Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

Easy Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

A charcuterie board has never been so fun to make! Everything you get in a traditional charcuterie board shaped into a festive Christmas tree! It’s simple to assemble, it just takes a little bit of chopping and some basic artistic planning. This is a family friendly charcuterie board and it’s adaptable to swapping out some of the things I’ve shown here for things you may already have. The idea is just to stick to that simple red, green, and white/yellow theme for those classic Christmas colors. Then of course just keep the “Christmas tree” shape as you go. A delicious holiday project that may just become a new family tradition at each yearly holiday gathering!

Charcuterie Christmas Tree Ingredients

Here’s what I used:

Green grapes and red grapes: These are used to build up the lower base of the “tree”. Fresh rosemary sprigs: This garnish ingredient most closely resembles real pine needles so it’s fun to add at least a few for decoration. After you can reserve them for another use (soup or pot roast is a great option). Other fresh herbs can work, too! Candied pecans or plain pecans: Almonds are another good option for the “trunk”. White cheeses: I like to use semi-soft or soft cheeses that are too overpoweringly sharp or pungent. White cheddar, brie, cream cheese, fontina, havarti, manchengo, and gouda are all great options. Salami nuggets: Pre-cutting will be your fastest option. I used spicy and fennel flavored. Kiwi: If you can’t find ripe kiwi by the time you need them I would suggest using a green alternative listed below. Raspberries: If you can’t find very fresh raspberries see dried fruit options below. Pistachios or pumpkin seeds: I used raw pumpkin seeds for a greener color. Castelvetrano olives: If your local store carries these they are found by the other olives or in the deli. Water crackers: Most other types of crackers will work here, use what you have or what you like. They are used to make a “ground” around the tree.

Other Christmas Charcuterie Board Ideas

Small cucumbers or mini: Small will work great in place of the kiwi or green grapes, just cut into slices. Mini will work well in place of the green olives near the top. Baby dill pickles: Another good option for the green olives. Green apple slices: If you’d like to have a good pairing for cheddar these are a good option. Just core and slice them thinly. Strawberries: To use in place of the raspberries, just to look for smaller ones and cut them in halves. You can even leave the green stems as they are edible and will add a pretty green color. Mini cherry tomatoes: These are a great option for the reds on the board. Cherry-infused Craisins or Cranberries: I like these in place of the raspberries as well, they taste great with the cheeses. Pomegranate seeds: juicy flavors and bright red color to replace or add to your red layers. Meats: Capocollo, prosciutto, pepperoni, or larger salami works for the salami nuggets. Just fold larger cuts of meat. Celery: Green celery sticks are a good option for the green veggies of the tree. Pretzel sticks or chocolate sticks: These will also work fine for the “tree trunk”. Nuts: try walnuts or honey-roasted peanuts.

How to Make Christmas Charcuterie Boards

Here’s a summary of the simple steps to build the “Christmas tree”:

How to Make a Cheaper Charcuterie Christmas Tree

Swap out fancy deli cheeses for those found pre-cut in the dairy aisle of the store. Things like mozzarella, Monterey jack, Swiss, or white cheddar in the factory cut packages are good options. Celery or cucumbers make a good inexpensive option for the greens of the tree. Use whatever red fruit is on sale. It may be strawberries, raspberries, red apples, or even pomegranate. Look for cheaper meat. These salami nuggets were inexpensive but may be a little trickier to find. Pepperoni would be a good cheap alternative, minis are fun for the kids.

How Long Can Holiday Charcuterie Boards Sit Out?

Don’t let the charcuterie board ingredients sit out longer than 2 hours at room temperature. Keep this in mind for your holiday season—most holiday parties are more than 2 hours! This means you’ll want to assemble quickly once you’ve got the ingredients out. I like to pre-cut the cheeses and then keep them in the fridge until I’m ready to assemble.