Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board: The CharcuterTREE
Nov 02, 2023 Updated Nov 15, 2025
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Table of Contents
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Ingredients
- How To Make This Christmas Charcuterie Tree
- Christmas Charcuterie Board Styling: Here’s My Step-by-Step Process
- Charcuterie Tree Step-by-Step Instructions
- Video Tutorial: Charcuterie Christmas Tree
- How Can I Make The Charcuterie Tree on a Budget?
- Pro Tip: Prep Olives or Keep Them Separate
- What to Put on a Christmas Charcuterie Board, by Color
- Non-Dairy and Gluten-Free Ingredient Substitutes
- Christmas Charcuterie Serving Tips
- Want to Make This Board Even Easier to Whip Up?
- Time-Saver Tips
- 10 Alternative Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Ideas
- Christmas Cheese Board FAQs
- Christmas Beverage Pairings
- Show Me Your Charcuterie Trees
- Christmas CharcuterTREE Board Recipe
- SHOP THIS POST
A Christmas charcuterie tree is the char-cutest way to celebrate the holidays! This has always been one of my all-time favorite ways to snack during the Christmas season. Make this if you want to really impress a crowd.
My version of an edible Tannenbaum is easy to assemble with all your favorite cheese board staples. It makes a great snack spread because it has both sweet and savory items, you can serve it before a big meal or alongside a potluck line-up. It’s such a festive showpiece!
For other Christmas board ideas, check out my adorable Charcuterie Chalet, Oh Christmas Brie, Santa Charcuterie Board, Snowman Cheese Ball, and Charcuterie Wreath.
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Ingredients
Cheese
- 10-12 oz colby jack, cubed
- 8-10 oz cHavarti, cubed
- 6-8 oz cheddar, cubed
- 8 oz pack of provolone slices (cut with a star or snowflake cookie cutter)
Meat
- 8 oz Calabrese salami or salami of your choice (I used 2 packs of 4 oz Gusto Calabrese, and skewered 3 slices on each party pick.)
Produce
- 9 oz blackberries
- 4-6 oz raspberries
Carbs
- pretzel sticks (only a few)
- 9 chocolate shortbread star cookies (I got mine at Trader Joe’s, but I also love these, serve the remaining on the side)
Accoutrement
- 6.5 oz Castelvetrano olives (I bought a 10 oz jar of Mezzetta Olives)
Garnish
- 6-8 small rosemary sprigs
How To Make This Christmas Charcuterie Tree
This board is one of my easiest and most approachable to put together. Simply line up cubed cheese, salami, and colorful accoutrements in a tree shape. Add in some festive touches with cutouts and garnishes and you have yourself an impressive holiday spread.
Feel free to copy this one exactly or substitute some of your favorite ingredients.
Christmas Charcuterie Board Styling: Here’s My Step-by-Step Process
- Cube your cheeses and cut shapes out of the provolone slices using snowflake and star cookie cutters.
- Prep your salami by making salami folds and piling 3-4 pieces on a decorative toothpick (these pretty toothpicks from Simply Baked are my favorite). You could also consider adding a row of salami rosettes.
- Build your tree starting from the bottom with a row of cheese, then continue up the tree, alternating colors and flavors, making sure each layer is slightly narrower than the last to ensure the triangle tree shape.
- Create a tree trunk using pretzels at the bottom of the tree.
- Garnish with rosemary sprigs to give it a tree vibe, then finish with star-shaped cookies and provolone cut-outs to mimic ornaments on the tree and snowflakes around the tree. NOTE: you will have some leftover cookies that you can also serve on the side.
Charcuterie Tree Step-by-Step Instructions
- About 1.5 inches from the bottom of the board, place a line of Colby Jack cubes, then place blueberries directly above.
- Add a row of salami folds (3 pieces of salami folded onto each party toothpick) and a row of white cheese cubes (I used both Havarti and mozzarella).
- Layer on a row of olives, followed by another row of salami folds (same method as above—three pieces of salami folded onto each party toothpick).
