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A heart-shaped Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board features meats, cheeses cut into stars, tomatoes, grapes, olives, and breadsticks, all garnished with rosemary and pinecones on a wooden board.

Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

Mandy Applegate
I love making this Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board because it's a festive, beautiful appetizer that brings everyone together around the table. The star-shaped cheese, colorful fruits, folded meats, and fresh herbs create a special holiday centerpiece that kids and adults can't resist. I make it for Christmas parties, holiday gatherings, and potlucks because it's completely no-cook and everything can be prepped a day ahead, then assembled right before guests arrive.
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Prep Time 40 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Appetizer
Cuisine American
Servings 16
Calories 280 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
 
 

Fresh Herbs:

  • 12–15 large sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme

Cheeses:

  • 6 ounces Gouda cut into star shapes using a small cookie cutter
  • 1 cup mini mozzarella balls
  • 1 small log of goat cheese

Charcuterie:

  • 6 ounces cured ham folded or rolled
  • 6 ounces pepperoni slices rolled into small roses
  • 6 ounces salami slices
  • 8 ounces mini salami

Fruits and Veggies:

  • 1 pint fresh green grapes washed and dried
  • 1 cup reduced-sodium pickles
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • 1 cup assorted olives

Others:

  • ¼ cup fig jam
  • 2 breadsticks or pretzel rods cut into thirds (for the tree trunk)
  • Assorted crackers for serving

Instructions
 

  • To plan your layout, fold a large sheet of parchment paper in half and draw half of a Christmas tree shape. Cut along the outline and unfold the paper to reveal a full tree shape.
  • Place the parchment tree on your serving board as a guide for arranging your ingredients.
  • Begin filling the tree shape, starting with larger items such as cheeses and charcuterie. Add the folded meats, cheese stars, mozzarella balls, and goat cheese in layers to create texture and color contrast. Once the main ingredients are set, carefully remove the parchment paper.
    6 ounces Gouda, 1 cup mini mozzarella balls, 1 small log of goat cheese, 6 ounces cured ham, 6 ounces pepperoni slices, 6 ounces salami slices, 8 ounces mini salami
  • Fill in the gaps with grapes, pickles, cherry tomatoes, and olives.
    1 pint fresh green grapes, 1 cup reduced-sodium pickles, 1 cup cherry tomatoes, 1 cup assorted olives
  • Line the edges of the board with rosemary and thyme sprigs to form the “branches” of your Christmas tree. Use the cut breadsticks to create the tree trunk at the bottom. Add crackers around the tree for serving.
    12–15 large sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme, 2 breadsticks or pretzel rods, Assorted crackers
  • Spoon small dollops of fig jam over different sections of the tree to add pops of sweetness and visual appeal.
    ¼ cup fig jam

Video

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Notes

I’ve made this board many times, and these tips will help you recreate it perfectly every time.
  • Use the template trick: The parchment paper guide makes shaping the tree easy and perfectly symmetrical.
  • Prep ingredients ahead: Cube the cheeses, fold the meats, and wash the produce a day ahead, then keep everything chilled until party time.
  • Layer for dimension: Fold, stack, and overlap ingredients to add height and make the board look fuller and more inviting.
  • Mind your color placement: Alternate light and dark items so the tree looks balanced and visually appealing.
  • Room temperature is key: Take the cheeses out of the fridge 20 to 30 minutes before serving so they soften slightly and develop better flavor.
  • Flash arrange for easy transport: If you're bringing the board elsewhere, arrange it at home, take a photo, then pack items separately and reassemble on-site using the photo as your guide.

Nutrition

Calories: 280kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 14gFat: 21gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 51mgSodium: 1154mgPotassium: 264mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 211IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
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