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This Christmas Charcuterie Board is full of cheese, meats, and treats! It makes a great addition to any holiday gathering, large or small.
Featured with this recipe
Tis the season to be….snacking! I don’t know about you guys, but during Christmas, I don’t want to be in the kitchen all the time cooking big meals. Usually, my family has a big dinner on Christmas Eve, and then for Christmas Day we just kind of graze on leftovers and appetizers. I love making a Christmas Charcuterie Board like this because I can just set it out while we are visiting or playing games and everyone gets to pick and choose what they want. It is like a combination of a cheese board and a dessert! It is also great for holiday parties and gatherings.
We love to serve Charcuterie Boards at all our parties, not just during the holiday season. They have a little something for every guest to enjoy, and they also look beautiful on a buffet spread or table. Read our Complete Guide to Making a Charcuterie Board, or check out our Halloween Board, or Valentine’s Day Board.
Ingredients in a Christmas Charcuterie Board
- Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese
- Goat Cheese with Dried Cranberries
- Marinated Mozzarella Balls
- Mozzarella Rollini
- Crackers
- Persian Cucumbers
- Chocolate Covered Pretzels
- Mini Chocolate Star Cookies
- Mini Gingerbread Men Cookies
- Dove Chocolates
- Ferrero Rocher
- English Toffee
- Pomegranate Seeds
- Green Grapes
- Fresh Rosemary Sprigs
Other Christmas Charcuterie Board ideas
- Green Olives
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Cubed Cheddar Cheese
- Pretzel Sticks
- Strawberries
- Use cookie cutters to cut slices of cheese in Christmas tree shapes or ornament shape
- Arrange the items on your platter to form a Christmas charcuterie wreath
- Arrange the items on your board to form a tree shape for a Christmas tree charcuterie board
Origin of Charcuterie Boards
Charcuterie boards (pronounced “shar-KOO-tuh-ree”) are a trend that I have seen popping up everywhere! “Charcuterie” is a French term for displaying a variety of cured meats, mostly pork. Originally they included things like salami, prosciutto, and sausages.
Modern charcuterie boards can have any variety of meats, cheeses, fruits, veggies, olives, nuts, and sauces. Typically the boards are arranged in an aesthetically pleasing and abundant fashion. This Christmas Charcuterie Board recipe is a little less traditional because I added some sweet elements as well.
Tips for Creating Your Christmas Charcuterie Board
This recipe can be used as a jumping off point for your own creations! If you want to copy exactly what I did, then I can help you do that. However, if you are wanting to create something all your own, I have some tips for you.
- Charcuterie Boards are all about looking full and abundant. If you have a smaller group, then start off with a smaller board so you can fill it up! The board I used for this recipe was 13×23 inches, but you can use any size depending on your needs. You can also use a large cutting board.
- Head to a grocery store with a bulk section. That way, you can pick lots of different items without having to buy a huge box of each one.
- Try to find ingredients of all sizes, shapes, textures, colors, and flavors. The more variety, the more vibrant and interesting your Christmas Charcuterie Board will look!
- When you are styling your board, start with the bowls, then add larger items, then smaller items, then garnishes. Try to arrange it so similar colors aren’t touching. This will create depth and a more pleasing visual!
- If I am serving this at a party, then I will bring along any remaining items that didn’t make it onto the board. That way if something runs out I can replenish it.
Frequently Asked Questions About Christmas Charcuterie Boards
How far in advance can you put together a charcuterie board?
I would suggest making your board the day you plan to serve it. You can assemble it a few hours in advance and wrap it completely in plastic wrap. Store in the fridge until ready to serve.
How do you pronounce charcuterie?
It is pronounced “shar-KOO-tuh-ree”.
What goes first on a charcuterie board?
I start by adding structure to the board. So, any bowls or small plates get added first!
Read More:Making a Perfect Charcuterie Board
More Christmas Appetizer Ideas
Appetizers
Cream Cheese Shrimp Dip
Appetizers
Baked Brie
Appetizers
Veggie Pizza Squares
Appetizers
co*cktail Meatballs
Christmas Charcuterie Board
5 from 6 votes
This Christmas Charcuterie Board is full of cheese, meats, and treats! It makes a great addition to any holiday gathering, large or small.
PrintPinRate
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Cook Time 0 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Appetizer
Cuisine French
Servings 20 people
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1/2 cup cranberry salsa click link for recipe
- 3/4 cup goat cheese
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 8 ounces marinated mozzarella pearls
- 11 ounces Mozzarella Rolloni I got mine at Trader Joe's, but you can make your own by rolling mozzarella slices and prosciutto together
- 3 baby cucumbers cut into spears
- 40 crackers I used a combination of sea salt crackers, cracked wheat crackers, and rosemary fig crackers.
- 1 cup chocolate covered pretzels
- 1 cup mint chocolate star cookies
- 1 cup mini gingerbread men cookies
- 10 Dove dark chocolate and peppermint bites
- 10 Ferrero Rocher chocolates
- 1/2 cup English toffee
Garnishes
- rosemary sprigs
- pomegranate seeds
- green grape clusters
Instructions
Start by cleaning your board.
Place your three small bowls where you want them.
Fill the small bowls. One with a layer of cream cheese and a layer of cranberry salsa, one with goat cheese and dried cranberries mixed together, and one with marinated mozzarella pearls.
Start placing your larger items around the board. Try not to put things that look alike too close to each other.
Add the smaller items to fill in the spaces around the larger items.
Fill in any extra space with rosemary, pomegranate seeds, and grape clusters.
Notes
- Nutrition facts are approximate.
- If I am serving this at a party, I will bring along any remaining items that didn’t make it onto the board. That way if something runs out I can replenish it.
- The board I used for this recipe was 13×23 inches, but you can use any size depending on your needs.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 241kcalCarbohydrates: 17gProtein: 7gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 31mgSodium: 277mgPotassium: 71mgFiber: 1gSugar: 10gVitamin A: 250IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 77mgIron: 1mg
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