Summertime Snacks

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Charcuterie is so in right now, and it's easy to see why. Selections hit on a variety of flavors with customizable bites. They're delicious, they feel fancy, and best of all, they're fun. But why not include kids in the fun? This kids' summertime snacks board for Fourth of July will have guests of any age seeing fireworks! These kiddos are always looking for summer snacks!

Don't let the gorgeous presentation fool you - this Fourth of July snack board only takes 20 minutes to assemble! And since you know your kids best, you can customize it to their tastes. There are so many options for red white and blue snacks to help fill out your board. From ice cream to a healthy snack, to even a cheese board your summer snack board can be creative! I've even used a mini slow cooker and melted some cheese or peanut butter for a dip for healthy eating. It's bound to be a family favorite for sure!

Why You'll Love These Summertime Snacks

Fun and Festive - This snack board is so visually appealing. It makes a great party dish, or a fun at home snack option for kids.
Easy Cheesy - This snack board is easy to put together and takes just 20 minutes. The simplicity allows you to focus on your creative side and have fun assembling it.

Ingredients for Kids Fourth of July Snack Board

Greek Yogurt - Greek Yogurt provides a healthy base for your veggie dip. You will need 10 oz. Make sure that it is plain, unsweetened greek yogurt.
Ranch Seasoning - You will need 3 tbsp dry ranch mix to make your veggie dip.
Fresh Fruit - You should have 2-3 pints of fruit for your summertime snack board. Strawberries and blueberries will help to maintain the festive red, white and blue theme.
Tortilla Chips - Pick up a bag of red, white and blue tortilla chips. They will be readily available at grocery stores all summer.
Cheese - Since this is a kid friendly snack board, it is best to keep the cheese simple. I suggest one 6-pack bag of Babybels.
Vegetables - You will want 2 or 3 veggies to round out your sweet and savory snack board. You can choose whichever vegetables your kids like, but some great go-to options include carrots, cucumber, or cherry tomatoes.
Cookies - It isn’t a celebration without those classic holiday cookies. The iced sugar cookies will make your board really colorful and vibrant.
Chocolate Covered Pretzels - Chocolate covered pretzels really marry the sweet and salty on this summertime snack board. Grab one pack of the festive decorated ones. If you can’t find those, opt for plain white chocolate pretzels to keep with your color scheme.
Additional Dips or Spreads - You can add any of your favorite dips or spreads to go along with your fruits, veggies and tortilla chips. Fruit dip and chocolate hummus are good sweet options. Spinach dip, hummus, french onion dip, salsa and guacamole are all great savory choices.

Equipment and Other Items:

Board - It may seem obvious, but I can’t tell you how many times I’ve forgotten this step until the last minute. Have a large snack board or tray ready to go!
Bowls - Have bowls of various shapes and sizes on hand for your veggie dip and any other dips you may choose to include on your board. You can alwasy add a fruit dip made with some yogurt and honey
Spreaders - You will need a spreader for your cheese. You will also need a spoon for your dip.
Fun Holiday Decorations - Make your board as fun and festive as you desire. You can find edible gold star confetti and other shaped sprinkles in the baking aisle at many grocery stores. You may wish to add nonedible decorations as well. Stars and confetti can be fun.

Substitutions

If you don’t like ranch, you can mix your Greek yogurt with salt, pepper and minced garlic. Alternatively, put tzatziki or your favorite hummus on the board as your dip.
Though the colorful sugar cookies are classic, you can also try swapping them for other festive cookies, such as red, white and blue sandwich cookies, or a homemade option.

How to Make Kids Snack Board

Start by preparing the produce by cutting out a festive shape, like a star, with a cookie cutter or cutting into bite size pieces. Press down and if the shape doesn’t come clean you can use a small paring knife to help loosen the shape.
Combine the Greek yogurt and ranch seasoning to make the dip and then transfer to a bowl.
Place the biggest items, such as chips and dip on the board to create anchor points.
Next assemble and add any additional dips or spreads to the board. It is best to use shallow and small bowls, along with a spreader.
Now is the time to add the additional ingredients along the board evenly.
Serve and enjoy!

Step-by-Step Instructions

First, prepare your produce. Cut your fruits and veggies into either small, bite-sized pieces, or festive shapes. If you want to do fun shapes, it is best to use a cookie cutter.

Next, prepare your dip. Mix your Greek yogurt and dry ranch mix well. Transfer the dip to a serving bowl.

Place your biggest items on your board to create the anchor points. Your tortilla chips and ranch dip should be your biggest items.

Next, add more dips and spreads to your board. It looks best if you use small, shallow bowls and dishes for the remaining dips. Add spoons or spreaders as needed. Place the remaining components around the board evenly. The perfect board is imperfect, so ignore your inner perfectionist, and play around with your presentation to make it your own!

Cook's Tips

A standard charcuterie board is 9 x 13 in.
Though the charcuterie style presentation is half of the fun, especially picky eaters may not like their food to touch. If that bothers your kid, you can serve your snacks in muffin tins rather than a board, so that each item remains separate.

Storage Instructions

You can prepare your board a day in advance. Wrap the entire board with plastic wrap, so that it is airtight, leaving off the chips. Remove the plastic wrap and add your tortilla chips when you are ready to serve!
You can leave snack boards out for up to 4 hours.

Serving Suggestions

For more adventurous eaters, add diced coconut to complete your flag colors. You can also add some chocolate chips in the microwave and make a dip. How's that for easy recipes?
Luster dust - food grade shimmer - can be a fun finishing touch. Red, silver, gold and blue would all be good color choices. If you get a bottle with a shaker, you can lightly dust your fruit with some. Alternatively, you can mix it with a little alcohol to paint it onto any food item, or even the board itself.

FAQ:

What do you put on a snack charcuterie board?

Snack boards are so much fun to make because you can customize them with all of your favorite things. In general, you do want to make sure you are offering sweet and salty options. I centered this snack board around the holiday theme, so I chose festive cookies and pretzels, colorful chips, dips, and matching fruits.You could add candy, meats, popcorn, or really anything that looks fun to you.

How do you make a good snack board?

Diversity and cohesion make a great snack board. Offer an array of flavors and textures. At the same time, you want it to make sense. You might do a snack board with really elevated, expensive cheeses and cured meats. Or you might do a snack board with rock candy and licorice. Both are fine, but maybe not on the same board!

What does not go on a charcuterie board?

Avoid anything with a lot of moisture. Soggy fruits, for example, can sully the whole board. You should also avoid anything that will turn brown quickly. Depending on the occasion, you may also want to avoid allergens. Nuts can be a tasty and nutritious addition to a snack board, but if you are unsure of your guests’ allergies, it may be best to leave them off.

Looking for more snack recipes? Try these:

Halloween Snack Board

Mexican Buffet Board

Easy Cheese Board

Tried this Summertime Snacks Board recipe and love it? Please leave me a comment and rating below. Feel free to also tag me, I love to see your creations and sharing them. For more inspiration follow us on Instagram Or like us on Facebook