Rosemary wreath
Lay rosemary sprigs in a ring on a round board, then tuck in mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, salami folds and cranberries. Add a red pepper bow.
You need: rosemary, mozzarella balls, tomatoes
shapeeasy
Charcuterie · Christmas
Christmas Charcuterie Board Ideas
A wreath of rosemary and salami, a tree of stacked cheese, a candy cane in red and white. Shapes make a board look festive with almost no extra effort.
Quick answer
The easiest Christmas charcuterie ideas use a festive shape: a wreath (ring of rosemary studded with cheese, salami and cranberries), a Christmas tree (triangle of cheese cubes and grapes with a cheese star), or a candy cane (alternating mozzarella and salami or tomatoes). Use red and green foods (cranberries, pomegranate, rosemary, grapes, red pepper) and cut cheese with star or tree cutters.
Christmas tree board
Build a triangle in rows: grapes, cheddar cubes, salami, olives, more cheese. Star-shaped cheese on top, pretzel rods for a trunk.
You need: star cutter, cubed cheese
shape
Candy cane board
On a long board, alternate stripes of fresh mozzarella and salami or cherry tomatoes in a curved cane shape.
You need: mozzarella, salami
shapeeasy
Snowman cheese ball
Three cheese balls stacked as a snowman with peppercorn eyes and a carrot nose, surrounded by crackers.
You need: cream cheese, carrot
shape
Brie 'present'
Wrap a wheel of brie in prosciutto ribbons with a rosemary sprig bow. Bake 10 minutes or serve cold.
You need: brie, prosciutto
easy
Hot cocoa board
Cocoa in the middle surrounded by marshmallows, candy canes, cookies, whipped cream and chocolate pieces.
You need: cocoa, toppings
sweetparty
Christmas cookie board
Sugar cookies, gingerbread, shortbread and chocolate bark arranged around a bowl of icing for dunking.
You need: assorted cookies
sweet
Grinch board
Green grapes, kiwi, green apple, pistachios, cucumbers and a cheese 'Grinch heart' cut from cheddar or a strawberry.
You need: green foods
shape
Christmas morning board
Mini cinnamon rolls, berries, bacon, cheese and clementines so everyone can graze while opening gifts.
You need: rolls, fruit
easy
Santa hat board
Strawberries with a dot of whipped cream on top: instant Santa hats around a central dip.
You need: strawberries, cream
sweeteasy
Star of Bethlehem board
Arrange crackers and cheese in a large star with a cheese star in the centre.
You need: large board
shapeparty
Christmas Eve board for two
Smoked cheddar, brie, salami, figs, dark chocolate and two glasses of something sparkling.
You need: small board
easy
Reindeer cheese ball
A cheese ball with pretzel antlers, olive eyes and a cherry tomato nose.
You need: cheese ball, pretzels
shape
Pomegranate jewel board
Scatter pomegranate seeds over feta, goat's cheese and crackers for an instant 'snow and jewels' look.
You need: pomegranate, white cheese
easy
Gingerbread house board
A small gingerbread house as the centrepiece with sweets, cheese and fruit around it.
You need: small gingerbread kit
sweetparty
Christmas tree skewers
Skewer cheese, basil and tomato in tree shapes and stand them in a halved melon.
You need: skewers, melon
shapeparty
Candy board
Peppermint bark, chocolate coins, candy canes, fudge and truffles in festive colours.
You need: assorted sweets
sweet
Holiday grazing table
Butcher paper down the whole table with a wreath of meats and cheese at each end and a garland of fruit down the middle.
You need: butcher paper, bulk food
party
Tips that make it work
Rosemary does the work
Fresh rosemary looks like pine and smells festive. A pack makes any board look Christmassy.
Red and green only
Limit colours to red, green and white for a striking holiday look.
Make it ahead
Shape the wreath or tree up to 3 hours ahead and cover with a damp paper towel and cling film.
Frequently asked questions
What do you put on a Christmas charcuterie board?
Cheeses (brie, aged cheddar, mozzarella), cured meats (salami, prosciutto), red and green fruit (grapes, cranberries, pomegranate), rosemary, crackers, nuts and something sweet like chocolate or cookies.
How do you make a charcuterie wreath?
Lay rosemary in a ring on a round board, then add small items in clusters around it: mozzarella balls, tomatoes, salami, cheese cubes and cranberries.
How long can a charcuterie board sit out?
Up to 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour if it's above 90°F/32°C). For longer parties, refill a smaller board from the fridge instead of putting everything out at once.