Our Christmas Charcuterie Board is our go-to festive holiday appetizer that is arranged in a pretty wreath shape with cheese, meats, fruit, vegetables, olives, crackers, and dip. It’s colorful, fresh, and perfect for setting out before Christmas dinner or serving at a holiday party.
We love this because guests can graze while everyone is visiting, and it looks beautiful without needing much cooking. Arrange the ingredients in a circle, tuck in fresh herbs like sage, rosemary, and thyme, and you have an easy appetizer that is festive and tastes amazing.
It’s so easy and so loved by everyone! For more favorites, try our Veggie Christmas Tree, Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board, and Christmas Veggie Tray.
Why You’ll Love It + Why it works:
- Ready in Minutes: No cooking required, which makes party prep simple.
- A Favorite for Sharing: Perfect for Christmas parties, family gatherings, open houses, and holiday dinners.
- Color Variety Makes it Festive: Mixing red, green, white, and golden ingredients gives the board a Christmas look.
- Groups Make it Easy to Build: Placing ingredients in small sections around a circle creates a pretty wreath shape without needing perfection.
Christmas Charcuterie Ingredients
- Your favorite crackers on a plate to the side (3 cups): Gives guests something crisp to pair with the cheeses, meats, and dip.
- Olives in a bowl to the side (1 cup): Adds flavor and a simple savory option.
- Cherry tomatoes on the side (1 cup): Adds bright red color, freshness, and a juicy bite.
- Dip, we use jalapeno artichoke dip (1 cup): Adds a creamy, flavorful option for dipping crackers and vegetables. Try our Homemade Ranch, Dill Vegetable Dip, or Cream Cheese Fruit Dip.
- Fuzzy kiwi, sliced thin (1 cup): Adds pretty green color and sweet-tart flavor.
- Colby Jack cheese cubes (1 cup): Adds mild, creamy cheese flavor and make the board hearty.
- Pepperoni slices (1 cup): Adds savory, salty flavor and classic charcuterie texture.
- Green grapes (1 cup): Adds sweetness, freshness, and Christmas green color.
- Raspberries (1 cup): Adds bright red color and a sweet, tart bite.
- Cheddar cheese cubes (1 cup): Adds bold cheese flavor and a golden color.
- Spec Italiano ham, rolled, or your favorite deli meat (1 cup): Adds savory flavor and makes the board feel extra special.
- Mozzarella balls, removed from the container of water and dried lightly with a paper towel (1 cup): Adds creamy texture and a pretty white color.
- Golden kiwi sliced (1 cup): Adds sweetness and a bright golden pop of color.
- Strawberries, sliced (1 cup): Adds red color, sweetness, and a fresh fruit option.
- Sage leaves, rosemary and thyme: Adds fresh holiday fragrance, greenery, and a wreath-like finish. You can also used homemade dried oranges for a festive, colorful garnish.
How To Make A Christmas Charcuterie Board
BOARD. We used a large wooden pizza peel, but you can use any cutting board, baking tray, wooden board (in round, snowman, or a tree shape).
PREP. Gather all of the ingredients that you plan to use. Separate colors that are alike for the best visual appeal.
ARRANGE your items on the board in a large circle forming a wreath. Assemble them fairly close to the edges of the board so you can fill in and have enough room to add all of the ingredients you’d like.
GARNISH. Once you have assembled your main circle for the wreath tuck in fresh rosemary sprigs, sage leaves, and thyme.
Serving Tip!
- Bigger for More! Make a wreath large enough to serve the number of guests you are expecting without having to replenish your board too often throughout your event.
- Small bowls. Use these to add any of the ingredients or dips to.
- Utensils. Also be sure to include small cheese knives and tongs for serving.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Start by placing bowls or any larger items first so you can build the wreath around them.
- Arrange colors in sections around the circle so red, green, white, and gold are evenly spread out.
- Dry the mozzarella balls and fruit well so the board does not get watery.
- Keep crackers on the side so they stay crisp and do not get soft from the fruit or dip.
- This board is so easy to customize. You can do only fruits and have a Fruit Dip or just vegetables and a Veggie Dip. Or you can switch it up based on who you are serving it for.
Christmas Themed Charcuterie Board
Equipment
- pizza peel (for your base, I even tied a wired ribbon around the handle for a festive touch)
- toothpicks or serving prongs
Ingredients
- 3 cups your favorite crackers on a plate to the side
- 1 cup olives in a bowl to the side
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes on the side
- 1 cup dip, (we use jalapeno artichoke dip)
- 1 cup fuzzy kiwi , sliced thin
- 1 cup Colby Jack cheese cubes
- 1 cup pepperoni slices
- 1 cup green grapes
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1 cup cheddar cheese cubes
- 1 cup Spec Italiano ham, rolled (or your favorite deli meat)
- 1 cup mozzarella balls, removed from the container of water and dried lightly with a paper towel
- 1 cup golden kiwi sliced
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- sage leaves, rosemary and thyme
Instructions
- Think about the colors of the items you have selected and plan to place in a circle with the colors varying.
- Build your "wreath" by placing groups of your ingredients around in a circle.
- Once you have built your main circle begin tucking in sage leaves, rosemary, and thyme.
Notes
- Start by placing bowls or any larger items first so you can build the wreath around them.
- Arrange colors in sections around the circle so red, green, white, and gold are evenly spread out.
- Dry the mozzarella balls and fruit well so the board does not get watery.
- Keep crackers on the side so they stay crisp and do not get soft from the fruit or dip.
- Make-ahead tip: prep the fruit, cheese, meat, and herbs ahead of time, then assemble the board shortly before serving.
Nutrition
Recipe FAQ
This Christmas charcuterie wreath board is easily made ahead of time and stored as well. Prepare ahead of time with perishable items refrigerated (covered with plastic wrap) until you are ready for assembly.
Store any leftover items separately with perishable items kept in the fridge.
More Like This
Holiday Appetizers
Christmas Veggie Tray
10 mins
Baked Brie In Puff Pastry
30 mins
Veggie Christmas Tree
20 mins
Cheese Ball Bites
1 hr 10 mins
Collections
This recipe was first shared December, 2022.
I have not tried any of your recipes as yet, but they all seems interesting and very easy to make, but I am waiting on a special occasion to try some.
Thanks so much for following along and I hope you get the chance to try a few recipes soon!
This is really festive, very pretty. I will try this recipe. Thank You for recipe.
By jaw literally dropped when I saw how pretty your board is. The center of the wreath is perfect to add a bowl of dip of a cheese ball.
Tried this board and it turned out beautiful and delicious! This is a great idea for Christmas this year.
This charcuterie board is so wonderful! I made it for a holiday gathering and it was a huge hit!
Such a beautiful board! This was the hit at our Christmas party!
I love this adorable Christmas wreath made of food and beauty. So pretty and tasty!
Ok, this is the most festive & pretty charcuterie board I’ve ever seen!! My family loves everything on this board, so it will be a hit this weekend!!