Up your appetizer game with these over the top Christmas charcuterie board recipes.
This Christmas season, why not up your appetizer game with a beautiful and festive charcuterie board. Some people call it a cheese board or cheese platter. These go way beyond cheese and whatever you call it, these snacks are super creative with holiday touches and shapes. They are definitely not your traditional charcuterie board.
What to add to your charcuterie board recipe card:
cherry tomatoes
broccoli
red & green peppers
green grapes
soft cheeses –
hard cheeses
mozzarella balls
green olives
red grapes
pears
hard salami
prosciutto
dried fruit – figs, apricots, pears, apples, prunes
fresh fruit like strawberries
fresh herbs for garnish
Preserves- chutney, jams, jelly, compote.
dips and sauces
pepperoni
nuts, raw and candied
black olives
crackers
pretzels
cookies
chocolates
candy canes
chocolate chips
marshmallows
baguette
walnuts
almonds
pecans
Tips for the perfect Christmas charcuterie board:
Make your list of what you need ahead of time. – Here’s a Free Charcuterie shopping list to get you started.
How much cheese and charcuterie should you plan per person? When making your shopping list, plan about 2 ounces of cheese and charcuterie per person. If you plan far enough ahead you can look for non-perishable things like crackers and nuts and pick those up when they are on sale.
2. Prep everything the day before.
To save time the day of your event, cut up the fruit, vegetables and cheeses and seal them in airtight containers. You can save time by purchasing pre-sliced meats and cheeses but they may be more expensive.
You can also prep the board ahead of time if needed, just leave off the crackers and nuts so they don’t get soggy. If you have room in your fridge (or if it’s cold near you, store in the garage) by wrapping the board tightly in plastic wrap. Allow it to come to room temperature about 30 minutes before serving and add in the crackers and nuts.
3. Place a piece of butchers paper or parchment paper on your board first.
This should be slightly smaller than your board so you can’t see it. This will keep the board clean and make cleaning up faster plus fruits like strawberries can stain the wood and this will help prevent that from happening.
4. Add small bowls for sauces and dips and cheese knives, tooth picks and little tongs for serving.
5. Fill in larger foods around the bowls.
6. Be sure to use different textures and colors.
7. Fill in small areas with nuts and berries.
8. Add sprigs of rosemary for garnish.
9. Use a cookie cutter to make different shapes like stars with the cheese or even cucumbers for more embellishments.
These gorgeous charcuterie boards makes the perfect holiday appetizer.
A round wooden cutting board makes the perfect backdrop for a wreath shape.
A large rectangular cutting board works great, too. Depending on how many people you are having over, a large enough charcuterie board, or grazing table, can actually be a great alternative to a main course.
Another festive Christmas charcuterie board idea is to feature a dessert board. Don’t forget to add a candy cane or two for garnish.
What do you put on a Christmas Charcuterie Board?? So many great options! Treat your holiday guests to your favorite things with a gorgeous Christmas charcuterie board. Whether at family gatherings or holiday parties, they are the perfect party plater and a great alternative to celebrate the season!
Wow! What a sensational post! I gotta try some of these. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you, Penelope! I’m so glad you found inspiration. Merry Christmas!!!