Setting up a grazing table for Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be a marathon of cooking, setting the table, and panicking about serving everything at the right time. This year, shake it up. We go for casual and creative, but also keep it festive. Enter: the Thanksgiving grazing table. It is one large, beautiful space where your guests can serve themselves, taste everything and simply enjoy. The best part? Use with a few simple recipes Ocean Spray®you get all those classic Thanksgiving flavors, but with a fresh, modern twist.

A grazing table is the ultimate easy – but very aesthetically pleasing – solution. Picture this: a rustic (or modern, or maximalist – whatever your style, it suits) charcuterie-style spread that keeps the food flowing all day long. Start with appetizers, work on the sides, and make room for the main event, all on one photo-worthy table. Guests can snack, sip and chat at their own pace.

How to set up the perfect grazing table

The secret to a killer pasture board is balance. You want a little bit of everything – textures, flavors, colors – and you want it all to be easy to grab. First, you want to go big. Grab a few large wooden or ceramic planks (or a few smaller ones) to serve as the base for your grazing table. Rustic or sleek, it’s up to you, but make sure there’s room for all your holiday snacks.

Then add the classics (cranberry flavors are a no-brainer). It’s Thanksgiving, so we’re not skipping the essentials; we just make them more pasture-friendly. Cut the turkey into pieces, add dollops cranberry cream cheese dip directly on the shelves, bake the filling in muffin cups and spoon mashed potatoes into small bowls. It’s all about making things easily edible, yet completely indulgent.

Grazing table Most important recipes

Cranberry Trail Mix: Start with a trail mix with Ocean Spray® Craisins® Dried Cranberries. Toss them with roasted nuts, pumpkin seeds and a sprinkle of cinnamon. It’s the perfect sweet-savory combination that guests will enjoy all day long.

Cranberry Spread & Dipping Sauce: Take Ocean Spray® cranberry sauce and turn it into a spread that begs to be paired with turkey or roasted vegetables. Stay true to the classics by leaving your sauce as it is, straight from the can: The Cranberry sauce with whole berries is ideal for dipping or spreading, while the Jellied cranberry sauce is better if you want to cut something into thin slices. Or you can switch it up by whisking the sauce into a spicy aioli, or mixing it with cream cheese for something smooth and savory.

Sparkling sips: Keep it festive with Ocean Spray® Cranberry Juice Cocktailcocktail mixers and some bubbles. Set up a drinks station with glasses, ice, garnishes, your liqueurs or NA spirits of choice, and a variety of sparkling flavors. Guests can grab a glass whenever they want, and you don’t have to worry about playing bartender.

Don’t forget the finishing touches

Last but certainly not least: don’t forget to decorate. You can make it as simple or extravagant as you want. Throw in some mini pumpkins, fresh herbs like rosemary and red accents Ocean Spray® fresh cranberriesor colorful autumn leaves to make your board sing – there’s really no wrong way to do it. Don’t be afraid to play with the height either: stack treats on cake stands or platters to keep things interesting and, let’s face it, more photogenic.

A grazing board or table makes Thanksgiving something even more relaxing. You still give your guests the best flavors. But you can really enjoy the day with them. With this setup, your Thanksgiving will be one for the books (and for your Instagram feed).