Sponsored by Tuscanini

What do you love most about Chanukah? Sure the gifts, lights, food and decor are special, but what most of you probably answered is the family time, the chance to enjoy one another’s company and make special memories.

That’s why it’s so important to give yourself a break if you’re hosting a Chanukah party this year. Your family wants to spend time with you- it’s so important to be present and not stress over the artificial details. Buy those donuts instead of making them, put the gifts in pretty bags instead of wrapping paper, and skip the 10-course meal and go for an epic store-bought food board to serve on the side of those latkes.

Snack boards are great because they really allow for great conversation and laughs. They’re casual, delicious, and festive, something everyone will really appreciate!

You can, of course, put anything you want on your board, but today we’re showing you 2 boards that cover most of the munch cravings.

To make these boards extra special, we used Tuscanini’s new roasted chestnuts. Chestnuts go hand in hand with the season, so it was only fitting to use them for these boards.

Tuscanini Italian chestnuts are grown in groves along Campania’s hills and mountains. The location isn’t just beautiful – it also has the ideal temperature and natural water supply for growing chestnuts, resulting in a bounty of fruits of the finest quality.

On a holiday that is known for all the fried foods, Tuscanini’s chestnuts – which are never fried, and have just 1 gram of fat and no added sugar – won’t make you feel any of the Chanukah guilt.

We used Tuscanini’s “Original” flavor for our sweet fondue board, and their “Salt and Pepper” flavor for our savory board.

Since this original article went live, Tuscanini has also come out with a new flavor that we are very excited about- Cinnamon! It’s the perfect warm flavor, perfect for Chanukah time!

Let’s take a closer look at both boards and chestnut flavors.

The Savory Snack Board:

For this board we used the following:

Tuscanini Salt and Pepper Chestnuts
Fresh figs
Dried apricots
Marinated olives
Pita chips
Fresh grapes
Bread sticks
Garlic confit
Pesto
Roasted chickpeas
Tangerines
Tuscanini jam
Flat flaxseed crackers

The Salt and Pepper Chestnuts are such a unique and beautiful product that we were so privileged to be able to use here. They have the perfect salty taste, with a tender-yet-firm texture. They paired perfectly with all of the other components on the board.

The Sweet Chocolate Fondue Board:

For this board we used the following:

Tuscanini Original Chestnuts
Sliced apples
Chocolate fondue
Sweet caramel popcorn
Pound cake, cubed
Cashews
Chocolate chip cookies
Fresh strawberries

Like the Salt and Pepper Chestnuts, these are also sweet with a tender-yet-firm texture. They pair really well with both savory and sweeter snacks, and went perfectly with this sweet dessert board.

With the help of Tuscanini’s new roasted chestnuts, both of these boards took minutes to make, which allows you to spend more time with family, and less time slaving away in the kitchen all evening.

Chag Sameach!

Photography by Sara Goldstein

Originally published December 2022. Updated and improved December 2023.