Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board with Meats, Cheeses, and Fruit

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This Christmas tree charcuterie board arranges your favorite meats, cheeses, and fruits into a festive tree shape that doubles as a stunning centerpiece and a delicious appetizer.

It takes about 20 minutes to assemble and requires zero cooking.

Why You’ll Love It

  • No cooking required—just arrange and serve
  • Impressive presentation with minimal effort
  • Completely customizable to your taste and budget
  • Works for parties of any size
  • Kids and adults both love building their own bites

Ingredients

For the Meats (choose 3-4):

  • 4 ounces prosciutto, thinly sliced
  • 4 ounces salami (Genoa or hard), sliced
  • 4 ounces pepperoni slices
  • 4 ounces sopressata or capicola

For the Cheeses (choose 3-4):

  • 8 ounces white cheddar, cubed or sliced
  • 8 ounces brie wheel, sliced into wedges
  • 4 ounces gouda, cubed
  • 4 ounces fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine)

For the Fruits and Vegetables:

  • 1 pint fresh raspberries
  • 1 pint fresh blackberries
  • 1 cup red grapes
  • 1 cup green grapes
  • 2 small mandarin oranges, peeled and segmented
  • 1/2 cup pomegranate seeds
  • Fresh rosemary sprigs (for garnish and tree branches)

For the Extras:

  • 1 cup mixed nuts (almonds, cashews, pecans)
  • 1/2 cup dried cranberries
  • 1/4 cup honey or fig jam (for dipping)
  • Assorted crackers
  • Sliced baguette
  • 1 star-shaped cookie or cheese for the tree topper

Steps

  1. Start with a large wooden cutting board or serving platter—at least 18 inches long for a full tree shape.
  2. Use a star-shaped cookie, cheese cut with a star cookie cutter, or a small bunch of rosemary as the tree topper at the top center of the board.
  3. Create the tree trunk at the bottom using a small rectangular piece of cheese or a cluster of pretzel sticks.
  4. Lay down rosemary sprigs in diagonal lines from the star downward to create the tree’s branch structure and guide your placement.
  5. Start filling in the tree shape with your largest items first—fold prosciutto into rosettes and place salami in overlapping rows.
  6. Add cheese cubes and wedges in clusters throughout the tree, alternating colors for visual contrast.
  7. Tuck fresh mozzarella balls and brie wedges into gaps.
  8. Fill remaining spaces with berries, grapes, and pomegranate seeds—use red fruits to look like ornaments.
  9. Place mandarin segments and dried cranberries to add pops of color.
  10. Scatter nuts in any remaining gaps.
  11. Add small ramekins of honey or jam at the base of the tree for dipping.
  12. Arrange crackers and baguette slices around the outside of the tree shape.
  13. Finish with extra rosemary sprigs tucked throughout for a fresh, festive look.

Helpful Tips and Substitutions

Fold deli meats instead of laying them flat—rosettes, fans, and rolls add dimension and fill space faster.

Cut cheese into different shapes (cubes, triangles, slices) for visual interest.

Use a cheese knife set for clean cuts and easier serving.

Green grapes and kiwi slices can represent green ornaments.

If serving kids, add mild cheddar cubes, turkey pepperoni, and apple slices.

For a budget-friendly board, use fewer specialty meats and more fruits and nuts.

Goat cheese logs can be sliced into coins for easy placement.

Make sure all cheeses are at room temperature for best flavor—take them out 30 minutes before assembling.

Serving Ideas

Place the board in the center of your table and let guests serve themselves.

Provide small appetizer plates and cocktail napkins nearby.

Set out toothpicks for easy grabbing of meats and cheeses.

Pair with wine, sparkling cider, or a signature holiday cocktail.

Add a card labeling each cheese if you’re serving guests unfamiliar with the varieties.

Turn any leftovers into next-day sandwiches, omelets, or pasta salads.

Make-Ahead and Storage

Prepare components up to 24 hours ahead: slice cheeses, portion meats, and wash fruits, storing each separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator.

Assemble the board no more than 2 hours before serving to keep everything fresh.

If assembling further ahead, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate, but remove 30 minutes before serving.

Store leftover meats and cheeses separately in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Fresh berries should be eaten within 2 days.

Do not freeze assembled boards—textures will suffer significantly.

The Centerpiece They’ll Remember

This Christmas tree charcuterie board is as fun to build as it is to eat.

It brings color, variety, and a festive spirit to any holiday table.

Set it out and watch it become the gathering spot of your party.

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