Description

Create a festive and visually stunning Christmas charcuterie board that is easy to assemble and perfect for holiday gatherings. This layered platter features a variety of cheeses, meats, fresh fruits, vegetables, and snacks arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree, complete with a cheese star topper and pretzel stick trunk, garnished with fresh herbs for a seasonal touch.

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 small cucumber, sliced into rounds
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Crackers and Snacks

8-12 round crackers
10 mini pretzel sticks (for the trunk)

Garnish

Sprigs of fresh thyme or fresh rosemary

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Instructions

Make the Tree Topper: Use a star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star out of the slice of Colby jack cheese. Place the cheese star at the top of a wooden cutting board as the tree’s topper.
Add Grapes: Directly beneath the cheese star, arrange a bunch of green grapes in a row to form the top layer of the tree.
Place Crackers: Under the grapes, lay 8-12 round crackers in an angled row, slightly wider than the grapes, to start building the tree’s shape.
Arrange Salami: Fold each slice of dry salami into quarters and arrange them in a row behind the crackers, extending the width of the tree.
Layer Cheddar Cheese Cubes: Add cheddar cheese cubes beneath the crackers, making a row longer than the cracker layer to expand the tree shape.
Add Cherry Tomatoes: Place the cherry tomatoes in the next row, making it slightly longer than the cheddar layer to continue the triangular tree form.
Add Pepper Jack Cheese Cubes, Dried Cranberries, and Cucumbers: Follow with a row of pepper jack cheese cubes, then dried cranberries, and finally cucumber slices, each row extending wider to deepen the tree’s shape.
Create the Tree Trunk: Use 10 mini pretzel sticks and align them vertically at the base of the tree to represent the trunk.
Garnish: Decorate by laying sprigs of fresh thyme or rosemary between rows to mimic evergreen tree branches and add a festive aroma.

Notes

Use a wooden cutting board or large platter as the base to easily display and serve the charcuterie board.
You can substitute salami with other cured meats like prosciutto or pepperoni if desired.
Fresh herbs not only add visual appeal but also provide a pleasant fragrance and touch of green resembling pine needles.
Feel free to add nuts such as almonds or walnuts for extra crunch and texture.
Make sure all ingredients are bite-sized or easy to pick up for your guests.