Description
Create a festive and visually stunning Christmas charcuterie board shaped like a Christmas tree, featuring a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, crackers, and garnishes. This easy, no-cook appetizer is perfect for holiday gatherings and impresses guests with its creative presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 1 slice Colby jack cheese (for the star)
- 4 ounces cheddar cheese cubes
- 6 ounces pepper jack cheese cubes
Meats
- 3 ounces dry salami
Fruits and Vegetables
- 1 bunch green grapes
- 6 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 1 cucumber (small, sliced into rounds)
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
Others
- 8-12 round crackers
- 10 mini pretzel sticks (for the trunk)
- Sprigs of fresh thyme or fresh rosemary (for garnish)
Instructions
- Make the tree topper: Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star shape out of the Colby jack cheese slice. Place this star at the top of a wooden cutting board as the tree’s top.
- Add the grapes: Arrange a layer of green grapes directly beneath the cheese star to form the top section of the tree.
- Place the crackers: Arrange 8-12 round crackers in an angled row just below the grapes to continue the shape of the tree.
- Add the salami: Fold each piece of dry salami into quarters and place a row of these folded pieces behind the crackers layer.
- Layer cheddar cheese cubes: Position the cheddar cheese cubes underneath the cracker row, making the row slightly longer than the crackers to widen the base, shaping the tree.
- Add cherry tomatoes: Place a layer of cherry tomatoes beneath the cheddar cheese cubes, extending slightly longer to continue tree shaping.
- Add pepper jack cheese cubes, cranberries, and cucumbers: Continue layering with pepper jack cheese cubes, followed by dried cranberries and cucumber slices, extending the length of each row to build the tree’s shape.
- Create the trunk: Arrange the mini pretzel sticks beneath all previous layers to form the trunk of the Christmas tree.
- Garnish the tree: Lay fresh sprigs of thyme or rosemary between some of the layers to mimic tree branches and add festive greenery.
Notes
- This recipe requires no cooking and can be assembled quickly for last-minute holiday entertaining.
- Feel free to substitute the cheeses, meats, or fruits based on your preferences or dietary restrictions.
- Use a wooden cutting board or a large platter to best display the charcuterie tree shape.
- For variation, add nuts or olives to the layers for additional texture and flavor.
- Keep grapes and tomatoes dry to avoid excess moisture on the board.
