Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

A Christmas tree charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer for any holiday party. It's festive shape, ease of assembling, and all the yummy finger foods, is sure to make it a crowd pleasing recipe.

I've included all kinds of tips and tricks on building a Christmas cheese board, as well as what kind of cheeses, meats, produces, and dry goods you should use. You can easily customize this board to your liking and fill it with whatever makes you happy.

You may be a charcuterie board pro or you might be a beginner, but either way you're sure to impress every guest if you serve this fun and cheerful cheese board.

What kind of board should I use?

The type of board I use always depends on the number of people I'm serving. I'll use a bigger board like this for a crowd, or something smaller, like this, works for 4-6 people.

What's On A Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board?

This festive cheese board is pretty traditional in the ingredients it is made up of. Meats, cheese, olive, and crackers are the main components, but feel free to customize it however you like.

cheese cubes on a christmas cheese board.

Cheeses:

I used cheddar cheese in mine, but you can use any kind. I like to stick to a white cheese, instead of one that is artificially colored. Here's a few ideas:

Sharp cheddar
Monterey Jack
Pepper Jack
Havarti
Mozzarella
Swiss
Shaved parmesan

Meats:

Cured meats are a great way to incorporate a "red" color into the charcuta'tree'. These are a few of my favorites:

Salami
Sopressata
Prosciutto
Mortadella
Capicola

Fruits & Veggies:

Sometimes all the meats and cheeses can make you feel a bit heavy, so I love to incorporate from fresh fruits and veggies to lighten things up.

Fruit:

I like to keep in the red and green color scheme.

Strawberries
raspberries
Sugared cranberries
Cherries
Grapes (red + green varieties)
Kiwi
star fruit

Veggies:

Cucumbers
Celery
Broccoli florets
Olives
Grape tomatoes
Radishes
Red bell peppers

sugared cranberries and cheese cubes with fresh herbs on a Christmas cheese board.

Crackers & Dry Goods:

Different shaped crackers are a fun way to add visual interest, and dry goods such as nuts or dried fruit can add texture and depth to this Christmas cheese board.

Wheat Thins
HU crackers
Round butter crackers
Star shaped pretzels
Club crackers
Almonds
Pistachios
Spiced mixed nuts
Dried cranberries
Dried figs

Greenery:

Greens are a great way to garnish a Christmas tree charcuterie board and give it a professional look. These are a few of my favorite garnishes:

Fresh rosemary
Fresh thyme
Fresh parsley

How To Make A Christmas Tree Cheese Board

Start on the bottom and make your "stump" out of pretzel sticks or rectangular shaped crackers
Next, add a layer of cured meats and work your way up in a triangle shape adding elements of cheese, olives, fruits, and crackers
Use a cookie cutter to cut a star shape out of cheese and garnish with sprigs of fresh herbs

Charcuterie Board Variations

Vegetarian: Skip the meats and add extra cheeses, crackers, and dried fruits like dates and figs
Wreath shaped: Instead of making a Christmas tree, arrange all your items in a circle like a wreath. You can even add a festive bow for a final touch!
Sweet: Turn this Christmas tree charcuterie board into a dessert board! Build it with Christmas cookies, candies, chocolate and fruit for build the prettiest, holiday inspired dessert charcuterie board.

salami, olive, cheese cubes, and fresh rosemary in a triangle shape.

Expert Tips

Start at the bottom of the "tree" and build upwards
Use cookie cutters to cut the cheese into fun, festive shapes
Think about how many people you need to serve before you begin to make the cheese board
Prepare all ingredients beforehand, then build your tree right before serving
Stick to a color scheme to make it look coordinated

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I store charcuterie board leftovers?

Any leftovers can be stored in individual plastic bags or airtight containers in the fridge. As long as they didn't sit out too long, or aren't stale most of the items on your board will still be good.

How long can a Christmas charcuterie board safely stay out?

The longest you'll want your Christmas cheese board to sit out is 2 hours. If it happens to be an exceptionally warm day, it's only safe to sit out for 60-90 minutes.

What are the most popular items on a charcuterie board?

The most popular items you'll find on a charcuterie board are cured meats, assorted cheeses, olives, crackers, and dried fruits or nuts.

top of a Christmas tree charcuterie board with a star made out of cheese.

More Charcuterie Boards For You!

Did you make this recipe?

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