Elato Charcuterie Board

Prepare all your items in advance so they’ll be ready and easy to simply lay on a bed of ice. Use a platter, board or tray with a little depth to it for the ice which looks great and of course, will help to keep the ice cream and accompaniments firm and appetising for longer.

To make the chocolate dip, combine broken chocolate pieces and coconut oil in a microwave safe cup or bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds on high, remove, and stir. Return to the microwave for 30 seconds on high, remove and stir. If not fully melted, return for 30 seconds. Dip your frozen fruit or frozen marshmallows into the melt.

Skewers are ideal for summer charcuterie boards. Fruit skewers in particular look great and allow for easy pick-up and dipping. Also, colour blocking is always effective on a charcuterie board and skewers offer a great way to colour block.

Choose a theme to please your guests – brightly coloured cake pops, snakes and frogs work a treat for kids and drunken chocolate-covered fruits for adults are sure to please.

Be sure to include fresh or frozen berries that aren’t chocolate-covered for those who want a healthier option and as a great complement to the ice cream.

Think outside the box: even salty items are a great accompaniment to ice cream. Crunchy textures work well with the softness and smoothness of ice cream. Salted pretzels, caramelised and salted nuts, chopped-up dried fruits, granola or even broken left-over biccies from the pantry are great. A simple coulis to pour on top of the ice cream is also a crowd pleaser.