- Top with a row of cheddar cubes and raspberries.
- Place provolone stars at the top of the tree, as well as on top of the cheddar and blackberries. Lay a few chocolate stars on the middle Havarti row. Then place the pretzel sticks at the bottom to create the tree trunk.
- Finish by adding rosemary sprigs to the tree and placing additional star cookies and provolone snowflake cut-outs around the board.
Video Tutorial: Charcuterie Christmas Tree
How Can I Make The Charcuterie Tree on a Budget?
| Ingredient | What I spent and where I bought it | Budget tips | Other ingredient and serving notes |
| CHEESE | $12 for all 4 cheeses at any grocery store | Walmart’s “Great Value” brand is my favorite budget block cheese. I spent $1.74 per 8 oz. block. Substitute low moisture skim mozzarella instead of Havarti for a cheaper option. (Bonus, if serving kids, mozzarella is often a safe choice.) | Tillamook is a great choice for quality cheese, but it is slightly more expensive than a generic brand (see photos below). Save the provolone pieces leftover from the cut outs, and use for sandwiches, quesadillas or omelettes. |
| MEATS | $14 for 8 oz. of salami at Whole Foods | This is not the cheapest salami you can find. I use it because I love the slightly bigger size of these salami slices, they create a big billowy fold. | I recommend adding additional salami on the side if you are serving a party with lots of meat eaters. We often eat meat as a main course for Christmas, so I go light on salami for this appetizer board. |
| OLIVES | $4.36 (on sale) for 10 oz. jar of Mezzetta Castelvetrano Olives at Walmart | I’ve seen the Pearls brand of olives at Walmart for $4.68 for pitted Castelevetrano olives, which would work just as well. | These Mezzetta brand olives are normally $6.56 regular price at Walmart and even more expensive at Whole Foods. Shop around for the best price! |
| COOKIES | $5.99 per large box at Trader Joe’s | I only used a few and you will have basically the whole bag leftover. These are well worth the cost because these are the cutest and absolutely delicious. | |
| PRETZELS | Leftover pretzels from a fun size bag | Try to find a single-serving or smaller bag, (sometimes near the checkout), if you only need a few. | If you do get a full bag of pretzels, you can serve more on the side, especially if you have kids around to gobble them up. |
| PRODUCE | $5.84 for a 12 oz. clamshell of blackberries at Walmart $2.47 for a 6 oz. clamshell of raspberries at Walmart | Non-organic will always be more cost effective. I prefer organic when I can. | Shop around for places to find cheaper berries, they exist! For instance, the berries were more expensive at Whole Foods. |
| GARNISH | $1.79 for a 1 oz. container of rosemary sprigs at Trader Joe’s | You can always forego this ingredient. I think it adds a festive touch, but it’s certainly not the most necessary ingredient. | Growing your own herbs is most cost effective, but not everyone can do that (I don’t!). |
| TOTAL COST | $45 (before sales tax) | Overall ways to make this board cheaper: get lower cost salami than I did. | Buy the ingredients and amounts that you want to have (for the board or for leftovers). In general, this is a great value for serve anywhere from 15-30 people depending on how much other food you are serving. |
Pro Tip: Prep Olives or Keep Them Separate
Olives come in brine, and if you’re not careful, they can make other items on your cheese board wet or taste like olives—and no one wants olive-flavored berries or soggy cheese!
To prevent this, strain the olives from their brine ahead of time and let them sit on a towel for a few minutes before adding them to the board. If they start looking dry, you can brush them with a little olive oil to make them shine.
Another option is to serve the olives in a ramekin instead of placing them directly on the board. A star-shaped ramekin at the top would be extra festive.
Note: If you need ingredient swaps, see the chart below for color-coded ideas.
What to Put on a Christmas Charcuterie Board, by Color
Since this board is all about color and shape, there are so many directions you can take. You can mix and match to make this board your own. Make it more savory or more sweet, depending on the occasion and the crowd.
