Impress your guests this holiday season with a charming Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board that’s almost too pretty to eat.
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
Good food is essential for any holiday gathering, and snack-style dishes are my go-to. They’re simple to prepare, easy for guests to grab, and perfect for mingling. A themed charcuterie board brings both flavor and festive flair to your celebration.
This Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is a fun, crowd-pleasing centerpiece for holiday parties—bright, seasonal, and easy to customize.
What You Need to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
- Fontina cheese, cubed
- Colby Jack, cubed
- Cheddar, cubed
- Uncured Genoa salami, circle cut
- Pepperoni, circle cut
- Fresh blackberries
- Fresh raspberries
- Green olives
- Pistachios for the trunk (or alternative below)
- Thin cheddar slice for a star
- Provolone slice for a star
- Rosemary sprigs for “branches”
- Fresh dill for “branches”
- Jam of choice (in a ramekin)
- Large serving tray or cutting board
- Medium and small star cookie cutters
- Toothpicks
- Ramekin and small jar of honey (optional)
Prep and Timing
You can prepare many components ahead of time—wash fruit, cube cheeses, and slice meats—but for the freshest appearance and best texture, assemble the tree on the day you plan to serve it.
Pistachio Alternative
If you need a nut-free option or prefer not to use pistachios, small pretzel sticks make a great substitute for the trunk and create a rustic look that resembles a tree stump.
How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
1. Start at the base of your board with a row of Colby Jack cubes, leaving space at the bottom for the trunk.
2. Add a slightly shorter row of fresh blackberries above the Colby Jack.
3. Fold salami slices in half, then into quarters. Stack them in a row and secure with toothpicks. Place this row above the blackberries, slightly shorter.
4. Add a row of cubed Fontina above the salami, again a bit shorter than the previous layer.
5. Place a row of green olives next, keeping the triangle shape by making each row a touch shorter than the one below it.
6. Fold pepperoni the same way as salami, secure with toothpicks, and place the row above the olives.
7. Add a row of cubed cheddar above the pepperoni.
8. Finish the tree shape with a top row of raspberries.
9. Use a medium star cookie cutter to cut a star from provolone and place it at the top.
10. Cut a small star from thin cheddar and layer it centered on top of the provolone star for contrast.
11. Tuck rosemary and dill sprigs between layers to mimic tree branches and add aroma.
12. Create the trunk with pistachios (or pretzel sticks) at the bottom. Arrange bread and crackers around the board.
13. Decorate with extra raspberries as ornaments. Place jam in a small ramekin on the board for spreading, and offer honey if desired.
14. Serve and enjoy.
Equipment
- Star cookie cutters (medium and small)
- Large serving tray or cutting board
- Toothpicks and ramekin
Ingredients (serves 8)
- 8 oz. Fontina, cubed
- 8 oz. Colby Jack, cubed
- 8 oz. Cheddar, cubed
- 9 oz. uncured Genoa salami, circle cut
- 6 oz. pepperoni, circle cut
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- ½ cup fresh raspberries plus extra for garnish
- ½ cup green olives
- ¼ cup pistachios (or pretzel sticks)
- 1 slice thin cheddar (for star)
- 1 slice provolone (for star)
- 6–8 rosemary sprigs and 6–7 dill sprigs for decoration
- ½ cup jam of choice
Instructions
- Lay the Colby Jack cubes at the base of the tree shape on your board, leaving room for the trunk.
- Add a slightly shorter row of blackberries above it.
- Prepare salami by folding each slice into quarters and stacking them with toothpicks; place as the next row.
- Add a row of Fontina cubes a bit shorter than the salami row.
- Place a row of green olives above the Fontina.
- Fold and secure pepperoni, then add that row.
- Follow with a row of cubed cheddar.
- Top the tree with a final, slightly shorter row of raspberries.
- Cut a star from provolone with a medium cutter and place it at the top, then add a smaller cheddar star centered on top.
- Tuck rosemary and dill between layers for a realistic branch look.
- Create the trunk with pistachios or pretzel sticks, and arrange crackers and bread around the board.
- Place jam in a ramekin on the board, garnish with extra raspberries, and serve.
Nutrition (estimate)
Serving: 1 • Calories: 715 kcal • Carbohydrates: 22 g • Protein: 35 g • Fat: 55 g • Saturated Fat: 26 g • Sodium: 1810 mg • Fiber: 3 g • Sugar: 12 g
Nutrition information is an estimate and will vary with the exact ingredients and portions you use.