Create a stunning Christmas Charcuterie Board in just 15 minutes! With simple ingredients and easy steps, you’ll have a beautiful, crowd-pleasing centerpiece that’s as festive as it is easy to pull together. Perfect for holiday gatherings—anyone can make this!
Why You Should Make this Charcuterie Christmas Tree
This Christmas tree appetizer is both impressive and easy—just the kind of recipe that makes you the star of the party!
Picture this: you show up at the holiday party with this charcuterie in a Christmas tree shape, and instantly, everyone is obsessed. As the table’s centerpiece, it draws all of the guests’ attention to its adorable design and assortments of cured meat, cheeses, and fruits! Meanwhile, you know it only took a little slicing and arranging to create this piece of art. Your secret is safe with me! 😉
And if you want to WOW your friends, make this snowman cheeseball to go with it!
Christmas Tree Appetizer
I will be the first to admit that the holidays can be stressful. I love the gatherings to see family and friends, but knowing what to bring to the many different Christmas parties that happen each season can be overwhelming! That’s where cheese boards come in!
Try this charcuterie board if you need something super easy to make for this year’s holiday parties. It looks stunning and is so easy to put together! It’s my go-to each holiday season, along with this easy Cranberry Cream Cheese Dip!
Plus, this charcuterie tree is Instagram-worthy, so remember to snap a picture after creating it! A festive combo of sweet, savory, and crunchy flavors. The fresh fruit, creamy cheese, salty meats, and toasted nuts come together with fresh rosemary sprigs that make the whole thing look (and smell) like a Christmas tree.
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Ingredients
- Golden Kiwis: Golden Kiwis are the perfect color to create a star atop your Christmas tree-shaped charcuterie! If you can’t find golden kiwis, regular will work, too.
- Pistachios and almonds: I like to buy shelled pistachios for ease. Almonds and pistachios are my favorite additions here, but you can replace them with other nuts, like cashews!
- Pecans: Pecans are great to use here as the stump of the Christmas tree! Or use pretzels.
- Salami: Feel free to go crazy and get as many varieties as you like. I used a trio of classico, black pepper, and herbs & spices!
- White Cheddar Cheese: Buy cheese already in cubes or cut a block into cubes yourself, or use your favorite hard cheese.
- Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese: For an extra touch of holiday flavors, I like adding cranberry white cheddar cheese, too! It’s available at most delis, Aldi’s, and Trader Joe’s during the holidays.
- Other Cheeses: Try soft cheese like Brie, havarti or goat cheese.
- Mozzarella Pearls: Elegant and delicious.
- Raspberries & Strawberries: I added some berries to the mix to give it some red color and a bright, light flavor.
- Green & Red Grapes: I used both red and green grapes here. Grapes always go well on a charcuterie board!
- Fresh Herbs: The fresh rosemary helps the board to look more festive. Also try fresh thyme, fresh bay leaves, fresh sage.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
Recommended Tools
- I like these inexpensive but beautiful Acacia wood boards in various sizes!
- Toothpick holder and fancy toothpicks
How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie
Step 1: Choose the right size board
Choose a charcuterie board or cutting board that will hold your Charcuterie Tree! I used a 17×20-inch board; this Acacia board is reasonably priced! And this Christmas tree-shaped board one would be SO cute! But the bottom line is that this is so customizable, use the size that works best for your guests!
Step 2: Assemble the Charcuterie Tree
Build your tree by starting at the bottom and working your way up. Create rows of each item and place a sprig of fresh rosemary between each row.
I started with pecans for the “trunk,” then added a layer of rosemary and white cheddar cheese chunks.
Fold salami in half and then half again for a more decorative look; add more rosemary, green grapes, and more rosemary, a layer of golden kiwis, cranberry cheddar cheese, and more salami (use variety here), more rosemary; progressive getting smaller with each layer, making your tree shape.
Assemble into the shape of a Christmas tree from the bottom up.
Step 3: Finish your Christmas Appetizer for Serving
Continue with layers, finishing with fruits. Using a small star cookie cutter, press the cutter into two middle slices of kiwi and place them on top for the star, alternating one slightly off from the other.
Sprinkle some extra nuts around the board (or add bowls of dips, nuts, chocolates, etc) and add crackers for serving. Remember the toothpicks so people can easily grab their favorites. I like these square toothpick holders and these fun toothpicks.
Christmas Tree Appetizers Variations & Ideas
The options for this Christmas tree-shaped charcuterie board are honestly endless! It doesn’t matter what you add to the board; as long as you have a variety of colors and flavor options, it will turn out gorgeous. Here are some variations to try:
- Mediterranean: Swap out the salami for prosciutto and soppressata. Add marinated olives, cherry tomatoes, and cubes of feta instead of cheddar.
