The Ultimate Festive Christmas Charcuterie Board

‘Tis the season for holiday entertaining!

A Christmas charcuterie board is an easy, but elegant way to celebrate the season. Let the vibrant colors and big flavors of your favorite Mediterranean goodies do all the work! Whether you’re hosting epic holiday parties or low-key gatherings, charcuterie and cheese boards are festive finger foods that are adaptable to any size crowd and can typically be left out for grazing at room temperature.

If you’ve been looking for Christmas charcuterie board ideas, look no further. We’ve curated an exquisite holiday charcuterie board of perfectly paired meats, cheeses, spreads, starches, fruits and nuts with a little something for everyone on your guest list.

The art is in the arrangement, so get out your small bowls, plates and cutting boards. Play up the red and green garnishes a bit and leave no empty spaces!

JUMP TO RECIPE

What Is A Charcuterie Board?

Generally speaking, a charcuterie board (shar-COO-tuh-ree) is a presentation of cured meats, specialty cheeses and garnishes that can be served as an elegant appetizer, a small meal and even casual bites for intimate gatherings. The term “charcuterie” is French, a tradition that dates back to the 15th century—by all accounts. While the food is at the heart of a charcuterie board, there is an art to the arrangement. Items are placed and presented on a collection of wooden boards, dishes and bowls with or without parchment paper. Charcuterie can be adapted to any number of people, to specific diets and palates and for any occasion or season. From movie night snacking to eye-catching holiday appetizers, charcuterie boards are a great way to enjoy your favorite gourmet goodies in one easy-to-create yet stunning presentation.

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Charcuterie Board

There is so much to love about this Christmas Charcuterie Board. Not only is it a tasty holiday appetizer starring your favorite cured meats, cheeses, pickled veggies, olives, fruits and nuts… but it is also decor! Think of it as an edible and festive Christmas centerpiece featuring red and green colors. You won’t believe how easy it is to put together something this beautiful! Our Christmas Charcuterie Board is a unique holiday appetizer that can be easily customized for preference, dietary restrictions, number of guests, etc. This makes it a great option for office holiday parties as well as family get-togethers. Charcuterie is essentially a finger food, which makes it easy to enjoy and clean up.

How To Build The Perfect Christmas Charcuterie Board

Dishes and boards: Before you even touch the food, you have to gather up a collection of wooden boards, marble slabs, pieces of slate, ceramic dishes and bowls. Add a special touch with festive Christmas-themed pieces.

Featured meats and cheeses: Begin the arrangement with the main event, your selection of cured meats and cheeses. Start with the largest items and space them out to leave room for the rest of the goodies.

Olives and Antipasti: Follow your focus on meats and cheeses with an arrangement of olives and antipasti. These tasty morsels are not just flavorful; they're perfect for adding a splash of color and a burst of Mediterranean flair to your spread.

Spreads and starches: Give your Christmas Charcuterie Board some height with bowls and jars of dips and spreads. Include the necessary spoons and knives for self-serving. Don’t forget to add a selection of bread and crackers. These are the backbone of any charcuterie board, providing a solid base for stacking or spreading those tasty toppings.

Fruits and nuts: Arrange your fruits and nuts around the cheeses and meats, letting their vibrant colors and varied textures stand out. They're not just fillers; they're essential components that bring balance and harmony to the flavors and aesthetics of your board.

Fill in the spaces: Time to get festive! Use sprigs of fresh rosemary and raw cranberries to create a Christmas-time feel.

Top Tips

Variety is key. A great holiday charcuterie board includes a range of textures and flavors: spicy cured meats, both mild and aged cheeses, briny olives, chewy sun-dried tomatoes, tangy pickles, sweet fruit spreads and crispy toasts. Try to stick with the red and green Christmas theme. Variety keeps your offerings interesting and gives your holiday guests options, catering to differing palates and dietary restrictions like gluten free and dairy free.

Pay attention to visual variety too. Consider the items and colors and do not put too many like items next to each other. Do not place a cured meat next to another cured meat or green olives next to green pesto sauce, for example.

Make it accessible. Keep your guests in mind. Make sure items are cut, sliced, ready to scoop and within reach. Once you build your Christmas Charcuterie Board, stand back and take a look. Review your presentation and try to find what might need a serving spoon or fork, for instance.

Use your space wisely. Be sure to fill all of the gaps. Don’t leave empty space. In this case, festive Christmas decorations and candies are a fun addition: mini candy canes, peppermints, tiny bells, stockings, garland… the possibilities are endless!

Substitutions And Additions

For a gluten-free board, exclude toasts and crackers or choose gluten-free ones.

For a dairy-free board, plant-based cheeses, or remove cheeses all together.

For a vegetarian (meat-free) board, replace the cured meats with heartier bean spreads and more cheeses.

For keto, paleo or low-carb, skip the starches and the fruit. Sub with low-carb nuts, fresh fruits and pickled veggies. Keep up the bright red appearance with red peppers or tomatoes.

Christmas Charcuterie Board: FAQ

What Size Board Do I Need?

For an artful charcuterie presentation, you will need a variety of boards and dishes. We suggest using a combination of marble, slate, wood, ceramic, etc. in a range of sizes.

How Many People Does This Board Feed?

Charcuterie boards are great for small or large gatherings. This is a large board, so it can feed up to 10 people.

Can I Make This Charcuterie Board Ahead Of Time?

This Christmas Charcuterie Board can be assembled ahead of time, but it is not recommended. It can be arranged a couple of hours in advance, if necessary. Wrap each item tightly in plastic wrap before refrigerating to prevent items from drying out.

What Can I Use Instead Of A Wooden Board?

You do not need a wooden board or a cutting board. You can use ceramic dishes, pieces of slate, marble, etc. It’s better to use a variety of objects for your Christmas Charcuterie Board’s foundation.

How do I properly store this charcuterie board?

We go by the two-hour rule for food safety, as recommended by the FDA. This means that foods, like those on this Christmas Charcuterie Board, can sit out for no more than two hours at room temperature before being refrigerated.

Items on this charcuterie board can be covered and stored for up to 5 days. Separate items in separate dishes and bags to keep things as fresh as possible.

The Ultimate Festive Christmas Charcuterie Board