Charcuterie Christmas Tree
This charcuterie Christmas tree is the best appetizer for the Festive season. It’s filled with all your favorite snacks and is perfect for Christmas parties, Friendsmas, or any festive gathering.
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I love doing charcuterie boards. They’re simple once you get the knack of it and it lends itself to all your favorite snacking goodies. You can let your creative juices flow and create something all your guests will adore.
And peeps, if you are anything like our household it does not stop at one appetizer. Here are some of our favorite Christmas Appetizers or try this Charcuterie Wreath.
Table of Contents
Charcuterie Christmas Tree
Remember when the charcuterie craze started? I am so happy it has continued as you can get super creative in the kitchen. This one may seem more complicated but it’s not. The only extra step is adding festive twine to your favorite cold meats and the rest is placement to form the shape of the Christmas tree.
My children love helping with this and continually come up with new and creative ideas. So get your children involved, it will keep them busy during the festive holidays and help you out, which is a win at this busy time of year.
Why Make This Christmas Charcuterie Board Recipe
No cooking – With all that goes on in a kitchen to prepare for Christmas day, this is a great appetizer that does not use any of your kitchen appliances.
Make it ahead of time – This board is great as you can make it in advance. Freeing you up to take care of all the other main dishes for the big day.
Customize it – You can customize this charcuterie board to accommodate the dietary preferences and requirements of your guests.
Ingredient Notes
Feel free to choose what you like but I have outlined what I have used, feel free to change out ingredients for any dietary requirements.
- Cold meats – Salami, pancetta, or prosciutto are our go-to meats.
- Assorted cheeses – A wheel of Camembert cheese and assorted aged cheeses like fontina and gouda. We like to include mozzarella bites too.
- Vegetables and accompaniments – Juicy cherry tomatoes and salt olives are our family’s favorites.
- Mixed fruits – Like grapes, cranberries, strawberries, and apples.
- Nuts – Use almonds, walnuts, or other nuts of your choice.
- Crackers – Choose your favorite crackers for serving. You could use breadsticks, pretzels, crostini, pita chips, or even slices of baguette.
- Fresh rosemary – To garnish.
Handy Tip: Use Good Kitchen Tools!
For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
How To Make A Charcuterie Christmas Tree
- Slice the assorted cheeses into thin pieces for serving.
- Roll up the salami slices and secure them with a string to form the Christmas tree trunk.
- Start at the bottom of your serving board and place grapes and cranberries in a triangular shape to outline the tree.
- Layer the rest of the ingredients above the base to form the shape of a tree, following the outline created by the fruits.
- Use rosemary sprigs to decorate as branches to define the tree’s shape and size. Ensure all ingredients stay within the boundaries set by the rosemary. Store in the fridge and serve when ready.
Bintu’s Tips and Variations
- Cut all meats, cheeses, and fruits into bite-sized or ensure they are easy-to-hold portions. This makes it easier for guests to grab and enjoy them without additional cutlery.
- Assemble the board ahead of time and store it covered in plastic wrap in the fridge to keep the ingredients fresh and prevent them from drying out before serving.
- Use a mix of savory and sweet ingredients to create a balanced flavor.
- Use seasonal ingredients and if having overseas guests use locally produced ingredients so they can taste local offerings.
- Other ingredients to consider include sliced pears or figs, dried apricots or dates, prosciutto-wrapped breadsticks, or mini cheese balls with herbs and nuts.
Prep Ahead and Storage
- Prep ahead – This charcuterie board is perfect for prepping in advance. Assemble this board a few hours in advance with a maximum of 24 hours before your event. Store it in the fridge. Cover with plastic wrap or store it in an airtight container to keep everything fresh.
- Store – Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days. If you’ve used softer cheeses like mozzarella, eat them sooner as they may dry out or lose their freshness.
- Freeze – This charcuterie board is not freezer-friendly.
FAQs
You can make a charcuterie tree up to 24 hours in advance. Assemble the board then wrap the entire board tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate to keep everything fresh. Add items like crackers and fresh herbs right before serving to maintain their texture.
No, charcuterie should not be left out overnight. Due to food safety concerns, perishable items like meats, cheeses, and fruits should not sit at room temperature for more than 2 hours.
Yes, but leave certain items like crackers or fresh herbs and add them just before serving to avoid sogginess or wilting.
A general rule of thumb is to estimate about 2-3 ounces of cheese and meat per person, along with a variety of fruits, nuts, and crackers.
More Recipes You May Like
Serve With
- Air Fryer Bread – Use a variety of breads and some jams, jellies, or preserves.
- Air Fryer Shrimp – If you like seafood this adds an extra element to your appetizer.
- Fruit Platter – This fruit tray makes a nice sweet addition to all the salty flavors. It’s all about balance right?
Recommended Tools
- A sharp knife to cut all the cheese and veggies into bite sizes.
- A cutting board.
- Try and use a board specifically designed for charcuterie. It’s important to avoid using a board that has been used for slicing raw meats, as this can lead to contamination.
- For the best tools to help make your recipe even easier and more successful, check out my collection of the Best Kitchen Tools on Amazon.
Thank you for reading my charcuterie Christmas tree recipe post. And please come visit again as I continue to slice, dice, and dream up affordable air fryer recipes, Instant Pot recipes, Southern recipes, and more. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog.
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Charcuterie Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 10-12 slices (150g) salami
- 8-10 slices (150g) assorted cheeses
- 1 (250g) wheel of Camembert cheese
- 1 cup (120g) assorted aged cheeses fontina, gouda
- 1 cup (120g) mozzarella bites
- 1 cup (150g) cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup (150g) mixed fruits grapes, cranberries, strawberries, apples
- ½ cup (80g) olives
- ½ cup (60g) nuts almonds or walnuts
- 6-8 slices (120g) pancetta or prosciutto
- Crackers for serving
- Fresh rosemary for garnish
Instructions
- Slice the assorted cheeses into thin pieces for serving.
- Roll up the salami slices and secure them with a string to form the trunk of the Christmas tree.
- Start at the bottom of your serving board and place grapes and cranberries in a triangular shape to outline the tree.
- Layer the rest of the ingredients above the base to form the shape of a tree, following the outline created by the fruits.
- Use rosemary sprigs as branches to decorate in order to define the tree’s shape and size. Ensure all ingredients stay within the boundaries set by the rosemary.
Notes
-
- Cut all meats, cheeses, and fruits into bite-sized portions. This makes it easier for guests to grab and enjoy without the need for cutting.
- Alternate red, green, and yellow ingredients to enhance the Christmas theme.
- Assemble the board ahead of time and store it covered in plastic wrap in the fridge to keep the ingredients fresh and prevent them from drying out before serving.
- Use a mix of savory and sweet ingredients to create a balanced flavor.
- Use seasonal ingredients and if having overseas guests use locally produced ingredients.
- Storage – Store any leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
