Christmas Tree Shaped Charcuterie Board Recipe

ByRita Bennet
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Introduction

Create a festive and flavorful display with this Christmas Tree Shaped Charcuterie Board. It combines fresh fruit, cheese, nuts, and herbs arranged in the shape of a holiday tree, perfect for parties and gatherings.

A wooden board with a Christmas tree shape made from layers of food, placed on a white marbled surface. The tree has six layers: at the top, a star-shaped orange slice, followed by dark blueberries forming a dense small layer, then cubed pale yellow cheese with small red berries on top. Below that are light green grapes, decorated with star-shaped pale yellow cheese pieces and small red berries, followed by more cubed pale yellow cheese mixed with orange star-shaped slices and berries. The next layer has red grapes with star-shaped pale yellow cheese, and the bottom layer is made of orange cubed cheese with small red berries. Rosemary sprigs are placed between each layer to look like tree branches. The tree trunk is made of upright pretzel sticks. Around the board, there are round pale beige crackers on the white marbled surface, and a red Christmas ornament is seen in the top right corner. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

  • 10 fresh rosemary sprigs (more or less depending on size)
  • 1 celery stalk
  • Red, green, and black seedless grapes (clipped into small clusters or stems removed)
  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar (cut into ¾-inch squares)
  • 4 ounces Monterey Jack (cut to match other cheeses)
  • 4 ounces mild or medium cheddar (cut to match other cheeses)
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries
  • 1-2 star fruits (sliced)
  • 1 cup assorted nuts
  • 1 green kiwi fruit (sliced)

Instructions

  1. Step 1: Lay out the rosemary sprigs to form the outline of a Christmas tree, starting at the top and spreading wider toward the bottom. Adjust the shape as needed while adding ingredients.
  2. Step 2: Position the celery stalk at the base to serve as the tree trunk, trimming it to a length that looks balanced with your tree shape.
  3. Step 3: Beginning at the bottom, create rows that get narrower toward the top. Alternate rows of cheese and grapes in this order: cheese, red grapes, cheese, green grapes, cheese, and black grapes. Arrange kiwi slices in a triangle near the top to form the treetop.
  4. Step 4: Place a slice of star fruit at the very top as the star. Scatter additional star fruit slices and cranberries throughout the tree. Use nuts to fill in spaces or create a “pot” at the base around the celery stalk; almonds work especially well for this.
  5. Step 5: Your festive charcuterie tree is ready to serve! You can assemble it up to 4 hours ahead of time. Cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated until serving.

Tips & Variations

  • If star fruit is unavailable, substitute with thin slices of green apple or pear to maintain the star shape and fresh look.
  • Try adding other colorful fruits like pomegranate seeds or figs to enhance the variety and visual appeal.
  • For a nut-free version, replace nuts with additional fruit or cheese cubes.

Storage

Store the assembled charcuterie board covered in plastic wrap in the refrigerator for up to 4 hours before serving. If preparing components ahead of time, keep fruit, cheese, and nuts separately chilled and assemble just before serving for best freshness.

How to Serve

A wooden board with a Christmas tree shape made from different types of cheese and fruits. The tree has five layers: the top layer is dark blueberries with an orange star shaped carrot on top, the second layer is small cubes of pale yellow cheese with some rosemary sprigs around it and orange star-shaped carrot pieces, the third layer is green grapes with some red berries, the fourth layer is slightly larger cubes of pale cheese with red specks and another orange star-shaped carrot, the fifth layer is dark red grapes, topped with small red berries and a pale yellow star made from cheese. The bottom layer of the tree is bright orange small cheese cubes with some small red berries. The tree trunk is made from thin pretzel sticks. Crackers are placed around the board at the bottom corners, and two blocks of cheese are set on the left side of the board. A red and gold Christmas ornament hangs in the top right corner. The whole scene is on a white marbled surface. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I use other herbs instead of rosemary for the tree outline?

Yes, fresh thyme or parsley can work, but rosemary’s sturdiness and pine-like scent make it ideal for both shape and festive aroma.

How far in advance can I prepare this charcuterie board?

It’s best to assemble the board within 4 hours of serving to maintain freshness, especially for the fruit and herbs. Preparing ingredients separately and assembling closer to serving time helps maintain texture and appearance.

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Christmas Tree Shaped Charcuterie Board Recipe

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4.9 from 126 reviews

Create a festive and visually stunning Christmas Tree Shaped Charcuterie Board featuring fresh rosemary sprigs, assorted cheeses, colorful grapes, kiwi, cranberries, nuts, and star fruit. This no-cook appetizer is perfect for holiday gatherings, impressing guests with a vibrant and edible centerpiece that’s easy to assemble and customizable.

  • Author: Rita
  • Prep Time: 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

Herbs and Vegetables

  • 10 fresh rosemary sprigs (more or less depending on size)
  • 1 celery stalk

Fruits

  • Red seedless grapes, clipped into small clusters or stems removed
  • Green seedless grapes, clipped into small clusters or stems removed
  • Black seedless grapes, clipped into small clusters or stems removed
  • ½ cup fresh cranberries
  • 1–2 star fruits, sliced
  • 1 green kiwi fruit, sliced

Cheeses

  • 4 ounces sharp cheddar, cut into ¾-inch squares
  • 4 ounces Monterey Jack, cut into ¾-inch squares
  • 4 ounces mild or medium cheddar, cut into ¾-inch squares

Nuts

  • 1 cup assorted nuts (almonds recommended for the base ‘pot’)

Instructions

  1. Outline the Tree with Rosemary: Arrange the rosemary sprigs starting at the top center of your serving board and gradually spread them wider towards the bottom, forming the shape of a Christmas tree. Adjust and rearrange the sprigs as needed to achieve a balanced outline.
  2. Create the Trunk with Celery: Place the celery stalk at the bottom center as the trunk of the tree. Adjust its length and position to suit the size of your rosemary outline and overall tree shape.
  3. Layer the Cheese and Grapes: Beginning from the bottom row of the tree shape, place a row of cheese squares, followed by a row of red grapes, then another row of cheese, green grapes, a last row of cheese, and finish with black grapes closer to the top. This alternating pattern adds color and texture to the ‘tree’.
  4. Add Kiwi and Star Fruit Decorations: Arrange kiwi slices in a triangular shape near the top of the tree to resemble greenery. Place one star fruit slice at the very top as the tree’s star, with additional slices scattered decoratively over the tree.
  5. Scatter Cranberries and Nuts: Disperse fresh cranberries sporadically around the tree to add bright red accents. Use the mixed nuts around the base, especially almonds, to create a ‘pot’ at the bottom of the celery stalk, covering the base and enhancing the overall tree presentation.
  6. Prepare Ahead and Serve: Cover the assembled charcuterie board tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 hours before serving to maintain freshness.

Notes

  • If star fruit is unavailable, substitute with thin slices of yellow or orange bell pepper or thin pineapple pieces cut into star shapes for a festive touch.
  • You can customize the cheeses and fruits based on preferences or seasonal availability.
  • For best freshness, assemble the board close to serving time or keep covered and chilled as directed.
  • Use a large, flat serving board or platter for easy assembly and presentation.

Keywords: Christmas charcuterie board, festive appetizer, holiday cheese board, fruit and cheese platter, no cook holiday appetizer, rosemary tree charcuterie

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