This New Take On The Charcuterie Board Will Make Your Holiday Table Pop

When the weather outside is frightful, nothing’s better than staying indoors and hosting friends and fam. And sure, while the holidays will definitely look a little different this year, you can still pull off a fun, relaxed celebration with the people you love. The best way to host without all the stress? Put together a charcuterie board that pops, then add wine or a fun mocktail and you’re set. How easy is that?

Creating a charcuterie board is like holiday-party magic: You don’t have to turn on the oven to do it, and it’s inherently inviting — as soon as it’s ready, your guests will be going for gouda. And somehow, it still seems fancy, which is what gives it extra appeal for actress and lifestyle influencer Alexys Johns. “Most of my gatherings have a very casual, come-as-you-are vibe, but I always like the food and ambiance to feel elevated and special,” she tells Bustle. “I really enjoy making every day feel like a celebration!”

If you’re not comfortable with in-person hosting just yet, no sweat: Lately, Johns has been counting on technology to stay in touch with her friends and family. “A great way to connect with loved ones that you may not get to be with this holiday season is by scheduling a baking date from afar,” she says. “Set a time to make the same recipe from your own homes over video chat — I’ve done it a few times and it’s a lot of fun and makes for special quality time.” (You can also do this with a charcuterie board, too — just putting it out there.)

For traditional entertaining, however, Johns is a fan of accompanying her charcuterie boards with other crowd-friendly appetizers. “I love a baked Brie — I literally just top it with some fig jam, wrap it in canned croissant dough, and pop it in the oven,” she says. “People rave about it and it’s so simple.”

For this year’s holiday celebrations, Bustle teamed up with LAY’S® Poppables™ to have Johns teach us how to put a fun spin on our go-to charcuterie boards. She swears by balancing sweet and salty flavors, plus switching out typical accompaniments for unexpected picks — think LAY'S® Poppables™ White Cheddar Potato Chips instead of the usual crackers, and the absolutely brilliant addition of mini doughnuts for some original sweetness.

Not only does her method add an element of surprise, but it’s also just plain delicious. “Poppables are a twist on an old classic, and to me they feel elegant in their airiness, while the flavor and crunch feels nostalgic,” says Johns. “That’s how I wanted our sweet and salty charcuterie board to feel — elevated, yet still piled with all the familiar favorites we look forward to during the holidays.”

Here are her pointers for creating a sweet and salty spread your guests will never forget.

1. Pick Your Savories

Start by choosing your salty snacks, like LAY'S® Poppables™ White Cheddar Potato Chips, roasted pecans and cashews, gluten-free seed crisps, kettle corn, and olives. And don’t forget the cheese: Johns’ faves include brie, humboldt fog, cheddar, and goat. Add some sliced French baguette for a touch of sophistication, and you’re good to go.

2. Pick Your Sweets

Next, move on to your sweet snacks. This season, Johns is gravitating toward apple slices (caramel sauce optional but strongly encouraged), chocolate, peanut butter-filled pretzels, caramel popcorn, berries or grapes, dried fruit, mini peanut butter cups, chocolate-covered espresso beans, mini doughnuts, macarons, and fig jam.

3. Get Creative

Arrange the sweet and salty snacks on a big board, or if you’re being extra cautious, prep individual mini-boards for each guest. Mix up textures to create a display that’s as visually interesting as it is delicious. Juxtapose the airy crispiness of Poppables™ Potato Chips next to chewier dried apricots, or crunchy nuts surrounding a creamy, spreadable cheese.

4. Enjoy!

Check out the video below and start celebrating this season in the yummiest way possible!

Watch Here

This post is sponsored by LAY'S® Poppables™.