Description
Create a festive and visually stunning Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board perfect for beginners. Featuring layers of semi-hard cheeses, fresh fruits, crunchy nuts, and savory meats arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree, this easy-to-assemble board is ideal for holiday gatherings and guaranteed to impress guests with its colorful and delicious presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheeses
- 6 to 8 ounces semi-hard cheese like gouda, cheddar, or havarti
Fruits and Vegetables
- 10 to 15 red grapes
- 1/2 cup fresh raspberries
- 2 to 3 mini cucumbers, sliced into rounds
Meat and Nuts
- 3 ounces salami, folded
- 1/2 cup marcona almonds
Other
- Crackers, quantity to fill layers
- 1/4 cup candied ginger
- Handful of olives for decoration
- 4 to 5 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- Honey for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Board: Select a cheese board at least 18 inches in diameter to accommodate the Christmas tree shape successfully.
- Create Tree Outline: Use a roll of string to form an even triangle on the board, securing its three corners with tape to hold the tree shape steady.
- Build Bottom Layer: Arrange a single layer of crackers along the bottom edge inside the triangle to serve as the tree's base row.
- Add Cheese and Grapes: Above the crackers, place sticks of cheese followed by a row of red grapes to add color and variety.
- Layer Cucumbers: Position two rows of sliced mini cucumbers directly above the grapes for a fresh, crisp layer.
- Sprinkle Almonds: Lightly mound the marcona almonds above the cucumbers to add texture and nutty richness.
- Place Raspberries: Add two rows of fresh raspberries on top of the almonds to bring vibrant red tones to the board.
- Stack Cheese Cubes: Put a generous amount of cubed cheese over the raspberries to maintain the cheese presence in the design.
- Arrange Salami: Fold the salami slices and place them in the next layer to introduce a savory element.
- Fill with Crackers: Use crackers once more to fill in spaces and add a crunchy texture above the salami.
- Create Tree Top: Cut cheese into festive shapes such as stars or snowflakes and place them at the top of the triangle to form the tree’s pinnacle.
- Decorate: Scatter candied ginger pieces across the board for sparkle, tuck in sprigs of fresh rosemary between the layers to mimic tree needles, and wedge in some olives as colorful ornaments.
- Finish and Serve: Carefully remove the string and tape from the board, then serve the charcuterie with honey on the side for drizzling.
Notes
- Use a wooden board or any large flat surface to create enough space for the tree shape.
- Feel free to substitute the semi-hard cheeses with your favorites like manchego or gruyere.
- Adjust the quantity of ingredients based on the number of guests or board size.
- Adding fresh rosemary not only enhances the look but also imparts a subtle aroma fitting for the holidays.
- You can replace candied ginger with dried cranberries or pomegranate seeds for different decorative touches.
- Honey complements the saltiness of the cheese and salami but can be omitted for a dairy-free option.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 of board
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 25 mg
