Christmas Charcuterie (Board) Recipe | Festive Holiday Appetizer

I’ll admit: the first time I built this Christmas charcuterie board, I was a little nervous. But once I laid out the cheeses, meats, fruits, and garnishes, it came alive — so festive and fun. I love how it becomes the centerpiece of any holiday spread.

The best part? It’s mostly assembly, which gives me time to enjoy the party too. By the end, guests were sneaking little bites long before dinner started. You can also enjoy festive drinks like this Christmas Mule Recipe to pair beautifully with your charcuterie board.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients I used (and why). Feel free to adjust to what’s available near you:

½ cup pomegranate seeds — bright red jewels that add pop and tartness
⅔ cup fresh raspberries — delicate, juicy, and festive
4 strawberries, halved — they bring that deeper red contrast
½ cup pistachios (in shell) — green interior makes them ideal for the holiday palette
2 oz aged cheddar, cubed or sliced thick — a familiar favorite everyone loves
2 oz Yorkshire Wensleydale (or cranberry-speckled cheese), crumbled or cubed — gives that cranberry-cheese surprise
8 oz Brie (whole wheel) — the star cheese for the centerpiece
1 oz salami, thinly sliced — fold or fan for visual texture
1 oz soppressata, thinly sliced — a spicy, salty bite
0.5 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced — delicate, silky, and elegant
5–6 artisan crisps (e.g. tart cherry, cacao nib & almond) — slightly sweet, with texture
1 oz rosemary einkorn crackers or other thematic crackers — herbal note fits Christmas
2 tablespoons red pepper jelly or jam (e.g. fig, cherry) — to top the brie with a sweet contrast
Fresh rosemary sprigs — for garnish, scent, and green accent

Note: serves about 8–12 as an appetizer.

Variations

If you need to tweak for dietary or flavor preferences, here are some alternatives:

Dairy-free / vegan: use plant-based “cheese wheels” (cashew or almond-based) and vegan cream cheese spreads.
Sugar-free: choose a sugar-free jelly or swap preserve for unsweetened cranberry sauce.
Extra flavor add-ons: drizzle honey, include fig jam, or add marinated olives or pickles for briny contrast.
Gluten-free: use gluten-free crackers or crisps instead of wheat-based ones.
Vegetarian: skip the cured meats and substitute with smoked tofu slices, roasted red peppers, artichoke hearts, or grilled vegetables.

Cooking Time

Here’s what you should expect timing-wise:

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cooking Time: 0 minutes (no baking needed)
Total Time: 30 minutes

Equipment You Need

Here are the tools I found helpful:

A large round or oval board or platter — to serve as your canvas
Small bowls or ramekins — for loose items like pomegranate seeds or jam
Sharp knife / serrated knife — to cut cheeses, fruits, or slice the brie top
Cookie cutter (holiday shape) — to make a decorative cut in the brie
Cheese knives & small forks / tongs — for guests to serve themselves

How to Make Christmas Charcuterie Board

Arrange containers & focal points

I start by placing two small bowls (for jam, seeds, or candy) on the board, spaced apart. I use the brie (still in packaging) to plan the visual triangle of key focal points.

Prepare the brie

I carefully slice off the top rind of the brie (about ¼ inch), smear a layer of red pepper jelly or jam on the exposed cheese, then use a holiday cookie cutter to cut a little snowflake or star shape from the removed top, and press it back on.

Layer cheeses and meats

I place the decorated brie near one of the containers. Then I nestle the cheddar and Wensleydale cheeses around the edges of the board. Next, I fan, fold, or roll the salami, soppressata, and prosciutto and arrange them around the cheeses.

Fill gaps with fruit, nuts & crackers

I fill in the spaces with raspberries, strawberries, pomegranate seeds, and pistachios. Then I tuck in artisan crisps and rosemary crackers. I scatter fresh rosemary sprigs around the outer rim to evoke a “wreath” effect.

Final touches

I inspect for any empty gaps and fill them with extra fruit or nuts. Finally, I place small cheese knives, forks, or tongs for guests to serve themselves.

Additional Tips for Making this Recipe Better

From my experience, a few small tweaks go a long way:

Start prepping ingredients earlier (cut cheese, hull berries) so assembly is stress-free
Use parchment paper under the board to protect it from stains
Let cheese sit at room temperature 20–30 minutes before serving — flavors open up
Intermix textures: crunchy nuts, soft cheese, silky meat — that contrast is magic
Don’t overcrowd — leave tiny gaps so each item stands out

How to Serve Christmas Charcuterie Board

I like to serve this board as the first thing on the table. For presentation, place it in the center and let guests gather around. Garnish with extra rosemary sprigs or even small edible ornaments (like cranberry skewers). Pair with crackers, sliced baguette, or crusty bread slices.

Small plates, napkins, and cheese knives/tongs make it easy for guests to graze. You can also serve it alongside sweet options like this Christmas Trifles Recipe for a complete festive spread.

Nutritional Information

Here’s an approximate snapshot per serving (based on standard ingredients):

Calories: ~ 184 kcal
Protein: ~ 9 g
Carbohydrates: ~ 8 g
Fat: ~ 13 g

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing leftovers

I store leftover fruit, nuts, and crackers in airtight containers in the fridge (or pantry for non-perishables). If the cheese still looks fresh (not sweaty), I save it for cooking (like eggs or grilled sandwiches). Avoid storing meat that’s been out too long.

Freezing / restoring

This board doesn’t freeze well — textures will suffer. If you must store, keep individual ingredients separately (nuts, cheeses, meats) but not the assembled board.

Reheating / freshening

When serving leftovers, let cheese and meats sit at room temperature for 15–20 minutes before eating so flavors return. Don’t try to “warm up” the board — this is best eaten cold or room temperature.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe?

Here are a few reasons this recipe always wins:

It’s visually stunning — the red, white, and green palette captures the holiday spirit
Effort-light — mostly assembly, minimal cooking, so you enjoy the party too
Highly customizable — mix cheeses, meats, or swap items per preference
Versatile for diets — easy to adapt for vegetarian, gluten-free, sugar-free needs
Flavor contrasts — sweet, salty, creamy, crunchy all in one board

Ash Tyrrell