- Sweet and savory: For a balanced flavor, try pairing dried apricots, figs, and candied pecans with sharp cheeses like aged Gouda or blue cheese.
- Spice it up: Add some jalapeño cheddar or pepper jack cheese for those who love a little heat.
- Vegetarian Version: Skip the meat and load up on roasted veggies, hummus, marinated artichokes, and various olives.
- Add more color to your platter and sprinkle cherries or pomegranates throughout for bursts of red.
- Instead of a Christmas tree board, create into a wreath shape instead.
- Add your favorite candies, candy canes, snacks and more.
Christmas Tree Charcuterie FAQs
Place any moist ingredients away from the crackers, like the fruits and mozzarella balls. This will prevent sogginess and keep everything tasting its best. Another option is serving the crackers on a separate plate beside your charcuterie board. If you’re making it ahead of time, add the crackers just before serving to keep them fresh and crunchy.
Nope! Keep your board fresh by popping it back in the refrigerator when it’s not being enjoyed and covering it with plastic wrap. Feel free to prep it the night before for easy serving, and wrap up any leftovers tightly before refrigerating.
Definitely! You can prep this Christmas-themed charcuterie board the night before—just wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate. Hold off on adding the crackers until right before serving so they stay fresh and crisp.
Kathleen’s Expert Tips
- Use a large, flat serving board or a wooden cutting board to show off the tree shape. I have used a 17 x 12″ and 20 x 15″, and both worked great.
- Alternate textures and colors for the most visually appealing result when designing the Christmas tree. For example, place cheese next to a crunchy nut or fresh fruit to keep things balanced.
- When arranging the salami, fold it in half and then in half again. Then, press them all together to create a nice-looking line of salami on the board!
- Serve with a variety of sides! Crackers, flatbreads, and some fig jam or spicy mustard on the side will give people even more ways to enjoy the flavors.
- Double the recipe for a crowd! This recipe easily doubles or triples to make the size needed for your gathering. Remember that you will need a larger tray or wooden board to serve it on!
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Ingredients
- 1-2 golden kiwis peeled and halved; reserve 2 whole slices from the middle of the fruit to cut out your star shapes with a small star cookie cutter. Thicker slices are best for the star.
- 2 tablespoons pistachios shelled makes it super easy!
- 2 tablespoons almonds whole
- 6-10 pecan halves for the stump
- 12 ounces salami I used 3 different varieties- classico, black pepper, and herbs & spices. Use your favorite
- ½ cup white cheddar cheese cubed, or other favorite cheese
- ¼ cup cranberry white cheddar cheese cubed, or other favorite cheeses
- 8 ounces mozzarella pearls
- ¼ cup raspberries
- 2-4 strawberries sliced
- ½ cup green grapes
- ¼ cup red grapes
- 6-10 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Grab a large enough rectangular board to build your Christmas tree. Build your tree by starting at the bottom and working your way up. Starting with pecans for the "stump" of the tree, with a row of rosemary.6-10 pecan halves, 6-10 sprigs fresh rosemary
- Next add a row a cubed cheese, then fold salami in half, then half again, tucking them above the cheese, add another layer of rosemary, then add a row of green grapes.12 ounces salami, ½ cup white cheddar cheese, ½ cup green grapes
- Add more rosemary, then some sliced kiwis, add a row of cranberry cheddar cubes, more salami and more rosemary, tuck in sliced strawberries and a few raspberries.¼ cup cranberry white cheddar cheese, 2-4 strawberries, ¼ cup raspberries
- Finish up your tree by adding another row of rosemary, red grapes and an assortment of almonds and pistachios, topping with golden kiwi stars. Adding little layers of pearled mozzarella between the rows.1-2 golden kiwis, 2 tablespoons pistachios, 2 tablespoons almonds, ¼ cup red grapes, 8 ounces mozzarella pearls
- Finish by adding some crackers, toothpicks, cheese pick and serving plates for your guests.
Notes
- These are general measurements; they may vary depending on how large your board is or how large you decide you want it to be.
- Use any cheeses, meats, nuts, and fruits of your choice.
- Have fun and get creative!
- Serve with crackers or flatbread; you can even add dips/jams/jellies to the side if you’d like.
- If you don’t have golden kiwis or want to use something else for the star on top, a cheese slice cut into a star shape works great.
- You can layer the ingredients any way you like. Be creative; and don’t forget to share your creation with me on Instagram or Facebook #thefreshcooky tag @thefreshcooky.
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