Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
An easy festive Christmas appetizer featuring cheddar and mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese, folded beef salami or turkey, red and green grapes, cherry tomatoes, olives, crackers, and mixed nuts arranged into a beautiful Christmas tree shape. Fresh rosemary creates evergreen branches, while a cheese star tops the tree.
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Calories: 330kcal
Equipment
- Large rectangular food-safe serving board or platter
- Sharp kitchen knife
- cutting board
- Small star-shaped cookie cutter
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Colander or strainer
- Clean kitchen towel or paper towels
- Small appetizer forks or food picks
- Plastic wrap or food-safe cover
- Refrigerator
- Airtight food storage containers
Ingredients
- 1.5 cups cheddar cheese cubes
- 1.5 cups mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese cubes
- 1 cup beef salami or turkey slices, folded
- 1 cup green grapes, washed and dried
- 1 cup red grapes, washed and dried
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, washed and dried
- 0.5 cup green olives, pitted and drained
- 0.5 cup black olives, pitted and drained
- 1 cup crackers
- 0.5 cup mixed nuts
- 6 sprigs fresh rosemary, washed and dried
- 1 slice cheese, cut into a star shape
- 2 tbsp dried cranberries, optional
Instructions
- Choose a clean, food-safe rectangular serving board or platter approximately 12 by 18 inches.
- Cut 1 1/2 cups cheddar and 1 1/2 cups mozzarella or Monterey Jack into cubes if necessary. Fold 1 cup ready-to-eat beef salami or turkey slices into halves or quarters.
- Wash and dry 1 cup green grapes, 1 cup red grapes, and 1 cup cherry tomatoes. Drain 1/2 cup pitted green olives and 1/2 cup pitted black olives. Prepare 1/2 cup mixed nuts.
- Near the top of the board, arrange a short horizontal row of cheese cubes.
- Continue placing ingredients in horizontal rows, making each row gradually wider toward the bottom to create a Christmas tree shape.
- Alternate rows of cheddar, mozzarella or Monterey Jack, folded beef salami or turkey, green grapes, red grapes, cherry tomatoes, green and black olives, crackers, and mixed nuts.
- Tuck approximately 6 clean, dry rosemary sprigs around the outer edges to resemble evergreen branches.
- Place 1 star-shaped slice of cheese above the narrowest row and make a tree trunk at the bottom using a short stack of crackers or cheese cubes.
- Fill small gaps with remaining mixed nuts and add optional 2 tablespoons dried cranberries as festive accents.
- Serve immediately with appetizer forks or food picks. If preparing ahead, keep the perishable ingredients covered and refrigerated and add the crackers shortly before serving.
Notes
Prep time: 20 minutes. Cook time: 0 minutes. Total time: 20 minutes. Servings: 8 to 10. Use a clean food-safe rectangular serving board approximately 12 by 18 inches. Prepare 1 1/2 cups cheddar cheese cubes, 1 1/2 cups mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese cubes, 1 cup folded beef salami or ready-to-eat turkey slices, 1 cup green grapes, 1 cup red grapes, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1/2 cup pitted green olives, 1/2 cup pitted black olives, 1 cup crackers, 1/2 cup mixed nuts, approximately 6 fresh rosemary sprigs, 1 star-shaped slice of cheese, and optional 2 tablespoons dried cranberries. Wash and dry all fresh produce thoroughly and drain olives. Start with a short row near the top of the board and arrange ingredients into gradually wider horizontal rows to create a triangular Christmas tree shape. Alternate red, green, golden, ivory, and dark ingredients. Tuck rosemary sprigs around the edges, add a cheese star at the top, and create a trunk with crackers or cheese cubes. Fill gaps with nuts and optional cranberries. Serve immediately or keep refrigerated until serving. Add crackers shortly before serving to prevent moisture-related softening. Choose pitted olives for convenience. Use clean rosemary as decoration and avoid serving the woody stems as food. For young children, quarter grapes lengthwise and consider serving nuts separately because whole grapes and nuts can present choking hazards. For guests with nut allergies, omit nuts or offer them in a clearly labeled separate bowl and prevent cross-contact. To prepare ahead, cube cheese, fold meat, and wash and dry fruit in advance, then refrigerate each perishable component separately. Keep assembled perishable ingredients at 40°F (4°C) or colder until serving. Do not leave perishable foods at room temperature for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Replenish from chilled ingredients during long parties. Nutrition values are approximate per serving assuming 10 servings and optional dried cranberries. Exact values depend on meat type, cheeses, cracker varieties, olives, nuts, and quantities consumed.
Nutrition
Calories: 330kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 790mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 550IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 330mg | Iron: 1.5mg