Here’s how to make a festive Christmas Charcuterie Board using real food ingredients. Delight your friends and family with this delicious holiday snack spread that can be adapted for different food allergies if necessary.

Christmas tree shaped charcuterie board.

Whether you’re throwing a party or just having friends over, it’s always fun to have something special to offer as a snack.

This Christmas Charcuterie Board has something for everyone, plus it’s in the shape of an adorable Christmas tree.

Contents hide
1 Key Ingredients
2 Special Equipment
3 Recipe Steps
4 Recipe Tips & Substitutions
5 Recipe FAQs
6 More Holiday Recipes You Might Like
7 Don’t Miss These Holiday Party Recipes
8 Christmas Charcuterie Board

Key Ingredients

Celery makes the trunk or base of the Christmas tree.

Salami slices (or pepperoni) make the yummy base of the tree. Cured meats are part of a traditional charcuterie board, but you can always substitute them with vegetarian ingredients if you have guests who are vegetarian or vegan.

Cheese or apple add a bright color as part of the tree.

Additional foods like olives, red or green grapes, and pomegranate seeds add color, nutrition, and even more festive spirit to this fun food art. The fresh fruit is a nice balance to the different meats and veggies.

Pineapple makes a great food for the star on top.

Special Equipment

Rectangular cutting board

You can use a wooden or plastic cutting board as the base of your Christmas charcuterie board. Just be sure that the board is clean before putting food on top of it.

Cookie cutter or paring knife

You’ll also need a star-shaped cookie cutter or a sharp paring knife to cut the pineapple into the shape of the star. 

Recipe Steps

Choose your favorite ingredients and make your tree as festive as you’d like! It’s very quick to lay this out as guests start to arrive.

Step One

Lay your cutting board on a working surface. 

To make the tree shape with the ingredients, start at the bottom. Place the celery stalk to make the trunk of the tree. Then, layer the salami to make the base of the tree.

Step Two

Next, make layers using the cubed cheese (or apple), olives, more salami, and then the grapes at the top.

Step Three

Use a star cookie cutter to cut out the pineapple star. Or, use a sharp paring knife to cut out the star shape. Place the pineapple star at the top of the tree.

Step Four

Finally, use the fresh rosemary sprigs to stick out from the sides of the tree layers. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds on top of the rosemary. The pomegranate seeds are the Christmas tree decorations on your charcuterie tree!

I hope you agree that this Christmas tree charcuterie board is an essential part of the holiday season and perfect of holiday parties. This beautiful board can also serve as an ice breaker as guests gather around it.

Recipe Tips & Substitutions

  • If you want to prep this ahead of time, you can cut all of the fruit and vegetables and store them in an airtight container or covered with plastic wrap up to 3 days before serving.
  • Then, just before serving, create the Christmas tree shape using your ingredients.
  • After your party, dissemble the tree and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • This recipe is very forgiving! You can use whatever types of colorful fruits, veggies, and cold cuts that you like. Just be sure that you present items that are bite-sized and not too messy to eat with your fingers. Don’t want a cheese board? Substitute cherry tomatoes or whatever else you like instead of a cheese platter.
  • Want a holiday dessert recipe? Try this adorable Christmas Tree Cake.

Recipe FAQs

Can I make a plant-based Christmas Charcuterie Board?

Yes, of course! Just replace any animal-based items like salami and cheese with plant-based ingredients such as apple, pineapple chunks, jicama cubes, crackers, chips, pretzels, or whatever you like. See my recipe for a Vegan Charcuterie Board.

More Holiday Recipes You Might Like

Don’t Miss These Holiday Party Recipes

Gluten-Free Dairy-Free Charcuterie Board

Vegan Charcuterie Board

Holiday Vegetable Wreath

Grinch Fruit Kabobs

I hope you make this recipe! If you do, please leave a comment and a starred review below.

And, consider following me on social media so we can stay connected. I’m on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube!

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Christmas tree shaped charcuterie board.

Christmas Charcuterie Board

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Print Recipe

Here’s how to make a festive Christmas Charcuterie Board using real food ingredients. Delight your friends and family with this delicious holiday snack spread.

  • Total Time: 45 minutes
  • Yield: 8 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 3-inch celery stalk
  • 1 4–ounce package sliced salami
  • 1 8–ounce package white cheddar cheese, cut into bite-sized cubes (you can substitute chopped apple if you want a dairy-free or plant-based option)
  • 1 10–ounce jar green olives, drained
  • 1 cup red grapes
  • 1/4 cup fresh pomegranate seeds
  • 1 fresh pineapple, skinned and sliced into 1-inch tall slices (one of these will be used for the star on top of the tree)
  • 4 sprigs fresh rosemary, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Lay a clean cutting board on your countertop. The board should be rectangular in shape. 
  2. To make the tree shape with the ingredients, start at the bottom. Place the celery stalk to make the trunk of the tree.
  3. Then, layer the salami to make the base of the tree.
  4. Next, make layers using the cubed cheese (or apple), olives, more salami, and then the grapes at the top.
  5. To make the pineapple star, lay one slice of the fresh pineapple on a separate cutting surface. Use a star cookie cutter to cut out the pineapple star. Or, use a sharp paring knife to cut out the star shape. Place the pineapple star at the top of the tree.
  6. Lastly, use the fresh rosemary sprigs to stick out from the sides of the tree layers. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds on top of the rosemary to replicate Christmas tree lights or decorations.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

  1. If you want to prep this ahead of time, you can cut all of the fruit and vegetables and store them in an airtight container up to 3 days before serving.
  2. Then, just before serving, create the Christmas tree shape using your ingredients.
  3. After your party, dissemble the tree and store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  4. This recipe is very forgiving! You can use whatever types of colorful fruits, veggies, and cold cuts that you like. Just be sure that you present items that are bite-sized and not too messy to eat with your fingers.

Keywords: holiday charcuterie, Christmas charcuterie board, Christmas tree charcuterie

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