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Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Recipe

★★★★★

4.7 from 112 reviews
  • Author: Harry
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 8 to 10 servings 1x

Description

Create a festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board featuring layers of cheddar sticks, Gruyère triangles, salami roses, brie stars with sour cherry jam, prosciutto bunches, and assorted garnishes like grapes, flatbread bites, olives, and nuts arranged artfully to resemble a Christmas tree.

Ingredients

Scale

Cheese

  • 5 to 6 cheddar cheese sticks, halved
  • 1 (6-oz.) block of Gruyère
  • 6 mini rounds brie
  • 8 oz. white cheddar, cut into 1” cubes

Meats

  • 7 to 8 oz. cold salami rounds (about 2″ in diameter)
  • 1 (4-oz.) pkg. prosciutto slices

Jam & Garnishes

  • 1 1/2 tsp. (or more) sour cherry jam
  • 1 (4-oz.) box sourdough flatbread bites
  • Green grapes
  • Rosemary sprigs
  • Honey-roasted cashews
  • Castelvetralo olives
  • Dried cranberries

Tools

  • A 1 1/4” to 1 1/2″ star cookie cutter
  • Toothpicks

Instructions

  1. Form the trunk: Arrange the cheddar cheese sticks, halved, stacked on top of each other at the bottom of a large cutting board to create the base or “trunk” of the tree.
  2. Prepare the Gruyère slices: Cut the Gruyère block into right triangles about 2 1/2″ to 3″ long, then slice each triangle into 1/4″ thick slices, totaling 24 slices for the tree outline.
  3. Create the tree outline: Fan out 4 Gruyère slices with pointed ends facing the left edge of the board. Repeat on the right edge and then repeat four more times facing different edges until the shape of a Christmas tree is outlined.
  4. Make salami roses: For each rose, arrange 3, 5, or 7 overlapping salami rounds depending on size. Fold each slice in half lengthwise to create half-moons, then tightly roll them into rose shapes, securing with toothpicks to hold form. Make 9 roses grouped in 3 sets of 3.
  5. Prepare brie stars: Press a small star cookie cutter gently onto a mini brie round, using a paring knife if needed to outline. Peel off rind inside the star shape carefully to reveal a star indent without squashing the brie.
  6. Add jam to brie stars: Spoon about 1/4 tsp sour cherry jam into each star indent and carefully spread the jam evenly within the star shape with a toothpick, adding more jam as needed.
  7. Create prosciutto bunches: Slice prosciutto slices into thirds crosswise. Pinch and scrunch each piece from the bottom to let edges bunch at the top. Group 6 bunches together by pinching them horizontally to form one large bunch. Repeat to make 3 total sets using 18 slices.
  8. Arrange brie stars: Place 3 brie stars on the top right corner of the Gruyère slices and 3 more on the bottom left corner, positioning to face different directions as part of the tree decoration.
  9. Add grape bunches: Position green grape clusters near the bottom of the top left Gruyère slices, the bottom of middle-right slices, and the top corner of bottom left Gruyère slices in a zigzag pattern.
  10. Place flatbread crackers: Fan 8 to 10 sourdough flatbread bites from the top left to the mid-right and bottom left corners of the cheese slices, covering the entire package evenly.
  11. Position salami roses: Arrange sets of small, medium, and large salami roses near the top right, left-center, and bottom right cheese groups. Remove toothpicks after placing for a cleaner finish.
  12. Place prosciutto bunches: Position the prosciutto bunches near the top left, mid-right, and bottom right sections of the tree, alongside grapes and crackers as filling accents.
  13. Fill center with cheddar cubes: Fill open spaces in the middle of the tree outline with white cheddar cubes and add Castelvetralo olives and honey-roasted cashews to fill any remaining gaps.
  14. Add rosemary branches: Place rosemary sprigs to mimic tree branches, including two longer sprigs at the top to outline the tree shape.
  15. Final garnish: Sprinkle dried cranberries lightly over the cheddar and Gruyère sections for color and festive texture.

Notes

  • Keep the brie cold before cutting to avoid crushing the cheese when making star indentations.
  • Use toothpicks to secure salami roses during assembly, removing them once placed to maintain appearance.
  • Arrange items firmly but gently to hold the tree shape on the board without squashing delicate items.
  • Feel free to substitute other olives or nuts to suit taste or availability.
  • This board is best served fresh but can be prepped up to 2 hours ahead and refrigerated.
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Christmas charcuterie, holiday appetizer, cheese board, salami roses, festive snacks, party platter, sour cherry jam, prosciutto bunches, brie stars

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Find it online: https://dishesbyharry.com/christmas-tree-charcuterie-board-recipe/