Gilded Acorn Nut Board (Printable)

Nut and cheese board featuring gold almonds and acorn-shaped cheese cutouts for elegant occasions.

# What You’ll 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 desired)
16 - 1 small baguette, sliced

# Directions:

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

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The edible gold dust transforms something ordinary into something guests will photograph and talk about long after they leave.
  • It's vegetarian, naturally elegant, and requires zero cooking—just thoughtful assembly and a good eye for color balance.
  • You can prep it partially ahead, which means you're actually enjoying your gathering instead of sweating in the kitchen.
02 -
  • The edible gold dust will slide right off almonds unless they're slightly damp—I learned this the messy way when mine ended up in a gold puddle at the bottom of the bowl.
  • Cutting cheese shapes ahead of time is absolutely fine, but keep them between parchment paper in a cool place so they don't dry out or attract bacteria.
  • The board loses its appeal if crackers go stale or apples oxidize, so assemble as close to serving time as your schedule allows—usually no more than 2-3 hours ahead.
03 -
  • Keep your cheese knife sharp and warm (dip it in hot water and dry between cuts) so you get clean acorn shapes instead of crumbly disasters.
  • The gold dust trick that changed everything for me: apply it just before serving rather than hours ahead, because it genuinely does migrate and fade if it sits too long in humidity.
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