Description
Create a festive and visually stunning Christmas Charcuterie Board that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. This appetizer features a delicious assortment of cheeses, cured meats, fresh fruits, crunchy nuts, and flavorful extras, all artfully arranged to delight your guests’ taste buds and eyes alike.
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 for easy access. Pre-slice hard cheeses like Cheddar and Manchego to make grabbing simple, while keeping soft cheeses like Brie whole with a knife nearby for spreading.
- Add meats: Arrange your cured meats nearby the cheeses to encourage pairing. Fold prosciutto into delicate ribbons, roll the salami slices into spirals, or create meat “roses” for an attractive presentation.
- Place bowls: Add small ramekins filled with fig jam or honey, green olives or cornichons, and mixed nuts to introduce height and break up the flatness of the board.
- Fill in with fruits and veggies: Tuck in vibrant red grapes, pomegranate seeds, kiwi slices or green apple slices, cherry tomatoes, and sliced cucumbers or baby carrots around the edges and between other elements for pops of color and freshness.
- Add crunch: Scatter crackers, breadsticks, dried apricots, cranberries, and candied nuts thoughtfully around the board, allowing some pieces to spill slightly off the edges for a natural, abundant look.
- Garnish last: Finish your festive charcuterie board by tucking in fresh rosemary sprigs that resemble pine needles and optionally adding star-cut cheese shapes for a cheerful holiday touch.
Notes
- Choose a variety of textures and flavors in the cheeses and meats to create a balanced board.
- Use seasonal fruits like pomegranate and kiwi to enhance the Christmas theme.
- Keep soft cheeses whole to prevent drying out; provide a knife for spreading.
- The board can be assembled a few hours in advance but cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until serving.
- Customize the board to suit dietary preferences by omitting meats or using plant-based alternatives.
