• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Kathleen's Cravings
  • Home
  • Recipe Index
    • Recipe Index
    • All Recipes
    • Air Fryer Recipes
    • Appetizer and Snack Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Drink Recipes
    • Grilling Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Main Dish Recipes
    • Meatless Recipes
    • Pasta Recipes
    • Salad Recipes
    • Side Dish Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Soup Recipes
    • How To
  • Welcome!
    • Welcome!
    • Work With Me
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipe Index
  • Summer Recipes
  • About
  • Work With Me
  • Fave Tools
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipe Index
    • Summer Recipes
    • About
    • Work With Me
    • Fave Tools
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Recipes » Appetizer and Snack Recipes

    Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

    Published: Nov 25, 2023 by Kathleen Hansen · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    A festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is the perfect option for your holiday party! Use a variety of cheese, meat, and fruit and arrange in the shape of a Christmas tree. It's a fun and easy way to make a Christmas themed charcuterie board.

    Christmas charcuterie board with salami and cheeses

    Grazing boards have become all the rage! They're easy to put together, beautiful to serve, and allow guest to pick and choose what they like. While charcuterie means cold cooked meats so a traditional charcuterie board is made up of meats like prosciutto and salami. The term charcuterie board has evolved in usage to represent lots of varieties of grazing boards! If you're looking for some unconventional boards, try this Fruit Charcuterie Board or Dessert Charcuterie Board!

    Jump to:
    • ⭐Why I Love It:
    • 🥘Ingredients
    • 📖Variations
    • 🧀Equipment
    • 🔪How To Make a Christmas Charcuterie Board
    • 🍽Leftovers and Storage
    • 💭Tips and Tricks
    • 👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs
    • 🥖Related Appetizer Recipes...
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    ⭐Why I Love It:

    • Party Ready Presentation - The Christmas tree shape adds a festive flair to your basic charcuterie board! Try serving alongside some Christmas Cranberry Gin Cocktails or make another tree shaped treat like this Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree.
    • Customizable - The options and things to add are endless!

    🥘Ingredients

    cubed white cheddar, cubed yellow cheddar, and gouda triangles on a plate

    Pick and choose from the below list to suit your preferences.

    Cheese - Pick two-three cheeses to use on your board (I used cubed sharp white cheddar, cubed medium cheddar, Gouda triangles, and Colby Jack stars). I like to do a mix of cubes and slices and choose cheeses that are different colors. You can also use a star cookie cutter or knife to cut star shapes out of cheese slices.

    Meat - Pick 1 or 2 meats like salami or prosciutto. I used salami on my board that I folded in half then in half again before stacking together in a row.

    Rosemary - This is an optional garnish but I think it makes it look more 'tree-like'!

    Pretzel Sticks - Use a few to make the tree trunk. You can then put out a bowl with more of the pretzels for guests to snack on with their meat and cheese

    Nuts - Nuts are another great choice to add such as pistachios, cashews, and almonds.

    Fresh Fruit - I love using grapes on the tree to add color. But you can use another fruit like strawberries.

    See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    📖Variations

    In addition to the Christmas Tree shape, here are some other Christmas Charcuterie Board ideas! Or you can even customize it for a different holiday. Here are a few ideas:

    • Candy Cane Shaped Charcuterie Board - Instead of a Christmas Tree, you can also make your Christmas Charcuterie in the shape of a candy cane and use all red and white ingredients to form the stripes.
    • Wreath Shaped Holiday Board - If you use a circle shaped board, you can form your charcuterie in the shape of a wreath. The rosemary is still a nice garnish to add to this shape.
    • Valentine's Day Charcuterie Board - Instead of a Christmas Tree shape, try arranging your ingredients in the shape of a heart. You can even use more white and red ingredients like red grapes, strawberries, and brie wedges.

    🧀Equipment

    Wooden Board or Other Platter - The most important part is having a board or platter to arrange the Christmas Tree 'charcuterie' board. If you don't have a board, here are some other options.

