I can’t think of a better date-night-at-home idea than to create a romantic snack board for two! Complete with a brie-shaped heart, sweet and savory bites, and a glass of wine shared with your honey.

cheese board with heart of brie next to wine glasses

This date night cheese board is just the thing as a snack or appetizer for two people – or hey, it can even double as dessert! It’s easily customizable with all the fixings. For more inspiration for what to put on a charcuterie board – check out our simple vegetarian board, fruit board, or dessert board!

Now, let’s talk all about how to make a heart-felt (hah, get it?) cheese plate for your sweetheart.

What is a Charcuterie Board?

Charcuterie (pronounced shaar·koo·tr·ee) is a French term for a type of meal or snack made with prepared meat products, delicatessen, or deli-style cuts. So, a true charcuterie board consists of a variety of cured meats such as salami, prosciutto, sausages, and more.

Because we’ve got a thing for vegetarian recipes here, this board for two is more of a cheese and dessert board. Because what says romance better than cheese and chocolate? Not much. So call it a snack board, call it a cheese board, call it dinner… whatever you call it, it’s gonna be good.

Step 1: The Cheese

Now, onto the heart of any good board: the cheese (pun definitely intended…).

There is no right or wrong when it comes to adding cheese. In fact, that goes for creating the entire board. It’s all about what you want to enjoy, and quite frankly, what you already have in your fridge and pantry (budget-friendly here!).

I’m just here to offer a few suggestions to balance it all out, but seriously, use what you have!

On my board, I have a sampling of:

Brie – it’s creamy, silky, buttery, and spreadable
Blue Cheese (or gorgonzola) – for a more pungent balance to the rich, creamy brie.
Manchego – a firm cheese with a buttery texture, this cheese goes with just about anything on your board, and the firm texture is a great addition to pair with the creamy counterparts.

Other options include goat cheese (try the cranberry goat cheese log!), cheddar cheese, or marinated mozzarella.

side view of a valentine's day cheese board

You don’t need these three specific kinds of cheese. Heck, you don’t even need three kinds of cheese. There’s no magic number, but here are my tips for pairing cheeses on your board:

Texture – aim for a variety of textures on your board. If you have a creamy, spreadable cheese, pair it with a more firm cheese.
Flavors – similar to textures, you want a variety of flavors. Have something slightly stinky and pungent? Balance it out with a mild cheese that will pair well with other sides.
Consider how it’s served – similar to texture, take into account whether the cheese is crumbly, firm and served in wedges, or spreadable. Variety is key!

How to Make a Brie Heart

When it comes to romance, I love adding a few heart-shaped items to the board. Love, is love, is love, and nothing says it better than a wedge of brie cheese.

Purchased in its wheel form, it’s super easy to make a heart out of brie! Here are a few tips to have the most success:

Place the brie in the freezer for 10-15 minutes before you’re ready to cut, this will help ensure that the cheese doesn’t squeeze everywhere out of the rind.
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter and press down in the middle of the brie wheel. You could also use mini-hearts and make several pieces.
Use a knife to help cut along the cookie cutter if needed.
Gently press the brie out of the cookie cutter et voila! Your brie heart is ready.

heart cookie cutter in brie wheel on cutting board

If you are more graceful than I am, and if your cookie cutter is sharper than mine, try keeping the exterior of the brie wheel intact too. Then, fill the missing center heart with jam, olives, or other goodies.

Step 2: The Accouterments

The…what? My mom got me hooked on the word accouterment. You know, the extra things that go along with other things.

So here we are, ready for all the rest of the little things that bring the board together.

Crackers or bread- you most definitely need a vehicle for all the cheese. Be it baguette slices (my favorite), cracker crisps with dried fruit (my other favorite, shown here), or whatever kind of cracker you’ve got in your pantry. You can’t go wrong, just make sure you have something crunchy and carb-y for the cheese.
Jelly or Jam– something a little fruity to pair with the cheese is always a nice touch. I also love hot pepper jelly for a little kick.
Honey – is another sweet addition that pairs so lovely with cheese.
Fresh fruit – berries for the vibe, or apple and pear slices, either way, it’s great to have something fresh to snack on, too.
Olives or Pickles – we’ve got a lot of sweet going on on this board – for a good reason – but it’s nice to balance it all out with something briny, too.
Nuts – added crunch!
The Sweets! You cannot have a Valentine’s Day board without something sweet. I said it, and I stick by it. Try a variety of heart candies, truffles, almond bark-covered pretzels, dark chocolate, chocolate-covered popcorn…or all of the above. Ohhh – and you know chocolate-covered strawberries would be perfect, too.

hot pepper jelly on valentine's day board — Hot pepper jelly pairs well with hard cheese.

Hot pepper jelly pairs well with hard cheese.

Step 3: Assemble the Cheese Board

When it comes to assembling the board, you can really use any kind of serving tray, wooden board, or platter you have. You won’t need anything too larger, since this is just for two. A 12-inch board is plenty wide enough to hold all the yummies.

Step 1: Place the Cheeses. Put the brie heart right in the middle and place the other cheeses, in slices, cubes, or wedges as needed, across from each other. It helps to begin spacing them out in a triangle, if possible.
Step 2: Put any bowls on the board. Olives, jams, and honey work best in small bowls, so place them next. This makes it easier to place the ‘loose’ items around the board in any empty space.
Step 3: Add in the rest. Lay down the crackers in rows, drop the nuts here and there, sprinkle in the berries, and add in the sweet treats.
Step 4: Pour the wine! Enjoy, dig in, and get that quality time on with your loved one and a cheese board for two!

valentine's day board with chocolate mousse

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating and review in the form below. I appreciate your feedback, and it helps others, too!

Appetizers Vegetarian

posted by Becca Mills on February 5, 2021 (last updated May 25, 2023)

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