This easy Christmas charcuterie board is a tasty way to ring in the holiday season! The themed grazing board is packed with delicious meats, cheeses, dips, and more. With simple step-by-step instructions, learn how to make a Christmas charcuterie board two ways; in the shape of a tree or a wreath!

a charcuterie board filled with meats and cheeses shaped like a christmas tree with ornaments at the top of the tree and around the christmas charcuterie board tree

Nothing says, “Happy Holidays,” like a Christmas tree charcuterie board! This one has a little bit of everything: meats, cheeses, fruits, spreads, olives, fresh herbs, bread, and more.

It’s the ultimate finger food because it’s a mouthwatering mesh of sweet, savory, and salty flavors. Serve this festive Christmas charcuterie board at all of your holiday gatherings and it’s bound to be a family gathering that no one will ever forget!

close up of the top of a festive charcuterie board

Reasons You’ll Love This Christmas-Themed Charcuterie Board

Perfect Holiday Party Treat! Feeling festive? This beautiful board is an easy way to impress your guests on Christmas Eve. Keep hungry guests happy with a grazing board before the main course at your next Christmas party.
Great for Snack Lovers! It doesn’t have to be a party to enjoy a charcuterie board. If you have a taste for a variety of small bites, this is the perfect way to satisfy your craving.
Easy to Customize! There are so many ways to prepare a charcuterie board. Feel free to mix, match, swap, and omit ingredients based on your preferences and diet.

What to Put On a Christmas Charcuterie Board

Cured Meats: Use your favorite meats. Popular choices include cured Ham, cured sausage, salami, meat pate, prosciutto, and sopressata.
Cheese: The best cheese boards have a great variety of cheeses, including soft cheeses, semi-soft cheeses, and hard cheese.
- Hard cheese: Try chunks of parmesan, aged gouda, asiago, gruyere, comte, manchego, Colby, or cheddar cheese.
- Soft cheese: Creamy brie cheese is a top pick. I love combining soft cheese with fruit or veggies: mozzarella balls on a toothpick with cherry tomatoes and basil, or soft goat cheese wrapped in herbs, pesto, or blueberries.
Nuts: Choose a variety of nuts. For ease, it’s best to use nuts that are out of the shell. Walnuts, almonds, pecans, and macadamia nuts are great options. Try roasted, spiced, and candied nuts for even more texture and flavor.
Olives: Use a variety of pitted olives to make grazing easier. Kalamata olives are a great option (they pair well with feta) as well as stuffed olives, Nicoise, and Castelvetranos.
Dried Fruit: Dried cranberries are great for a holiday charcuterie board. Apricots and dates would be great additions too.
Fresh Fruit: The natural sweetness of fruit complements the savory tastes of the meats and cheeses. Use red or green grapes, sliced apples and pears, berries, and figs.
Jams and Dips: What’s a grazing board without something to slather or dip? If you need inspiration, check out this Hot Honey Recipe, Raspberry Chia Jam, and Chocolate Dessert Hummus.
Crackers and/or Bread: Including a variety of bread and crackers on a charcuterie board can add texture and complement the flavors of the meats, cheeses, and other additions. Use gluten-free focaccia or gluten-free garlic bread. For crackers, try pita chips, whole wheat crackers, or even pretzels.
Rosemary Sprigs: Use this for the tree branches.

How to Make a Christmas Charcuterie Board

CHOOSE SHAPE. Choose your preferred shape – whether it’s a tree shape or a Christmas charcuterie wreath. A round board works best for displaying a wreath, while a rectangular board suits a tree design.
Begin by arranging fresh rosemary in the shape of your chosen wreath or tree. Alternatively, if your rosemary supply is limited, sculpt your ingredients and use rosemary to fill in the gaps.
ADD SMALL DISHES. Position any small dishes you plan to use, ensuring a balanced visual arrangement with 2 or 3 dishes.
ARRANGE MEATS & CHEESES. Next, arrange your meats, cheeses, and larger items, such as the small dishes. Alternate the direction of your meats and cheeses, creating an appealing pattern (meat in one row, then cheese in the next, and so on). Play with salami by folding, rolling, or even shaping it into fun designs to fit your Christmas charcuterie board.
FINISHING TOUCHES. As a final touch, place fruits, olives, and nuts onto your board. Position dried fruit in smaller sections, and don’t hesitate to layer some over the meat or cheese. Artfully stack your nuts in small mounds, allowing them to spill slightly for a more natural appearance.
Enhance your arrangement with delightful additions like chocolates, figs, pomegranates, jams, dips, or wrapped candies. Finally, Get creative by using petite Christmas cookie cutters to fashion charming shapes from your cheese or salami. While this step is optional, it adds an adorable touch!

charcuterie board with meats and cheeses shaped like a christmas trees

Tips To Nail the Recipe

Before you begin to assemble your Christmas board, have all of your ingredients prepared and portioned.
The best thing about charcuterie boards is the variety. Play around with different flavors and textures.
Remember your serving utensils (i.e., toothpicks, small forks, knives for dips and spreads, etc.).
You can prepare your board in advance and cover it with plastic wrap. But don’t add the crackers and bread until you’re ready to serve. (This ensures they don’t get stale.)
Charcuterie boards taste best at room temperature so if you make it ahead and refrigerate it, take it out at least 20 minutes before serving.
Keep some items on reserve. Throughout your event, check the board and replenish items as needed to ensure your Christmas charcuterie board looks and tastes fresh.

FAQs

What is charcuterie?

Charcuterie is the French term for cold cuts. It refers to the act of preparing and preserving meats like salami, ham, and pâtés. Today, charcuterie boards include a variety of cured meat, cheeses, fruits, nuts, and spreads. It’s become popular for its versatility and aesthetic appeal.

How do you set up a Christmas charcuterie board?

First, determine the shape of your board (i.e., Christmas tree, wreath, or purely decorative with sprigs of rosemary). Position small dishes around the board for balance and then proceed to arrange sliced meats and cheeses. Then add fruits, olives, and nuts. Finally, add artful finishing touches with additions like chocolates, figs, pomegranate seeds, jams, dips, or wrapped candies.

What not to put on a charcuterie board?

There aren’t many hard and fast rules when making a charcuterie board but you should definitely avoid cooked veggies, foods that spoil easily, and too many similar flavors.

I Hope You Enjoy This Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board!

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