    • Wooden Board - This is the classic option (like pictured).
    • Marble Board - Be aware that anything acidic (like citrus) may stain the marble.
    • Serving Platter - Any serving platter can work!
    • Baking Sheet - Using a regular sized or half-sized sheet pan is another great option that you already have on hand!

    Star Cookie Cutter (optional) - If you have a small star cookie cutter, you can use it to cut out stars form a slice of cheese. Or you can use a knife to cut them out.

    🔪How To Make a Christmas Charcuterie Board

    1. Prep the Ingredients - If you're adding fruit to the board, rinse and dry well. Cut up the cheese into varying shapes like cubes and slices or triangles.
    2. Assemble Tree - I find it easiest to start at the bottom of the tree and work your way up. Each row will be slightly less wide than the one below so you get the triangle tree shape. I like to order my ingredients so that like colors are not placed next to each other - contrasting colors and shapes is key!
    3. Add Garnishes - If using, add a few pretzel sticks for the tree trunk, add a cheese star at the top and around the tree, and garnish with some fresh rosemary.
    Christmas charcuterie board with salami and rosemary

    🍽Leftovers and Storage

    I recommend storing the different ingredients with their like items. Leftover cheese and meat can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for several days.

    💭Tips and Tricks

    Assemble Right Before Serving - Although you can assemble the board earlier in the day and cover with plastic wrap, I recommend assembling the board as close to serving as possible so everything is super crisp out of the package.

    Assemble in the Serving Location - Unless your board has edges (like using a serving tray or baking sheet), then I like to assemble in the actual serving location so you don't risk the cookies rolling off the board in transport.

    Contrasting Colors/Shapes - This is my number one tip when assembling any charcuterie board. For the best presentation, you want to have contrast! Try to avoid like-colored cookies together and instead aim for lots of contrast in both color and shape.

    Christmas charcuterie board idea on a wooden board

    👩‍🍳Recipe FAQs

    What finger foods go with a charcuterie board?

    If you're looking for other finger foods to go with your charcuterie board, there are lots of options! Meatballs with toothpicks, Coconut Shrimp, Puff Pastry Brie Bites, or Goat Cheese Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates.

    What do you put on a Christmas Charcuterie Board?

    You can use a selection of cheese, cured meats (like salami or prosciutto), fruit like grapes, roasted nuts, and more. To make it festive for the holiday, you can arrange your board in the shape of a Christmas tree.

    What kind of jelly or jam goes on a charcuterie board?

    If you want to add a spread to your board, some great flavors are a fig spread, apricot jam, or raspberry jam works well too.

    How much cheese should I have per person on a charcuterie board?

    The size of the board will depend on how many people are attending your party and what other food options there are. But a good rule of thumb is to have about 2 ounces of cheese per person. If you don't have any other snack options at the party, then you will want more and if you are serving other food then guests may eat a little bit less. If you don't have a board large enough, you can either refill throughout the night or make several smaller boards.

    🥖Related Appetizer Recipes...

    • Candied Bacon Crackers on a plate.
      Candied Bacon Crackers (3 Ingredients)
    • Cinnamon sugar pretzels on the parchment lined baking tray.
      Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels (4 Ingredients)
    • seasoned pretzels on sheet pan.
      Spicy Seasoned Pretzels (Baked)
    • Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings tossed in a sauce with fresh Parmesan Cheese.
      Air Fryer Garlic Parmesan Wings

    Those ads on the page? A portion of all ad revenue is being donated to Warrior Dog Rescue. A MN-based dog rescue that I foster and volunteer with.

    Print

    Recipe

    Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

    christmas charcuterie board with cheese, meat, and grapes
    Print Recipe

    5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    5 from 1 review

    A festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is the perfect option for your holiday party! Use a variety of cheese, meat, and fruit and arrange in the shape of a Christmas tree. It's a fun and easy way to make a Christmas themed charcuterie board.

