Description
Create a stunning and festive Christmas Charcuterie Board perfect for holiday entertaining. This appetizer features a balanced selection of cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts, and crunchy accompaniments artfully arranged for easy sharing and a beautiful presentation that captures the spirit of the season.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 1 wheel of Brie or Camembert
- 1 block sharp Cheddar
- 1 wedge of Manchego or Gruyère
- Blue cheese or herbed goat cheese (optional)
Meats
- Salami slices
- Prosciutto
- Soppressata or chorizo
- Pâté or rillettes (optional)
Fruits & Veggies
- Red grapes
- Pomegranate seeds
- Kiwi slices or green apple
- Cherry tomatoes
- Sliced cucumber or baby carrots
Crunch & Extras
- Mixed nuts (candied pecans, pistachios, almonds)
- Green olives or cornichons
- Fig jam or honey
- Dried apricots or cranberries
- Breadsticks, crackers, crostini
Decorative Garnishes
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Star-cut cheese shapes (optional)
Instructions
- Start with structure: Place your cheeses first, spacing them out evenly to anchor the board visually and functionally. Pre-slice the hard cheeses like Cheddar or Manchego for easy grabbing, while leaving soft cheeses like Brie whole, providing a knife for serving.
- Add meats: Arrange the sliced meats near the cheeses to encourage pairing. Fold prosciutto into delicate ribbons, roll the salami slices, or shape the meats into “roses” for a decorative and inviting look.
- Place bowls: Add small ramekins filled with fig jam, green olives, or mixed nuts. These add height to the board and create visual breaks that make the arrangement more dynamic.
- Fill in with fruits and veggies: Use vibrant red and green fruits for a festive Christmas palette. Scatter pomegranate seeds, red grapes, kiwi slices or green apple, cherry tomatoes, and sliced cucumbers or baby carrots around the board, tucking them into empty spaces and edges.
- Add crunch: Scatter crackers, breadsticks, nuts, and dried fruits like apricots or cranberries across the board. Allow some elements to spill slightly off the board edges for a natural, abundant effect.
- Garnish last: Finish by adding fresh rosemary sprigs resembling pine needles to bring a seasonal aroma and texture. Optionally, add star-cut cheese shapes to elevate the festive appearance.
Notes
- This board can be customized with any preferred cheese or meat varieties to suit dietary preferences.
- Keep soft cheeses chilled until serving time for best texture and flavor.
- Use a variety of colors and textures to make the board visually appealing and delicious.
- Have plenty of small knives and toothpicks available for easy serving.
- This charcuterie setup is ideal for serving at holiday parties and can be prepared ahead of time, storing components separately until assembly.
