes
Instructions
- Build the Face:
Cut a small wedge from the top of the circle of Brie to shape Uncle Sam’s face. Use a paring knife to remove some rind and shape a mustache and beard. Roll leftover cheese into a ball for the nose and place it above the mustache. Add halved blueberries for eyes, a dot of mayo for pupils, and a cherry candy for the mouth. - Create the Hat:
Cut cheese stars using a small cookie cutter. Place Uncle Sam’s face on the lower right of your board. Arrange blueberries along the top of the face for the hat brim. Top with star crackers. Then layer salami slices and mini mozzarella balls in vertical rows to create the bold red-and-white stripes. - Add His Tie and Hair:
Tuck pecans under the face as a bowtie. Use thin braided cheese strips for sideburns. Arrange cheese stars and salami in a ribbon-like pattern around him. Add small bowls filled with red, white, and blue candies. - Fill in the Goodies:
Cut the strawberries into 4 slices and break the grapes into small bunches. Scatter them randomly around the board. Add pretzels, cheese stars, and crackers to fill in gaps and complete your festive setup.
Notes
Tip: Let the cheese sit at room temp for 10–15 minutes to make it easier to handle.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
7Serving Size:
1 cupAmount Per Serving: Calories: 300
