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Easy Christmas charcuterie board made with cured meats, cheeses, nuts, jam, crackers, and seasonal ingredients. It's the perfect sweet and savory snack or appetizer for every holiday gathering.
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Why you'll love the Christmas charcuterie board
- Fun and festive for any holiday gathering
- No cooking and no charcuterie experience needed
- Versatile and accommodating for many diets
If you need a festive snack board for your holiday party, you'll love the Christmas charcuterie board! It's casual yet elegant, perfect for family gatherings, friend celebrations, or office parties.
Christmas charcuterie requires no experience and no cooking. This holiday-themed snack board is as simple as arranging a series of delicious ingredients on a surface and watching it get devoured.
This holiday charcuterie board is an indulgent feast of delicious treats, but you'll love that, with endless combinations, it accommodates multiple diets. It's a Christmas miracle, but it's not for Christmas only. This board is the perfect centerpiece for any winter holiday event.
Christmas charcuterie ingredients
My Christmas charcuterie version is a classic charcuterie board with added seasonal, holiday-themed ingredients.
The classic ingredients on this board include salami, prosciutto, white cheddar, brie cheese, red grapes, apples, bagel chips, crackers, candied walnuts, and almonds.
The holiday-themed ingredients for this board include sugared cranberries, pomegranate seeds, marinated mozzarella balls, dried figs, and rosemary clippings.
How to make a Christmas charcuterie board
Here's my step-by-step method to build a simple Christmas charcuterie board. If you're feeling creative, you can form items into holiday shapes, such as a wreath or Christmas tree.
Step 1. Pick the board - Use any flat surface as a board for charcuterie. A simple wood cutting board, marble slab, plate, baking sheet, or pizza pan will work. You can cover practically any flat surface with parchment paper.
Step 2. Cheeses first - I always start charcuterie platters with cheese because it tends to be the highest volume item on the board. So, it's easier to work smaller items around cheese than the other way around. Cut or slice cheeses into the desired shapes and add to the board. Use bowls for fresh mozzarella or burrata variety cheeses.
Step 3. Cured meats and bowls - Any classic charcuterie board calls for scrumptious, salty cured meats, so my tradition is the salami rose and ribbon-folded prosciutto. They're compact and present so nicely. I recommend keeping some on hand as backstock to replenish the board.
Since this is a Christmas charcuterie board, sugared cranberries are in order and addictive! I'll add the fresh fruit component later, but since these are in a bowl, it's good to claim the space sooner.
Step 4. Crackers, bread, and spread - I recommend a mix of bread and crackers for charcuterie boards for texture and variety. Crackers and bagel chips are great because they fit nicely on a compact board. French Bread and crostini are classic board items, and this delicious cranberry walnut bread will easily get devoured.
I used fig jam for these Christmas board photos, which pairs well with everything. But, my goodness, pomegranate cranberry relish takes salami and cheese to a new level of deliciousness!
Step 5. Fresh fruit - I mentioned above how I placed the sugared cranberries on the board early in the assembly. So, now it's time for sliced, crisp apples and juicy grapes. I recommend dipping the apples in lemon juice to prevent browning. I also suggest serving grapes in smaller clusters because they're easier for guests to pick up and eat.
Step 6. Nuts and dried fruit - The finishing touches of your Christmas board can include any combination of nuts and dried fruit. These items add so much texture and flavor to your board. Since they're small, I recommend adding them last to fill the remaining empty spaces on the board. You can always replenish them as needed.
Step 7. Christmas-themed garnish - Next to sugared cranberries, pomegranate arils, and fresh rosemary clippings are perfect for garnishing Christmas charcuterie. The combination is simple and subtle for an elegant holiday touch.
Variations
I always say there are no rules when making a snack board, and you're welcome to use any ingredients. However, I recommend selecting ingredients that provide the full combination of savory, salty, and sweet flavors and crispy, creamy, and crunchy textures.
If you want more seasonal dessert items on your Christmas board, consider making Christmas rice Krispie treats or peppermint white chocolate pretzels.
Chocolate ganache is always a good choice for a sweet spread. Chocolate covered nuts or a dark chocolate candy bar will disappear too!
Christmas board tips
A charcuterie board isn't exactly a recipe, but the recipe card below includes amounts to give you a point of reference to build your platter. Mix, match, and substitute ingredients to your heart's content. No matter what, I recommend the following tips.
- Rest the cheeses at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving to bring out their accurate flavor profile.
- Plan to replenish the board a few times during your event. This helps keep the presentation fresh for an extended time frame.
- You can assemble and refrigerate charcuterie a day in advance. I recommend covering it with plastic wrap to prevent air exposure. Plan to add crackers or bread right before serving.
- If you're a charcuterie beginner, I have several tips on how to make a simple charcuterie board that applies to this and any board.
I'd love to answer your questions in the comments section below. Or tag me on Instagram with your charcuterie tray creations. xo Traci
📖 Recipe
Christmas Charcuterie Board
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Ingredients
Cheeses
- 8 ounces White Cheddar Cheese, or other hard cheese, cubed
- 4 ounces Brie Cheese, or other soft-rind cheese
- 8 ounces Marinated Mozzarella Balls
Cured meats
- 8 ounces Italian Dry Salami, thinly sliced
- 6 ounces Prosciutto Di Parma, thinly sliced
Bread and crackers
- 10 ounces Bagel Chips
- 8 ounces Water Crackers, or other variety
Fruit
- 1 large Apple, sliced
- ⅓ pound Grapes, cut into small bunches
Nuts
- ½ cup Candied Almonds
- ½ cup Candied Walnuts
Holiday-themed ingredients
- 1 cup Sugared Cranberries
- ½ cup Dried Figs
- ½ cup Fig Jam, or other variety
- ⅓ cup Pomegranate Arils, gor garnish
- Fresh Rosemary, for garnish
Instructions
- Visit the step-by-step photo instructions in the blog post above for visuals of how easy it is to create this board.
- Arrange CHEESES and BOWL INGREDIENTS on the board.
- Add SALAMI (rose-optional) and ribbon-folded PROSCIUTTO to the board, adjusting other items as needed.
- Arrange FRESH FRUIT in a few places on the board.
- Fill in the empty spaces with CHIPS and CRACKERS, followed by DRIED FIGS, WALNUTS, and ALMONDS.
- Place FRESH ROSEMARY around the board and scatter POMEGRANATE ARILS as a final garnish.
- Add serving utensils to the board and serve.Pro tip: Allow cheeses to rest at room temperature about 30 minutes before serving to bring out their full flavor.
Equipment
- charcuterie board – any shape
- cheese accessories set optional
- cheese knives optional
- party toothpicks or plain toothpicks
- small spoons optional
- small bowls recommended for non-dry items
- small plates and napkins for serving
Tia says
The step by step makes this so easy and approachable! I’ve always been intimidated by how fancy these boards look, but your breakdown makes it so doable. Thanks!
Carol says
Such a festive board and great instructions. I will be making this for a couple of family events. Thanks so much for the inspiration!
Jeff says
This really is the perfect holiday appetizer. I love how easy it comes together. Of course, it's a smash hit at the party - it makes the party!