If you feel overwhelmed by choices, I suggest sticking to a simpler color palette or flavor palette while you figure out the ingredients you want to include.
I always advocate for seasonal produce (it just tastes better!). Include the ingredients that you and your crew love the most. If no one likes olives, don’t use olives!
Here are a few examples of foods listed by color, so that you can easily plan what you’ll need for each section. I try to make sure I have a balanced variety of proteins, carbs, fruits, and sweets.
| Color | Ingredient Examples |
| Red | Raspberries, sugared cranberries, strawberries, cherry tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, salami, cubed apple slices turned so that the outside color is showing |
| Green | Castelvetrano olives, green grapes, edamame, cornichons, broccoli florets, rosemary, thyme, or other herb sprigs |
| White | Havarti, provolone, mozzarella pearls, marshmallows, shortbread cookies, crackers, macadamia nuts, yogurt covered pretzels |
| Brown | Pretzels, cookies, nuts |
| Black/Dark | Purple grapes, blueberries, blackberries, black olives, chocolate |
Non-Dairy and Gluten-Free Ingredient Substitutes
If you or any of your guests have dairy and/or gluten intolerances, try some of these swaps!
Dairy-free cheese:
- Good Planet Sharp Cheddar Cheese Cubes
- Rebel Cheese Smoked Cheddar
- Daiya Smoked Gouda
- Non-Dairy Gouda Cheese Slices (in place of the provolone slices)
Gluten-free options:
- Snyder’s Gluten-Free Pretzel Sticks
- Quinn Gluten Free Pretzel Sticks
- Walker’s Gluten Free Shortbread Cookies
- Schär Gluten-Free Chocolate Dipped Cookies
The version above of my Charcuterie Tree swaps in Low-Moisture Part Skim Mozzarella for the original Havarti, and uses Calabrese salami for the two salami sections instead of the mix of varieties used in the original board.
Christmas Charcuterie Serving Tips
This board is truly the easiest! I’ve made it many times for all different types of gatherings. Here are some tips to ensure it’s perfect and party-ready.
Serving Tips: When setting this board out, you should always make sure there are cocktail napkins or small plates nearby. I like to serve it with festive toothpicks for larger gatherings where people may not want to touch the food directly. Accompany with a basket of sliced baguette or your favorite crackers.
Food Safety Tips: The cheese and meat on this board will be best enjoyed within two hours. The other ingredients can sit out longer, so you can always build the board without the cheese and meat, and add those in last-minute.
Make Ahead: I often make some of my boards the day before. You just have to be careful which ingredients you prep in advance and how.
For this Christmas tree board I wash and dry fruit the day before (be gentle so nothing gets too smushed, and be sure to dry everything thoroughly so they don’t get soggy). I cut up the cheese, fold up the salami (use toothpicks if you need to keep them tight) and portion all other ingredients and store them in airtight containers. I store the meat, cut up cheese, and olives in separate containers in the fridge, and crackers in a container on the counter. See more time-saver tips below!
You can build the board day-of and store it in the fridge. Get it out of 30 minutes before serving. Just make sure your crackers aren’t sitting next to any ingredients that are wet.
Storing and transporting this board: If you have leftovers from this board, or want to transport it, lay out long pieces of foil under the board. Fold the foil over all sides to cover the board gently.
Want to Make This Board Even Easier to Whip Up?
I have made this charcuterie tree so many times that I ended up designing a CharcuterTREE charcuterie map board. It is a Christmas tree-shaped board with guides printed on it to ensure perfect placement of your goodies every time. Grab your very own CharcuterTREE board on Amazon!
Time-Saver Tips
Portioning your ingredients into containers in the fridge is a great time saver. Do this the day before for a quick board set-up before guests arrive.
- When in a time crunch, you can buy pre-cubed cheese. Personally, I find pre-cut cheese to look cheap or messy. There’s usually some crumbs and rounded ages that can make the cheese look less fresh and uniform, but you can definitely make it work.
- Instead of taking time to cut precise cheese cubes, you can crumble an aged cheddar (like Trader Joe’s Unexpected Cheddar) in place of the white Havarti cubes.