    • Author: Kathleen
    • Prep Time: 15 minutes
    • Cook Time: 0 minutes
    • Total Time: 15 minutes
    • Yield: 6-8 servings
    • Category: Appetizer
    • Method: No Cook
    • Cuisine: American

    Ingredients

    • 6oz cubed sharp white cheddar, adjust amount as needed
    • 4oz cubed medium cheddar
    • 6oz gouda sliced into triangles
    • Sliced Colby Jack Cheese, cut into stars
    • 12 oz sliced salami
    • Red and Green Grapes
    • Fresh Rosemary, for garnish
    • Pretzel Sticks, to form the tree trunk

    Instructions

    1. Prep the Ingredients - If you're adding fruit to the board, rinse and dry well. Cut up the cheese into varying shapes like cubes and slices or triangles.
    2. Assemble Tree - I find it easiest to start at the bottom of the tree and work your way up. Each row will be slightly less wide than the one below so you get the triangle tree shape. I like to order my ingredients so that like colors are not placed next to each other - contrasting colors and shapes is key!
    3. Add Garnishes - If using, add a few pretzel sticks for the tree trunk, add a cheese star at the top and around the tree, and garnish with some fresh rosemary.

    Notes

    Amount: The amounts listed are what I used to make my board, but you can easily adjust up or down based on how big of a tree you are making

    Types of Cheese/Meat Used: Listed is what I used to make my board, but you can swap in other cheeses and meat.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: ⅛ of the charcuterie board
    • Calories: 414
    • Sugar: 6.2 g
    • Sodium: 692.4 mg
    • Fat: 31.8 g
    • Carbohydrates: 11.7 g
    • Fiber: 0.3 g
    • Protein: 20.8 g
    • Cholesterol: 101.4 mg

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @KathleensCravings on Instagram

    Share this:

    • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
    • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
    • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X

    More Easy Appetizer and Snack Recipes

    • Baked brie with fig jam and bread slices.
      Baked Brie with Jam
    • plate of candied pecans
      Stovetop Candied Pecans
    • fruit charcuterie board with grapes on a wooden board.
      Fruit Charcuterie Board
    • brie puff pastry bites on a plate with pecans
      Puff Pastry Bites with Brie

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Did you make this recipe? Let me know! Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

    1. Katie says

      February 23, 2023 at 8:28 am

      Such a fun spin! Can't wait to try this for the holidays

      Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi! I'm Kathleen and welcome! My favorite place to be has always been in the kitchen and I love creating recipes that are easy and approachable. Simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions!

    More about me →

    Single Serve Recipes

    • Single serve banana bread in a ramekin.
      Single Serve Banana Bread (1 Banana)
    • Single serve chocolate cupcake with chocolate frosting and sprinkles.
      Single Serve Chocolate Cupcake (Makes Two)
    • Single serve oatmeal chocolate chip cookie split in half.
      Single Serve Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookie (Small Batch)
    • Single serve sugar cookie on a plate with sprinkles.
      Single Serve Sugar Cookie (Small Batch)

    Summer Recipes

    • Single serve blueberry crisp in a ramekin with an oat topping.
      Single Serve Blueberry Crisp (Air Fryer or Oven)
    • Scoops of mixed berry sorbet in a bowl with fresh berries.
      Ninja Creami Mixed Berry Sorbet
    • Blackstone Garlic Butter Steak Bites on a plate with parsley.
      Blackstone Steak Bites (Garlic Butter)
    • Flatbread pizzas on the Blackstone griddle.
      Blackstone Flatbread Pizza
    • stack of s'mores bars with mini marshmallows
      S'Mores Bars
    • Single serve cornbread on a plate cut in half.
      Single Serve Cornbread (Small Batch)

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    • About Me
    • Work With Me

    Copyright © 2025 KATHLEEN'S CRAVINGS ON THE SEASONED PRO THEME

     

    Loading Comments...