A Festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
It's almost time to drink and be merry with friends! And this Chrismtas tree charcuterie board is a simple, no-cook, and festive way to do so. Fill this board with all of your favorite meats, cheeses, and snacks. It's the Christmas appetizer everyone wants and needs.
Ingredients
- 3-4 cheeses (~8 ounces/227 grams each)
- 2-3 packages of cured meats (4 ounces/113 grams each)
- 2 ounces candied orange slices (75 grams)
- 1 package mini cookies (3.5 ounces/100 grams)
- 1/2 pound grapes (227 grams)
- 1/2 cup pomegranate arils (78 grams/1 pomegranate)
- 5.5 ounces picked peppers (160 grams)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries (80 grams)
- 1/2 cup seasoned pecans (60 grams)
- Rosemary sprigs, for garnish
- 2-3 packages of crackers or bread (4 ounces/120 grams each)
- Candies, chocolate, seasonal items, etc. for decorating
Equipment
- 1 large cheese board
- Parchment paper
- Cheese knives, for serving
Instructions
- Start by tracing a tree shape onto a large piece of parchment paper. Cut out the tree shape and place it on the serving board.
- Then, slice any hard, semi-hard, or semi-soft cheeses into cubes or wedges. Using the parchment paper as a guide, arrange the cheese cubes in piles on different areas on the board. If you have cheese wedges, arrange them pointing outwards to look like branches.
- Next, fold or roll the meats and arrange them in-between the piles of cheese. Place a few candied orange slices on the edges of the parchment paper to add depth. Arrange any other larger items like cookies or crackers between the cheeses.
- Then, add piles of grapes, pomegranate arils, or other seasonal fruits you like. Fill in any gaps with smaller items like pickled peppers, dried cranberries, candies, seeds, nuts, etc.
- Using pecans, create 2-3 rows side-by-side at the bottom of the tree to make a trunk. Then, fill in random gaps of the board with sprigs of rosemary to add "branches". Use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to slice small stars out of scraps of cheese and place them throughout the board (if desired). Add any other small decorations or garnishes. Enjoy!
Notes
You will need 3-4 cheeses for this board – a hard/semi-hard, soft/semi-soft, and a blue cheese and/or a seasonal option. I used aged gouda, havarti, and cranberry Stilton.
To keep the board festive, look for seasonal ingredients or red, white, and green ingredients. White cheeses, red fruits, Christmas candies, rosemary, etc.
Use different shapes and textures on the board. It helps add depth and makes the board look so much more interesting and elegant!
Slice the cheese cold. I promise, it makes slicing everything so much easier.
Scale the board up or down depending on how many people you're serving. This board is great for a small group, or you can make a big one for a crowd!
For the best flavor and texture, let the cheese warm to room temperature before serving. About 30 minutes!
Serving: 1serving, Calories: 389kcal, Carbohydrates: 42g, Protein: 9.5g, Fat: 20.8g, Saturated Fat: 7.6g, Cholesterol: 32mg, Sodium: 600mg, Potassium: 169mg, Fiber: 2.4g, Sugar: 19g, Calcium: 172mg, Iron: 2mg
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