Last Updated on January 18, 2023 by Sabrina Currie
Making a charcuterie board is the ultimate make ahead food for Christmas parties. Whether you are serving adults or kids, brunch, lunch, dinner or snacks, I've gathered the best charcuterie board ideas for your Christmas party!
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Choose from so many themes from breakfast to dessert. Create a diy hot chocolate board. What about a dessert board? Or shape your charcuterie like a Christmas tree, candy cane or wreath. Ugly Christmas sweater party? I've got that covered too. I guarantee you'll find inspiration for your next holiday party in these great ideas!
How To Build A Board
- Start by choosing your theme, whether you want a traditional charcuterie board, a sweet themed platter, one with special dietary restraints, or a certain color or shape theme.
- Make a list of what you'd like to include and then make sure it covers the colors of the season. Classic red and green or a more monochromatic look with sparkly frosted fruit and foil wrapped treats?
- Buy a little extra "filler" to be sure you can make your board look full with no empty spaces. This can be bunches of parsley, green and purple kale, extra bunches of grapes, bunches of rosemary, marshmallows, bread or crackers or anything else that will pair with your theme.
- Choose your board. It can be a fancy serving board, a cookie sheet or even just a large piece of cardboard wrapped in foil.
- Place the largest items first including small bowls that will hold dips or small items. This will define the shape and flow of the board. Using an uneven number and placing them in alternating spots tends to be the most aesthetically pleasing.
- Next add in the rest of your ingredients, tucking bits of greenery or garnishes into each nook and cranny to avoid bare spots. Add in some cute cheese knives or vintage serving spoons where appropriate.
- Last, just step back and enjoy your company and your gorgeous Christmas charcuterie board!
Note: If your board won't be served for awhile, be sure to wrap it well and keep refrigerated if required.
Savory Christmas Charcuterie Boards
Let's start with some classic and stunning board brimming with winter fruits like pears, clementine, figs and cranberries. Shiny gold wrapped chocolates and red berries add extra sparkle and elegance to these charcuterie board. These are the perfect way to entertain while enjoying yourself through the holiday season.
Vegans may have to get a little more creative, omitting the usual meats and cheeses but that doesn't mean it can't be mouth wateringly delicious!
This gorgeous vegan charcuterie board has a variety of finger foods including nuts, dried fruit and a stunning color scheme that includes bright red beet hummus, green cucumbers, jewel toned fruits and spiced nuts. This board also has vegan almond ricotta topped with agave syrup and thyme to round out all the flavors.
With fresh fruit, hard and soft cheeses, this cheese board is a great addition to your holiday gatherings. You'll find lots of great tips for creating a full and beautiful holiday platter, especially good if it's your first time building one.
For something more unusual, try this banh hoi platter. Delicious, brightly colored Asian fillings get served with little bundles of rice noodles and nuoc cham dipping sauce for an extra flavorful snack board.
And for the Disney lover, this Disney themed charcuterie board can't be beat. Simply fun, this will make little ones (and those young at heart) smile. (Maybe a great way to reveal a trip to Disneyland!)
Edible Wreaths, Elves and Trees
These are so much fun and can be made in different shapes with any of your favorite nibbles, noshes and snack foods. These great Christmas charcuterie boards pair equally well with a holiday movie night or a big, boisterous staff party.
Delicious cheeses and charcuterie meats get a festive touch as they get arranged into a "charcuter-wreath" on a wooden cutting board.
As one who loves the movie "Elf", this Buddy shaped charcuterie tray speaks to me. This one is extra fun at an ugly Christmas sweater party!
Caprese salad is a favorite year round but why not make it extra special for the Christmas season? Skewering basil, mozzarella balls and cherry tomatoes and arranging the mini skewers in a circle makes a striking edible wreath that really stands out while adding a familiar and healthy snack.
Meat, cheese, pickles and olives get shaped into a Christmas tree board with a little help from some greenery garnish. This one is kid approved.
Individual Charcuterie Plates
Great for parties and fancy events, these modern charcuterie boards look extra special, especially with pieces of sugar frosted fruit as a garnish. In addition to being super cute, they help prevent guests spreading germs over a large serving platter as they graze.
Christmas Jarcuterie
Making individual charcuterie jars is great for large parties or small. Use small jars so you can fill them full easily without making your guests too full. Roll or fold salami and saucisson or skewer cubed ham. Breadsticks fit in naturally (try wrapping them in prosciutto first). Next, insert tall pickled vegetables like carrot sticks, asparagus and cucumber spears and finish off with some festive and edible greenery like rosemary or bay sprigs.
Festive Cheeseballs
Cheeseballs make a great centerpiece that don't require as many ingredients as the average charcuterie platter. Surround your delicious cheese spread masterpiece with assorted crackers and if you want to get fancy, add in some veggies and some red and green grapes.
Breakfast "Charcuterie"
Making a big waffle or pancake platter with lots of choices makes for a great family breakfast or brunch with friends. Set it up on a buffet or in the middle of the table and let everyone create their morning masterpieces.
Cookie Decorating Platter
This is a great project to get everyone involved. Check out this awesome gingerbread house decorating board or come up with your own. Decorate houses, angels, snowmen or cookies for Santa.
The Dessert Board
A great way to finish off the evening or the highlight of a sweet party, dessert boards are always a hit. Choose from a butter board, dessert board or hot cocoa board. Add sweets like homemade truffles and fudge to these beautiful boards. Sweet dreams!
I hope this has helped you find just the right charcuterie board for your next Christmas party. Let me know below if you have another favorite charcuterie board idea I didn't mention here.
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Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina
Happy holidays! Sabrina
Catie says
So creatively delicious. YUM!
Sabrina Currie says
Thanks Catie! It’s the season!!