Christmas Charcuterie Board

This is the best Christmas Charcuterie Board you’ll find this Christmas season! So many savory snacks all together on one delicious board, arranged in the shape of a whimsical Christmas tree. So festive and fun, it’s almost too beautiful to eat – almost.

The simple “cheese board” has been elevated this past year. Creative chefs are finding ways to not only incorporate more yummy items but also build beautiful arrangements with food. That’s why this Christmas Charcuterie Board is perfect for Christmas parties and family dinners during the holiday season.

Bright, seasonal colors come together to create an eye-catching appetizer board with lots of savory and sweet flavors. Because this recipe goes far beyond simple meat and cheese, there’s something for everyone on the Christmas Charcuterie Board.

Busy hosts and chatty guests will love the “hit & run” aspect of the Christmas Party Charcuterie Board. It’s easy to grab a quick nibble off the board without committing to silverware or plates. But it’s substantial enough that you could take your time and prepare a small appetizer dish from items on the board.

Younger guests will love that the Christmas Charcuterie Board has something for them, too. Tasty bites of grapes, cookies, and crackers are a great way to include your kiddos in the fun.

What makes this recipe so wonderful is that there’s no cooking involved. Nothing to bake, boil, or fry, and nothing you need to keep warm. Hot appetizers and warm dips can be wonderful, but it’s like having another baby to care for throughout the party. It’s so much nicer to put out food you can set & forget – and then spend time actually talking with your guests. 

INGREDIENTS – WHAT YOU NEED

This Christmas Charcuterie Board combines cherry tomatoes, mozzarella balls, fresh basil, balsamic glaze, celery, cheese, green olives, black olives, green grapes, red grapes, dried apricots, pistachios, crackers, rosemary sprigs, holiday cookies, and alphabet cookies.

HOW TO MAKE THE CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD

1. Gather all your ingredients and a 12×18 inch wooden cutting board.
2. Assemble Caprese skewers (see below) and set them aside.
3. Wash and cut celery into finger-length sticks. These will be used vertically for the base of the tree. 
4. Use the white cheese cubes to start the base layer of the tree. This layer should be your widest layer horizontally across your board. 
5. Add in your Caprese skewers, green olives, and black olives gradually narrowing the width of your layers to create a tree. 
6. Continue this process while adding green and red grapes, dried apricots, and pistachios. 
7. Add the sprigs of rosemary sporadically to mimic a tree. 
8. Next, layer your favorite crackers horizontally across the bottom edge of the board. 
9. Now it’s time to get creative and add your favorite holiday cookies or use your favorite Christmas cookie cutters for some fun holiday cheese shapes! 
10. Serve immediately and enjoy! 

CAPRESE SKEWERS

1. Gather mozzarella balls, basil leaves, cherry tomatoes, balsamic glaze, and toothpicks. 
2. To prepare the skewers, gently puncture the end of the tomato with a toothpick and slide the toothpick lengthwise through the tomato. 
3. Next, pierce a basil leaf through the center and layer it alongside the tomato. Then repeat by adding a mozzarella ball to the end of the toothpick. 
4. Finally, using a fork or spoon drizzle with your favorite balsamic glaze. 
5. Set aside until you assemble the Christmas Charcuterie Board.

HOW DO I STORE MY CHARCUTERIE BOARD?

Chill the completed board in the refrigerator before serving. Begin by calculating how long until serving time. If less than 30 minutes, you can simply lay the board on a flat shelf in your fridge. Anything longer than that and your cheese and celery will begin to dry out. You can prevent this by carefully wrapping the entire board in Saran Wrap. If you have someone to help you, this works best as a two-person task (one to

Some other easy appetizers to serve at Christmas parties are Tex Mex Dip and 3 Ingredient Cream Cheese Apple Dip.

CAN I MAKE SUBSTITUTIONS?

You may alternate any dried fruit as a substitute for dried apricots. I like golden raisins, cranberries, and dates (pits removed). Instead of white cheese, try your favorite American, Colby, or pepper jack cheese. Softer cheeses tend to be more popular than a hard Parmesan or Romano. If you do not have a wooden charcuterie board on hand you can substitute a large cookie sheet.

HOW SHOULD GUESTS REMOVE FOOD FROM THE BOARD?

I recommend providing small tongs next to the board. These are my favorite!

IS THIS CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD FREEZEABLE?

You know I LOVE using my freezer for handy make-ahead recipes. Unfortunately, this just isn’t one of them. Make it fresh, enjoy it fresh.

PRO TIPS/RECIPE NOTES

It is best to serve immediately if you are using cheese or dairy products.

Floppy celery stalks can be revived by soaking them in a glass of water in the fridge for 20 minutes.

Cookies and crackers tend to lose their crunch if refrigerated overnight. Instead, store those in a separate container at room temperature. 

If your family has those all-day-and-into-the-evening dinners, you might try retrieving your board and putting back into the refrigerator for a second appearance later that evening.  Just make sure the cheeses haven’t sat out too long. Refresh any depleted items, and serve it again!

WHAT OTHER CHRISTMAS RECIPES CAN YOU MAKE?

• Create this No-Bake Peppermint Pie.
• Make these Chewy Ginger Molasses Cookies.
• Bake this Homemade Swedish Cardamom Bread.
• Serve up this delicious Homemade Hot Chocolate.
• Make this yummy Homemade Pecan Pie.

If you make this charcuterie board, I would love to see it! Snap a picture of it and share it with me on Instagram using the hashtag #happymoneysaver and tagging me @happymoneysaver!