The holiday season is filled with so much joy, laughter, and let’s be honest, a little bit of chaos. Finding that one appetizer that looks spectacular but doesn’t take all day to make can feel like a tall order. What if I told you that you could create a showstopper with just a little assembly? No oven required.
That is where this beautiful Christmas Charcuterie Board comes in. It is more than just a snack, it is a centerpiece. It is a conversation starter. And best of all, it is incredibly simple to put together, making you look like a holiday hosting pro with minimal effort.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this board is visually stunning. With vibrant reds from raspberries and pomegranates, and deep greens from fresh rosemary sprigs, it truly looks like a Christmas wreath you can eat. It is one of my favorite Holiday Charcuterie Board Ideas for this very reason.
It is also incredibly versatile. You can swap out cheeses, meats, and fruits based on what you love or what you have on hand. This is one of those Christmas appetizers recipes that is more of a guide than a strict set of rules. Feel free to get creative.
Finally, it requires no actual cooking. This is all about assembly. It saves you precious oven space during busy holiday meal prep and lets you focus on other things. It’s a simple, stress free way to serve something delicious.
Ingredients
To build this festive Christmas Platter, you will need a colorful mix of sweet and savory items. The combination of creamy cheeses, savory meats, and sweet fruits creates a wonderful balance of flavors and textures. Here is what I used to create this board.
- ½ cup pomegranate seeds
- ⅔ cup fresh raspberries
- 4 fresh strawberries, halved
- ½ cup pistachios with shells
- 2 oz aged cheddar cheese, cubed or sliced thick
- 2 oz Yorkshire Wensleydale cheese or other crumbly cheese
- 8 oz Brie cheese, I used President brand
- 1 oz beef salami, sliced
- 1 oz beef soppressata, sliced
- .5 oz beef prosciutto, sliced
- 5 to 6 Artisan Crisps, such as Tart Cherry, Cacao Nibs & Almond
- 1 oz Rosemary Einkorn Crackers or other savory crackers
- 2 tablespoons red pepper jelly or your favorite preserve
- Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
Step By Step Instructions
Putting together your Christmas Charcuterie Board is like creating a little piece of art. Just follow these simple steps, and you will have a beautiful board in no time.
Step One: Prep The Board
Start with a large round board, about 12 inches if you have one. Lining it with parchment paper is a great idea. It prevents the board from getting stained by berries or jellies and makes cleanup so much easier. Just a simple trick that saves a lot of time later.
Step Two: Place Your Anchor Points
Next, grab two small bowls. Fill one with the pomegranate seeds and the other with pistachios. Place these bowls on the board. Don’t put them too close together or right on the edge. They will act as your anchor points for building the rest of the board.
Step Three: Prepare The Beautiful Brie
Now for the star of the show. Lay your wheel of brie flat. Carefully slice off the top rind, about a quarter inch thick. Spread the red pepper jelly over the soft, exposed cheese. Then, take the rind you just cut off and use a small snowflake cookie cutter to cut a shape out of the center. Place this rind lid back on top of the brie. It looks so festive.
Place this prepared brie on the board near your two bowls. Try to form a visual triangle with these three items. This is a simple design trick that makes the whole layout feel balanced.
Step Four: Arrange Cheeses And Meats
Time for the other cheeses. Place your cubed cheddar and crumbled Wensleydale along the edges of the board. Now for the meats. You can fold the salami, soppressata, and prosciutto into little fans or flowers. Arrange them artfully around the brie. This adds some nice texture and dimension.
Step Five: Fill In All The Gaps
This is the fun part. Take your fresh raspberries and strawberries and start filling in the empty spaces. Nestle the different crackers into any openings you see. Your goal is to make the board look abundant and full. No one likes a sparse Christmas Cheese Board.
Step Six: Garnish And Serve
For the final touch, tuck fresh rosemary sprigs all around the outer edge of the board. This is what really creates that lovely Christmas wreath effect. If you see any small gaps left, just pop in another raspberry or a few nuts. Add some small cheese knives and forks, and your masterpiece is ready to serve.
How To Store Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers from your Christmas Charcuterie Board, storing them properly is key. The best way is to disassemble the board completely. Wrap the cheeses and meats separately in plastic wrap or place them in airtight containers.
Store the fruit in a separate container in the fridge as well. Crackers should be stored at room temperature in their original packaging or an airtight container to keep them from getting soft. This way, everything stays fresh for you to enjoy later.
