The Spread (Mascarpone Board with Balsamic Strawberries)

The Spread (Mascarpone Board with Balsamic Strawberries)

Is your mind in the gutter?  Bring it back to the kitchen!

It is time for a Mascarpone Board with Balsamic Strawberries, Basil and Candied Pecans.  This is an easy appetizer you can make with ease. Spend hardly any time in the kitchen -the express train of bougie, simple goodness.

Fall in love with a delightful new taste.  You need to make the Spread.

Why will I love this recipe?

• Balsamic Strawberries with Mascarpone is a great flavor combination
• Easy to to put together
• Beautiful to bring to a party

Ingredients

Candied Pecans

• Butter
• Pecans
• Brown Sugar

Toast

• French Baguette
• Butter

Board

• Mascarpone Cheese
• Strawberries
• Fresh Basil
• Salt /Pepper
• Candied Pecans
• Balsamic Glaze

How do you make the Best Butter Board? 

This is a different take on the hugely popular ‘Butter Board’ trend featured on Tiktok, by Justine Doiron.  The Spread is a fun and interesting Mascarpone cheese appetizer recipe.   For most of these Boards, butter is the star of the show,  but for our recipe, we feel that Mascarpone is a more interesting base than salted or compound butter.  Savory like an appetizer- sweet like a dessert.

Click here for fun Cuss Kitchen® Merchandise

What is Mascarpone Cheese?

Mascarpone cheese is a type of cheese originating in Italy. It’s made from two ingredients – heavy cream and citric or tartaric acid.  Mascarpone cheese is often compared to cream cheese, ricotta cheese, crème fraiche, and clotted cream.  Mascarpone is sweeter and less tangy product than its peers.  We prefer it for its extra smooth texture.

Making a Mascarpone Board

Start with a large board, wooden board, cutting board, or platter. Use creamy Mascarpone cheese, rather than sweet butter for an interesting twist.  Put dollops of cheese on your board, and use the back of a spoon, or spatula to spread the cheese evenly across the Board.

Add finely chopped fresh basil, and thinly sliced strawberries. Next top with candied Pecans.  Add flaky sea salt, fresh ground pepper, and balsamic glaze to taste.  Dip that bread and Take a bite!

Crostini  – Make your crispy toast with soft butter

Brush the butter onto French baguette slices(or other crusty bread) and toast.  You can serve the crisp toasts on the side of your board, or in a separate basket.  Don’t forget to include cheese knives for serving.

How to make Balsamic Vinegar Reduction or Glaze

The Spread, a Basil and Balsamic Strawberry Butter Board

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4.99 from 62 votes

The Spread (Mascarpone Board with Balsamic Strawberries)

Seasoned ,Mascarpone Board with Balsamic Strawberries and candied Pecans

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Total Time15 minutes mins

Course: Appetizer

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Appetizer Board, Appetizer spread, Balsamic Strawberries, Butter Board, Candied Pecans, Charcuterie Mascarpone Board, Cheese Butter Board, Cheese spread Charcuterie Board, Marscapone Charcuterie Board, Marscarpone Charcuterie Board, Mascarpone Butter Board, Spread, The Spread

Yield: 10

Author: Upton O'Goode

Equipment

• Sm-Med Wooden Cutting Board

Materials

Candied Pecans

• 1 Tbsp Butter
• ½ Cup Rough Cut Pecans
• ¼ Cup Brown Sugar

Toast

• 1 French Baguette Thinly sliced and toasted
• 1 Tbsp Butter

Board

• 1 8 oz Mascarpone Room Temperature
• 6-8 Fresh Strawberries Washed, De-stemmed, and thinly sliced
• 3-4 Basil leaves (large) Washed and cut into thin strips
• Salt (a light dusting)
• Fresh Ground Pepper
• ½ Cup Candied Pecans
• ¼ Cup Balsamic Glaze

Instructions

Make Your Toast

• Cut the Baguette into thin slices
• Toast
• Lightly butter each toast
• Set aside

Prepare the Ingredients for your Board

• Cut the strawberries into thin slices
• Cut the basil into thin strips

Make Candied Pecans

• Add 1 Tbsp butter to a frying pan on low heat
• Allow the butter to melt
• Add brown sugar and stir
• Add pecans and stir for 3-4 minutes
• Remove from heat
• As the nuts cool, they may require an additional rough chop

Assemble your Butter Board

• With a butter or cheese knife create circles of Mascarpone across ⅔ of your board. Spread thickly for good coverage.
• Add strawberry slices and basil strips
• Add candied Pecans
• Lightly salt
• Add fresh ground pepper
• Drizzle balsamic vinegar across your cheese
• Add the baguette slices to the ⅓ of the board that is unused
• Serve

Click here for Fun Cuss Kitchen® Merchandise

Aphrodesi’hacks’:

• You’ll want to use softened Mascarpone at room temperature.
• Choose a great crusty bread, and slice thinly.
• Your Candied pecans will likely get sticky and need a second chop.
• Candied walnuts or pistachios are also crunchy and delicious alternatives.
• Vary your toppings -Other favorite toppings include raspberry and balsamic, blackberry and balsamic, peach and balsamic, and of course fig and balsamic
• Add more zest and change up your fresh herbs.  Fresh Rosemary, Parsley, Oregano, Thyme, Green onion, and Lemon zest are all great flavors. Flaky salt and fresh ground pepper can help create a board that’s fabulous. Sprinkle Edible flowers for a romantic garnish to this easy appetizer board.
• You could make this recipe with goat cheese, or even cream cheese, as a substitution ingredient for sweet and tangy Mascarpone cheese
• Wonderful as a breakfast board.  Perfect for a tasty brunch.
• Beautiful for a Holiday appetizer.  Your family and friends will love the irresistible              Grilled Peach Spread                     savory and sweet flavors.

From viral trend to a Mascarpone Masterpiece- this easy-to-make board is packed with flavor!  So get a wooden board and get started!  It’s absolutely delicious.

FAQs for a Mascarpone Charcuterie Board

What the FAQ?

What is Mascarpone cheese?

Mascarpone is a fresh Italian cheese, exceptionally smooth, and easily spreadable fresh cream cheese.  It is made from heavy cream and citric or tartaric acid.

What is a Mascarpone Charcuterie Board?

The butter board charcuterie trend is an amazing appetizer option so you don’t have to serve every single accoutrement separately.   These boards create infused flavors that combine artfully- and are complemented with crackers, or crostini for dipping.  More recently recipes are featuring interesting cheese spreads with a variety of toppings.

When should I serve a Mascarpone Charcuterie Board?

A Mascarpone Charcuterie Board is a perfect appetizer tray for a party.  Easy to assemble and fun to serve.

Try the Spread – a Mascarpone Charcuterie Board with Balsamic Strawberries

with a wonderful Cuss Kitchen® Cocktail:

Reconstituted VERgin  The Reconstituted VERgin is a lovely multi-layered botanical spritz cocktail with notes of herbs, spices, seeds, bark, mint, and the sparkle of Prosecco.  Light and perfect summer cocktail.  Bubbles and Botanicals make this cocktail mysterious and complex

Homemade Limoncello goes perfectly with Italian Cake.  Who doesn’t love an icy homemade Limoncello? Such a beautiful Italian tradition. Many will enjoy it as an after-dinner- but it is a treat at any time- especially on a warm and sunny day- Delizioso!

How about a delicious Strawberry Mojito with your cake?  Try our Skinny Whore-jito  This low-calorie Whore-jito combines Sugar free lemonade, white rum, fresh mint leaves, and sliced strawberries.  The Weekend – maker!  Perfect for the summer heat.