'Tis the season of joy, and what better way to celebrate the holidays than with a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board. This appetizer will tantalize your taste buds but also add a fun and festive flair to your table.
This creative and delicious masterpiece requires no cooking, baking, or special skill, yet is sure to be the star of your holiday gatherings.
It brings the flavors of the season together in such a beautiful way!
Why You Will Love This Recipe
This Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is a feast for the palate but also a feast for the eyes. You can pick and choose the items you want to use. Favorite cheeses, meats, nuts, and fruits all work together to deliver delicious flavors.
Assembling the board is a fun activity that can be shared with friends and family, making it a memorable part of your holiday traditions.
Ingredient Ideas
**Use these ideas as a starting point, and customize your board with different or additional ingredients to suit your preferences.**
How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
First, choose a base. You’ll want to start with a large, flat surface or board. A wooden cutting board or slate works well. My favorite is a gray slate board that measures 12x18” to provide plenty of space to build whatever look I want to create.
Then, begin arranging the meats, cheeses, and fruits. Begin at the top of the tree, leaving enough room on the board for the star. I started with cubes of cheese, and placed some grapes in between to control any rolling. I like to alternate and layer the ingredients for an appealing look.
As you build out the tree, continue to choose each layer to provide contrasting textures and color. I wanted to include crackers as part of the tree, but you could also serve those on the side if you prefer.
Also be thoughtful about shapes. Cherry tomatoes and grapes are a great addition but they do tend to roll. For this board, I built to the cucumber layer, then made a single row of tomatoes followed by a row of cheese cubes. Then I could add more tomatoes without fear of them rolling away!
I added dried fruits (apricots and cranberries) to the bottom of the tree as well as some sausage sticks to make the tree trunk.
Finishing touches
The tree needs a star, right? The easiest way to make a star is to use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a piece of deli cheese.
I wanted some dip, so I used a small star-shaped bowl and filled it with veggie dip. Either way makes a great accent for the top of the tree.
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This Christmas tree appetizer was ready to go but then I decided we needed a few more crackers. So I added another type of cracker along the bottom, continuing the tree shape. You could also use the crackers to form an outline all around the edge of the tree, if preferred.
And this is totally optional, but I decided to decorate the tree with herbs. I used sprigs of rosemary and thyme to add accents within the tree and create a festive look.
Serving Suggestions
Present your Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board as the centerpiece of your holiday table. Encourage guests to graze and mingle, enjoying the variety of flavors.
Pair it with a glass of wine or sparkling cider to enhance the festive atmosphere.
Substitutions and Variations
Feel free to get creative and adapt the recipe to suit your preferences. Consider adding olives, dried fruits, or different types of cheeses. Raw broccoli florets would be a great addition, especially if you're serving veggie dip as I did.
For a vegetarian option, skip the cured meats and focus on a variety of cheeses and plant-based alternatives.
Storage
Your charcuterie board is always best if assembled just before serving to maintain the optimal texture and flavor of the ingredients.
However, sometimes that is just not practical. If you need to make it up ahead and/or transport it to a gathering, cover it well with plastic wrap and refrigerate. I like to lay out a long piece of wrap and then bring the ends up to meet on top. It's much easier to unwrap that way. 😀
Frequently Asked Questions
Prepare as close to serving time as possible to maintain freshness. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you are ready to serve.
Select a variety of cheeses with different textures and flavors, such as aged cheddar and creamy gouda. If your family loves marble Jack cheese, cube up a bunch! It’s all about having a variety to please all palates.
Absolutely! Scale down the ingredients to suit your needs. Sometimes, we call that "lunch". 😁
This Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is a festive and flavorful way to bring people together during the holidays. Whether you're hosting a large gathering or a cozy family dinner, this delightful creation is sure to spread joy and satisfy the appetites of your loved ones. Happy holidays and happy feasting!
📖 Recipe
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Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- 1 bunch grapes green or red
- 6-8 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 6 ounces hard cheese cubed (cheddar, Gouda, etc)
- ⅓ cucumber English
- 6 ounces salami
- ½ cup pita crackers
- 1 sleeve Ritz crackers
- 4 sausage sticks
- ½ cup vegetable dip
- ½ cup dried apricots
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- fresh herbs
Instructions
- Choose a flat cutting board or slate surface to build your tree.
- Leaving room at the top for a star, start placing cubes of cheese, then alternate with other ingredients. Make each layer slightly wider to form the Christmas tree shape.
- Use crackers to create one of the layers or serve them on the side if preferred.
- Fill a star-shaped bowl with the vegetable dip and place at the top of the tree. (or, just cut a star shaped piece of deli cheese to form the tree topper)
- Use the sausage sticks to form the tree trunk.
- Use sprigs of fresh herbs to make accents within the layers.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data.
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