Begin by washing all your fruits and vegetables. Pat the grapes and strawberries dry with a paper towel so they do not make the crackers soggy. Slice the cucumber into rounds and use a small cookie cutter to create star or tree shapes if you want extra holiday flair. Cut the cheddar cheese into uniform cubes to make them easy for little hands to grab.
Choose a large wooden board or a flat platter. Place a small decorative bowl in the center or off to one side. Fill this bowl with the alcohol-free vanilla yogurt and top it with a few festive sprinkles. This serves as your anchor point for the rest of the ingredients.
Start placing the larger items on the board. I like to arrange the green grapes in a triangle shape to mimic a Christmas tree or line the red grapes and cheese pearls to look like a candy cane. Arrange the turkey pepperoni in small overlapping piles or roll them into roses to add height and texture to the display.
Fill the remaining empty spaces with the pretzel sticks, star-shaped crackers, and cucumber slices. Use the mini marshmallows as “snow” by scattering them in the small crevices between the heavier items. This ensures the board looks lush and overflowing with goodies.
Add a few final touches, such as a sprig of fresh mint or extra strawberries at the edges. Take a moment to check that the colors are balanced across the board. Once you are satisfied with the look, serve it immediately while the cheese is firm and the fruit is crisp.
