There is something magical about setting out a colorful board piled high with savory bites, crisp fruit, and little sweets. This Christmas Charcuterie Board is my go-to centerpiece, easy to scale and beautiful every single time.
Christmas Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- 1 Large board or sheet pan cutting board, slate, or parchment-lined sheet pan
- 4 Small bowls for dips and briny items
- 1 Parchment Paper (optional)
- 2 Cheese knives
- 2 Small spoons
Ingredients
Cured and cooked meats
- 16 oz assorted cured and cooked meats such as beef salami, bresaola or roast beef, smoked turkey, roasted chicken, turkey pepperoni, chicken mortadella
Cheeses
- 16 oz assorted cheeses mix of soft, semi-soft, and firm: brie or camembert, sharp cheddar, gouda, manchego, pepper jack, fresh mozzarella pearls
Crackers & bread
- 8 oz assorted crackers and crostini
- 1 baguette sliced
- breadsticks or mini pitas
Produce
- 2 cups red and green grapes clustered
- 2 clementines segmented
- 1 pear or apple thinly sliced
- 1 cup strawberries
- 0.5 cup pomegranate arils
- 1 cucumber sliced into rounds
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes
Dips & condiments
- 0.5 cup hummus
- 2 tbsp whole grain mustard
- 0.33 cup olive tapenade
- 0.33 cup fig jam
- 0.33 cup cranberry relish
- 2 tbsp honey for drizzling
- 0.5 cup whipped ricotta optional; sweeten with honey and alcohol-free vanilla
Crunchy extras
- 0.5 cup roasted almonds or pistachios
- 0.5 cup marinated olives
- 0.5 cup cornichons or mini pickles
- 0.5 cup dark chocolate squares
- 1 cup chocolate-covered pretzels
Garnish
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary or thyme
- 1 orange zest curls for fragrance
Instructions
- Choose a large cutting board, slate, or a parchment lined sheet pan. Set out 4 to 6 small bowls for dips and briny items. Slice firm cheeses into batons or triangles and cube one cheese for variety. Chill meats and cheeses until assembly.
- Spoon hummus, mustard, tapenade, jam, and olives into bowls. Stagger them around the board to create anchors and balance.
- Arrange cheeses near the bowls, spacing them evenly. Score soft cheeses so guests can dive in easily. Fan sliced cheeses for texture.
- Fold smoked turkey and roast beef into loose ribbons. Stack turkey pepperoni and fold into half moons or little rosettes. Tuck meats beside cheeses, alternating colors for a festive look.
- Create neat lines of crackers and nestle in bread slices or crostini. Place sturdy crackers near softer spreads.
- Cluster grapes, scatter clementine segments, and tuck in pear or apple slices. Fill gaps with nuts, chocolate, and pickles for pops of color and texture. Finish with rosemary sprigs.
- Drizzle a bit of honey over brie if desired. Add small cheese knives and spoons. Keep the board chilled until guests arrive, then set out and refresh as needed.
Notes
Why You’ll Love This Christmas Charcuterie Board
- Festive and foolproof, with an easy layout that always looks stunning.
- Something for everyone, from creamy cheeses to juicy fruit and crunchy snacks.
- Make ahead friendly so you can enjoy your guests.
- Simple to scale up or down for any gathering.
Christmas Charcuterie Board Ingredients & Substitutions
- Cured and cooked meats: Beef salami, bresaola, smoked turkey, roasted chicken, roast beef, turkey pepperoni, chicken mortadella. If you cannot find bresaola, thinly sliced roast beef is a great swap. For a smoky touch without extra meat, dust warm nuts with smoked paprika.
- Cheeses: Choose a mix of soft, semi soft, and firm. Brie or camembert, sharp cheddar, gouda, manchego, pepper jack, fresh mozzarella pearls. Sub any favorites with similar textures.
- Crackers & bread: Buttery crackers, seedy crackers, breadsticks, sliced baguette, mini pitas, crostini.
- Produce: Red and green grapes, clementine segments, pear or apple slices, strawberries, pomegranate arils, cucumber rounds, cherry tomatoes.
- Dips & condiments: Hummus, whole grain mustard, olive tapenade, fig jam, cranberry relish, honey. For a sweet touch, try whipped ricotta with honey and a hint of alcohol free vanilla.
- Crunchy extras: Roasted almonds or pistachios, marinated olives, cornichons or mini pickles, dark chocolate squares, chocolate covered pretzels.
