This Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is fun, festive, and made with easy and healthy ingredients. Best of all, it requires no cooking whatsoever! All you need to do is arrange crackers, fruit, meats, cheeses, and herbs to create this perfect holiday entertaining board for your appetizer table.
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What is a Charcuterie Board?
Charcuterie boards date back to 15th-century France, and are a combination of cooked meats, cheeses, fruits, and other hors d’oeuvres arranged on a wood board or plate, usually to be served as a light after-dinner snack.
Charcuterie boards are similar to cheese boards, but differ due to their emphasis on meats instead of cheeses, although both charcuterie and cheese boards can contain meat and cheese.
Presentation is typically an important aspect of arranging a charcuterie board, with the components all organized and displayed in an appealing manner.
For a fun twist, we love this Caramel Apple Charcuterie Board. It’s easy and delicious!
Why This Christmas Charcuterie Recipe is a Keeper
This easy and fun recipe is sure to impress your guests. With a variety of meats and cheeses, you really can’t go wrong with this charcuterie Christmas tree! You can even get a board shaped like a christmas tree. This board look festive and delicious.
- 10 Minute Prep: Make this eye-catching christmas tree cheese board appetizer in less than 10 minutes.
- Holiday Party: This charcuterie board is a wonderful idea for any upcoming Christmas parties or holiday events.
- Adaptable: You can adapt the ingredients for this Christmas tree board to fit your likings. Try to make a charcuterie with different meats, types of cheeses, fruits, and crackers to make the perfect charcuterie board for you and your guests.
If you’re looking for more appetizer recipes, try these Easy Ranch Party Crackers, Whipped Ricotta Dip with Honey, and Charcuterie Skewers.
With over 200 easy and delicious dinner ideas, you'll never have to worry about what to make for dinner again.
How Far in Advance Can You Make This Board?
This recipe can be made ahead of time up to twelve hours in advance, or you can prepare the ingredients and store in the fridge in airtight containers or plastic wrap before you’re ready to make the charcuterie board.
Ingredient Notes for the Christmas Charcuterie Board Appetizer
Use any variety of ingredients you’d like to make this Christmas charcuterie board. Here are some we recommend:
- Colby Jack Cheese: You can substitute any cheese that you like, such as Cheddar, Gouda, or Havarti cheese.
- Green Grapes: You can also use purple grapes or other fresh fruit.
- Round Crackers: Use any flavor for this charcuterie tree.
- Deli Sliced Salami: Fresh from the deli.
- Cheddar Cheese Cubes: Use any cheese you’d like in cubes.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of the ingredients with measurements.
Variations and Substitutions for the Christmas Cheese Board with Meat
This charcuterie board leaves a lot of room to experiment. Here are some ideas to get started:
- Kielbasa: Try this savory Polish sausage instead of salami. You can also try other meats, like prosciutto.
- Olives: Use green or black olives instead of grapes for more savory combinations.
- Chocolate Cranberries: Try chocolate-covered dried cranberries to give your charcuterie board a sweeter side. Dried fruit adds a nice alternative.
- Nuts: Use pecans, walnuts or almonds.
How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
This holiday charcuterie board in the shape of a Christmas tree only takes about ten minutes to prepare. You’re going to want this festive and fun appetizer at the center of your table, as it has something for everyone.
These are the basic steps for making an easy Christmas charcuterie board. Refer to the full, printable recipe card below for detailed instructions.
STEP 1: Top of the Tree
First, use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star shape out of the Colby Jack cheese. Place the star at the top of the wooden cutting board or large platter. Under the star, create a row with green grapes, followed by the crackers and salami.
STEP 2: Base of Your Tree Trunk
Under the salami, layer the Cheddar cheese cubes, then the cherry tomatoes and pepper jack cheese to make the tree shape. Finish the bottom of the tree with dried cranberries and cucumbers. Use pretzels sticks to easily make the trunk of the tree at the bottom of the board.
STEP 3: Make Tree Branches
As a finishing touch, place thyme or fresh rosemary sprigs over the tree to create little branches for your Christmas tree shaped charcuterie board. Serve and enjoy!
Recipe FAQs for Christmas Tree Shape Charcuterie Board
Expert Tips for Assembling your Christmas Tree
- Best Wine for Charcuterie: The best wines to serve with a board like this is a sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, pinot noir, or merlot.
- Other Board Items: You can use a variety of cheeses and other items on this festive cheese tray such as havarti cheese, pepperoni slices, green olives, black olives, pickles, mozzarella balls, prosciutto, nuts, jams, pomegranate seeds or vegetables.
- Dips: Provide dips such as ranch dip, mustard, or a low-carb dip of choice. You can also try soft cheese, like cream cheese, goat cheese, or brie. Have cute cheese knives for spreads or use knife to cut smaller pieces.
- Prep: To make this recipe ahead of time, prepare the ingredients and refrigerate them in individual airtight containers or wrap in plastic wrap and store for the longevity of the piece.
- Cookie Cutter: Use a cookie cutter and cut out different shapes for your cheese for this holiday recipe.
What to Serve with a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- Wooden Charcuterie Boards
Ingredients
- 1 slice Colby jack cheese
- Green grapes
- Round Crackers, I used these
- Pre-sliced deli salami
- Cheddar cheese cubes
- Cherry tomatoes
- Pepper Jack cheese cubes
- Dried cranberries
- Cucumber slices
- Mini pretzel sticks
- Sprigs of fresh thyme
Instructions
- Use a star shaped cookie cutter to cut a star out of a slice of colby jack cheese. Place the star at the top of a wooden cutting board.
- Beneath the star, add a bunch of green grapes.
- Place crackers on their side in an angled row.
- Fold sliced salami in half and half again. Place the flowered edges face up. Add several in a row to create the next layer of the tree.
- Add cheddar cheese cubes underneath in a row that is slightly longer than the salami to begin to create the triangled shape of the tree.
- Add cherry tomatoes as the next layer, again creating a slightly longer row.
- Do the same with cubed pepper jack cheese, followed by dried cranberries and sliced cucumbers.
- Add mini pretzel sticks at the bottom of the tree to create a trunk.
- Garnish with sprigs of fresh thyme to resemble tree branches.
Expert Tips
- Best Wine for Charcuterie: The best wines to serve with charcuterie boards include sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, pinot noir, or merlot.
- Board Size: To make a bigger Christmas tree use a bigger board, or to make a small tree use a small wooden cutting board. Pictured cutting board: 11.5×15″.
- Other Board Items: You can use a variety of cheeses and other items on this festive cheese board such as havarti cheese, pepperoni slices, green olives, black olives, mozzarella balls, prosciutto, nuts, jams, or vegetables.