- Instead of folding salami and putting them on skewers like I do here, you can buy a log of salami, cut into thick slices and lay those slices flat in a row (similar to how I placed rows of Calabrese salami on the santa hat for my Santa Charcuterie Board).
- You can also consider using cubed salami. To be honest, I’ve only recently seen it at Walmart and prefer the slices, but it’s a good option for a time crunch.
- For a budget and time-saving option, you could take this Columbus Charcuterie Tasting Board for $13, place each ingredient in rows on my Charcuterie Tree Board and add fresh fruit and rosemary to gussy it up.
10 Alternative Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Ideas
Colors: Green, white, red
Ingredients: Spinach tortilla quesadillas cut in triangles, red salsa, green salsa, sour cream, guacamole, diced red onion
Colors: White, cream, silver, icy blue
Ingredients: Brie cubes, Havarti, white cheddar, sugared cranberries, yogurt-covered pretzels, white chocolate stars
Garnish: Fresh thyme, edible glitter, mini snowflake picks
Colors: Red, white, gold
Ingredients: Cherry tomatoes, mozzarella pearls, salami rosettes, gold-wrapped chocolates, mini candy canes
Garnish: Basil leaves or mint
Colors: Green with pops of red
Ingredients: Kiwi slices, green grapes, broccoli florets, pistachios, pepper jack cubes, cherry tomatoes
Sweet version: Green apple slices, strawberries, matcha shortbread
If you’re looking for an all sweet version of this, I got you! This Christmas Tree Dessert Board fits the bill.
Colors: Brown, gold, white, red
Ingredients: Cookies, chocolates, marshmallows, toffee bark, peppermint sticks, fruit, caramel popcorn
Base: Graham crackers or brownie bites
Want a Christmas morning board that’s sure to be a hit? My Build Your Own Waffle Brunch Board is a perfect fit.
Adapt the same ingredients but build them out in a tree shape.
Use waffles as the base of the tree. Layer fruit (strawberries, kiwi, mango, or your favorites), breakfast meat (bacon or sausage links), and bowls of syrup or whipped cream to dip and drizzle.
Easily adapt my Popcorn Movie Board into a cute snacking Christmas tree.
Colors: Tan, gold, red
Ingredients: Popcorn, pretzels, cheese balls, nuts, M&Ms, salami bites
A festive way to serve up some veggies is to make them into a tree. Rearrange the goodies in this Homemade Hummus Platter or pick and choose your favorite colors from this Crudite Platter to and add whatever dip you’d like at the top. This also works as a yummy appetizer to share before a big holiday meal.
Colors: Green, orange, yellow, red
Ingredients: Bell peppers, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, carrots, cheese cubes, hummus ramekin as star topper
Colors: Cream, gold, orange, white
Ingredients: 5-6 types of cheese in alternating colors (cheddar, manchego, brie, gouda, havarti)
Accent: Crackers used as the base, or tucked into the tree design. Add fig jam to star-shaped ramekins.
Colors: Bright rainbow
Ingredients: Gummies, mini cookies, popcorn, chocolate chips, pretzel sticks
Colors: Blue, white, silver
Ingredients: White cheddar, blueberries, crackers, white chocolate, blue sprinkle
Christmas Cheese Board FAQs
Sometimes berries can be leaky or stain the board. First, I suggest you wash them carefully, gently pat dry with a soft cloth—make sure they are fully dry before storing.
Because berries and fruit can sometimes stain, you can either opt out of fresh fruit (dried works too!), or lay out a piece of parchment paper or wax paper underneath them on the board. Sometimes I place berries in ramekins on the side of the board.
Olives can also get brine on other ingredients, so I suggest letting them sit in a strainer to get the excess moisture off and dab with a towel. If you prefer to serve them separately, you can serve in a bowl or ramekin on the side, but find something to replace that row on the board (see ingredient swaps by color above).