Tips
Here are a few extra pointers to make your board building experience even better. These little suggestions can help you customize your board and make prep even easier.
- No Round Board? No Problem. If you do not have a large wooden board, do not worry. Any large platter, cutting board, or even a baking sheet will work just fine. It does not have to be round to be beautiful.
- Cheese Swaps. If you cannot find Yorkshire Wensleydale, another crumbly cheese like blue cheese or even feta would be a good substitute. Feel free to use your favorite cheeses.
- Cookie Cutter Fun. Any small holiday themed cookie cutter will work for the brie. A star, a Christmas tree, or a gingerbread man would all look adorable.
- Serving A Big Crowd. If this board is the main appetizer for a large party, you will definitely want to serve extra crackers and maybe some sliced baguette on the side.
- Prep Ahead. You can wash the fruit, cube the cheese, and portion out the nuts a day ahead. Store everything in separate containers in the fridge. This makes assembly on party day take just a few minutes.
Conclusion
Creating a Christmas Charcuterie Board is one of the most rewarding Holiday Charcuterie Board Ideas. It is a creative process that results in a delicious, crowd pleasing appetizer. It brings people together and adds a touch of homemade charm to your holiday celebrations.
So give this festive Christmas Platter a try. Have fun with it, make it your own, and enjoy all the compliments you are sure to receive. Happy Holidays and happy snacking.
FAQ
How Far In Advance Can I Make This Christmas Charcuterie Board?
You can assemble the board up to a few hours before serving. Just cover it tightly with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator. I would wait to add the crackers until right before you serve to make sure they stay crisp.
What If I Can’t Find A Specific Cheese Or Meat?
That is totally fine. Charcuterie boards are all about flexibility. Swap in any hard or soft cheese you like. For the meats, any cured sausage or ham would work well. The goal is a variety of flavors and textures.
How Many People Does This Christmas Cheese Board Serve?
This particular Christmas Cheese Board is great for about 6 to 8 people if it is the main appetizer. If you are serving it alongside other Christmas appetizers recipes, it can easily serve 10 to 12 guests as a lighter snack.
Can I Make This Nut Free?
Absolutely. To make the board nut free, simply leave out the pistachios. You could replace them with something crunchy like roasted chickpeas or just add some extra fruit or crackers to fill the space. Always check your cracker ingredients too.
Christmas Charcuterie Board
This beautiful Christmas Charcuterie Board is a stunning centerpiece and conversation starter. It’s incredibly simple to assemble with no cooking required, making you a holiday hosting pro with minimal effort.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Start with a large round board, about 12 inches if you have one. Lining it with parchment paper is a great idea. It prevents the board from getting stained by berries or jellies and makes cleanup so much easier.
- Grab two small bowls. Fill one with the pomegranate seeds and the other with pistachios. Place these bowls on the board, acting as anchor points.
- Lay your wheel of brie flat. Carefully slice off the top rind, about a quarter inch thick. Spread the red pepper jelly over the soft, exposed cheese. Use a small snowflake cookie cutter to cut a shape out of the rind and place it back on top of the brie.
- Place this prepared brie on the board near your two bowls, forming a visual triangle. Arrange cubed cheddar and crumbled Wensleydale cheeses along the edges. Fold salami, soppressata, and prosciutto into fans or flowers and arrange them around the brie.
- Fill in empty spaces with fresh raspberries and strawberries. Nestle crackers into any openings to make the board look abundant and full.
- Tuck fresh rosemary sprigs all around the outer edge to create a Christmas wreath effect. Add small cheese knives and forks, then serve.
Notes
No Round Board? No Problem. Any large platter, cutting board, or even a baking sheet will work just fine. It does not have to be round to be beautiful.
Cheese Swaps. If you cannot find Yorkshire Wensleydale, another crumbly cheese like blue cheese or even feta would be a good substitute. Feel free to use your favorite cheeses.
Cookie Cutter Fun. Any small holiday themed cookie cutter will work for the brie. A star, a Christmas tree, or a gingerbread man would all look adorable.
Serving A Big Crowd. If this board is the main appetizer for a large party, serve extra crackers and maybe some sliced baguette on the side.
Prep Ahead. You can wash the fruit, cube the cheese, and portion out the nuts a day ahead. Store everything in separate containers in the fridge. This makes assembly on party day take just a few minutes.
Nutrition
Calories
Sugar
Fat
Carbs