- Garnish: Fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs, orange zest curls for fragrance.
Step-by-Step Instructions to Make Christmas Charcuterie Board
Step 1: Plan and prep
Choose a large cutting board, slate, or a parchment lined sheet pan. Set out 4 to 6 small bowls for dips and briny items. Slice firm cheeses into batons or triangles and cube one cheese for variety. Chill meats and cheeses until assembly.
Step 2: Place bowls first
Spoon hummus, mustard, tapenade, jam, and olives into bowls. Stagger them around the board to create anchors and balance.
Step 3: Add cheeses
Arrange cheeses near the bowls, spacing them evenly. Score soft cheeses so guests can dive in easily. Fan sliced cheeses for texture.
Step 4: Fold and tuck meats
Fold smoked turkey and roast beef into loose ribbons. Stack turkey pepperoni and fold into half moons or little rosettes. Tuck meats beside cheeses, alternating colors for a festive look.
Step 5: Fill with crackers & bread
Create neat lines of crackers and nestle in bread slices or crostini. Place sturdy crackers near softer spreads.
Step 6: Add fruit and crunch
Cluster grapes, scatter clementine segments, and tuck in pear or apple slices. Fill gaps with nuts, chocolate, and pickles for pops of color and texture. Finish with rosemary sprigs.
Step 7: Final touch and serve
Drizzle a bit of honey over brie if desired. Add small cheese knives and spoons. Keep the board chilled until guests arrive, then set out and refresh as needed.
Tips for Success
- Work in odd numbers. Three or five cheeses look balanced.
- Pre cut some cheese so the first bites are easy, but leave a few wedges whole for drama.
- Color block ingredients and repeat those colors around the board to guide the eye.
- Use bowls for anything saucy or briny so crackers stay crisp.
- Food safety matters. Keep perishables chilled until serving and aim for no more than 2 hours at room temperature before refreshing.
Variations of Christmas Charcuterie Board
- Brunch board: Add smoked salmon, herbed cream cheese, cucumber, hard boiled eggs, and mini bagels. Include turkey sausage slices.
- Cozy cocoa night: Emphasize sweets like chocolate bark, peppermint pretzels, strawberries, and a whipped ricotta honey dip with alcohol free vanilla.
- Kid friendly board: Cheese cubes, rolled turkey, mini sandwiches, sliced apples, and crackers with hummus.
- Elegant appetizer board: Bresaola ribbons, manchego, brie with fig jam, marinated olives, and fresh figs or pomegranate arils.
Serving Suggestions: What to Pair with Christmas Charcuterie Board
- Sparkling grape juice with rosemary sprigs.
- Spiced apple cider with cinnamon sticks.
- Simple green salad with citrus vinaigrette to balance richness.
- Warm baguette or soft dinner rolls, plus extra hummus or mustard.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Refrigerate meats, cheeses, and dips in separate airtight containers for up to 3 days. Wrap cheese tightly to prevent drying.
- Store crackers and bread at room temperature in sealed bags. Refresh crostini at 350°F for 4 to 6 minutes.
- Re warm sliced turkey or chicken, covered with foil, at 300°F for 8 to 10 minutes. Re crisp turkey pepperoni or turkey bacon in an air fryer at 350°F for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Toss apple or pear leftovers with a little lemon juice to keep them from browning.
Memories Made Around the Table
On Christmas Eve, we set the board by the tree lights and let everyone choose their own favorite bite. The quiet chatter, the clink of small spoons, and a cluster of grapes shared between cousins feels like the season wrapped in a moment.
FAQs
How much meat and cheese do I need per person? Plan about 2 ounces cheese and 2 ounces meats per person for appetizers. If the board is the main event, increase to 3 to 4 ounces of each.
How far ahead can I assemble the board? Slice cheese and prep bowls up to 24 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Add crackers and fresh fruit just before serving so they stay crisp and vibrant.
What if I do not have a large board? Use a parchment lined sheet pan or arrange two smaller boards side by side. Even a clean cookie sheet works beautifully.
How do I keep apple slices from browning? Toss with lemon juice or a splash of pineapple juice, then pat dry before placing on the board.
Can I make it on a budget? Buy cheese in blocks and slice it yourself, choose seasonal fruit, and stick to two meats and three cheeses for a streamlined but abundant look.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Charcuterie Board is festive, flexible, and fun to build. With a little planning and plenty of color, you will have a centerpiece everyone will remember.