Christmas Charcuterie Board

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.

Why you'll love the Christmas charcuterie board

1. Fun and festive for any holiday gathering
2. No cooking and no charcuterie experience needed
3. 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, which makes it 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 really 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 version of Christmas charcuterie is essentially 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.

Here's my step-by-step method to build a Christmas holiday board. You're welcome to form items into holiday shapes such as a wreath or Christmas tree if you're feeling creative.

Step 1. Use any board you like

You can use any flat surface as a board for charcuterie. A simple wood cutting board, marble slab, plate, baking sheet, or even a pizza pan will work. You can cover any flat surface with parchment paper and call it a board.

Step 2. Cheese 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, rather than the other way around. Simply cut or slice cheeses into the desired shapes and add to the board. Use bowls for fresh mozzarella or burrata variety cheeses.

Step 3. Add cured meats and larger 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 back stock to replenish the board as needed.

Since this is a Christmas charcuterie board, sugared cranberries are in order – and they are 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. Add 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 and it pairs well with everything. But, oh my goodness, pomegranate cranberry relish takes salami and cheese to a whole new level of delicious!

Step 5. Fresh fruit is a must

Earlier, I mentioned 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. Finish with 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. Garnish your Christmas board

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.

Board variations

I always say there are no rules when making a snack board and you're welcome to use any ingredients. However, I do recommend selecting ingredients that provide the full combination of savory, salty, and sweet flavors as well as 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. Feel free to mix, match, and substitute ingredients to your heart's content. No matter what, I recommend the following tips.

Rest cheeses at room temperature for about 30 minutes before serving to bring out their true 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 apply to this and any board.

I'd love to answer your questions in the comments section below. Or tag me on Instagram with your own charcuterie tray creations. xo Traci