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Easy Kid-Friendly Charcuterie Cups for Friendsgiving

kid-friendly charcuterie cups for friendsgiving - featured image
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These portable, mess-free charcuterie cups are perfect for kids’ parties and Friendsgiving celebrations. Each cup is a self-contained snack bouquet with pretzels, cheese, salami, fruit, and fun extras that kids love.

Ingredients

  • Mini pretzel twists (about 1 cup per 4 cups)
  • Goldfish crackers (1/2 cup per cup)
  • Mini cheese cubes (cheddar or Colby Jack, about 1/2 cup per cup)
  • Sliced salami or pepperoni (folded into quarters, about 4-5 slices per cup)
  • Turkey or ham roll-ups (thin slices, rolled and cut into bite-sized pieces)
  • String cheese sticks (cut into 1-inch chunks)
  • Red grapes (washed and dried, about 5-6 per cup)
  • Apple slices (tossed in lemon juice to prevent browning, 3-4 per cup)
  • Mini chocolate chips or yogurt-covered raisins (a tablespoon per cup, optional)
  • Small cookie cutters (for cutting cheese or fruit into shapes)
  • Edible markers (for drawing faces on cheese cubes, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the ingredients (5 minutes): Wash and dry the grapes thoroughly. Cut the apple slices and toss them in a little lemon juice to prevent browning. Cube the cheese into bite-sized pieces if you’re not using pre-cubed cheese. Cut the string cheese into 1-inch chunks. Roll up the turkey or ham slices and slice them into pinwheels.
  2. Set up your assembly line (2 minutes): Arrange all your ingredients in bowls on the counter. Have your cups ready and lined up.
  3. Layer the base (1 minute per cup): Start with a handful of mini pretzel twists at the bottom of each cup. Add a layer of Goldfish crackers on top of the pretzels.
  4. Add the protein (2 minutes per cup): Place 4-5 folded salami slices or pepperoni pieces around the inside edges of the cup. Press them gently against the sides. Add a few turkey or ham roll-ups in the center. Tuck in some string cheese chunks between the meat pieces.
  5. Add the fruit (2 minutes per cup): Carefully place 5-6 grapes on top of the meat layer. Add 3-4 apple slices, arranging them so they stick out slightly. If using berries, scatter them on top.
  6. Top with fun extras (1 minute per cup): Sprinkle a tablespoon of mini chocolate chips or yogurt-covered raisins over the top. If using cookie cutters, press a shape into a slice of cheese and place it on top. Use edible markers to draw a smiley face on a cheese cube.
  7. Finish and serve (1 minute): Give each cup a gentle shake to settle the ingredients. Serve immediately, or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 2 hours.

Notes

Assemble no more than 2 hours ahead to keep crackers crunchy. Dry fruit thoroughly to prevent sogginess. Layer meat between crackers and fruit as a moisture barrier. Let kids help assemble for fun. For best results, use clear plastic cups to show off the layers.

Nutrition

Keywords: charcuterie cups, kid-friendly, Friendsgiving, school party, snack cups, easy appetizer, portable snack

Find it online: https://cookyep.com/easy-kid-friendly-charcuterie-cups-for-friendsgiving/