The quantities of ingredients listed above should serve 8–10 people as an appetizer. I listed the amounts of ingredients pictured here, but by all means adjust and include the ingredients you like best.
My board pictured here is 14 in. x 20 in., which is a medium sized board. If you expect more people, or want this to act as more of a grazing meal, use a larger board and increase the ingredient amounts. Add baskets of sliced baguettes, a variety of crackers, or serve alongside a heartier main like chili or soup.
Find similar wood boards in the SHOP THIS POST below. Remember to always check dimensions before you buy as some of these differ slightly.
Or, use my Charcuterie Tree Map Board to take the guesswork out of sizing and placement.
Anything green and leafy. Thyme sprigs, parsley, sage, dill, or even some nice looking salad greens. Anything edible that looks lovely and makes the board look more like a tree. But I will say that rosemary tends to be the most tree-like.
– Add the cheese and meat to a holiday omelet the next morning.
– Toss the ingredients into a pasta or green salad.
– Melt the cheese into a festive grilled cheese, use a snowflake cutter for extra points!
Christmas Beverage Pairings
Wine and beer are always great choices, especially with cheese, but I love to make festive drinks for the holidays. Here are some of my favorites:
For something sweeter, try my Boozy Hot Chocolate!
Show Me Your Charcuterie Trees
I hope this post inspires you to create beautiful Christmas Tree charcuterie boards. Nothing makes me happier than seeing the festive ho-ho-holiday spreads you create from my tips. If you make something inspired by this post, please tag me at @ainttooproudtomeg so I can see and share!
And, if you liked this board recipe, please rate and review.
Christmas CharcuterTREE Board
Ingredients
Cheese
- 10-12 oz colby jack, cubed
- 8-10 oz Havarti, cubed
- 6-8 oz cheddar, cubed
- 8 oz pack of provolone slices (cut with a star or snowflake cookie cutter)
Meats
- 8 oz Calabrese salami, or salami of your choice
Produce
- 9 oz blackberries
- 4-6 oz raspberries
Carbs
- pretzel sticks (only a few)
- 9 chocolate shortbread star cookies
Accoutrement
- 6.5 oz Castelvetrano olives
Garnish
- 6-8 small rosemary sprigs
Instructions
- First, cut shapes out of the provolone slices using snowflake and star cookie cutters.
- Next, prep your salami by making salami folds and piling 3-4 pieces on a decorative toothpick.
- Build your tree starting from the bottom with a big row of cheese, then continue up the tree making sure each layer is slightly narrower than the last to ensure the triangle tree shape.
- Place a few pretzels at the bottom to form a tree trunk.
- Garnish with rosemary sprigs to evoke the tree branch feeling, then finish with star-shaped cookies and provolone cut-outs to mimic ornaments.
I’m constantly looking for ways to make my holiday spread more festive. I made the Christmas CharcuterTREE last year & my family was super impressed. Now they want me to make a board for every holiday! So thankful for Meg & her amazing ideas.
This is absolutely perfect for the holidays!
What an awesome idea! I plan to make at least one Christmas Tree board this month!!
I made this for a holiday party and it was a huge hit with everyone. The ingredients were easy to find, assembly was easy peasy, turned out so cute. Thanks for the inspiration Meg!
Such a fun and easy to follow recipe. One of my absolute favorites! And the ingredient list is pretty easy to shop for as well. Thank you for such creative ideas and sharing your talent with us, Meg. Love your books and your recipes. You’re an inspiration!
so happy to hear it 🙂
So pretty and festive! Get a ton of compliments every time I make it.
Sigara Sarma Makinesi sigara sarım makinesi
Thank you for this! I’ve been wanting to make one and finally did! It’s smaller but I love how it turned out!
It was a fun project, I used the picture as a guide and used the ingredients I had on hand. I would recommend giving it a try. I’m still learning how to put a board together, so it’s fun to try different ingredients
Was the hit of the night! So fun to make and everyone started to take pictures the minute they saw it. I don’t think anyone wanted to eat the food because they didn’t want to mess up the tree, lol!