How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

This festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board is a great addition to any holiday gatherings. It can be used as part of a meal, as a simple appetizer, or as an easy snack. Plus, it all comes together in only 15 minutes!

Holiday charcuterie boards are one of my jams, so in addition to this beautiful Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board, you’ll also want to check out my Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board or Individual Charcuterie Cups for more creative ways to make festive boards. They’re both great options for an appetizer table at any holiday get-together.

Or, if you can’t decide between white or red wines to pair, make sure you check out my Charcuterie Board Wine Pairing Guide. 

Why You’ll Love This Charcuterie Board

You can have the whole thing assembled in about 15 minutes, which means more time to actually enjoy your holiday parties instead of fussing over the kitchen counter.

It’s a fun, festive charcuterie board—something that’ll catch your guests’ eyes before they even grab a bite.

It’s easy to adjust for any crowd size. Whether you’re putting together a small “tree” for a few friends or scaling up for a big family gathering, you’ll find the per-person breakdown in the printable recipe card below.

Ingredient Notes

Below is a list of simple ingredients I used for my charcuter-TREE, but if you have other preferences you should definitely go with your favorite cheeses and meats. All of the ingredients should be easily found at your local grocery store.

Grapes – Using green grapes lends to the green tree vibe, but red grapes give an ornament vibe. I like to use grapes as the biggest layer at the bottom.

Small mozzarella balls – These are great for resembling ornaments or snow.

Cubed cheese – I used yellow cheddar cheese, but you can use white cheddar or another hard cheese of choice.

Sliced salami – I like to fold these in fourths and squish them all together for one of the layers on the tree. Pepperoni slices are a great option too.

Blackberries or raspberries – Fresh fruit, like berries, also lend to the “ornament” feel. Raspberries in particular would give an extra festive touch with a bright red hue.

Sliced coppa or prosciutto – I used rolled coppa, pointed in different directions to make a star shape at the top of the tree. Any extra meat can be added to the meat layer.

Crackers – I would serve most of the crackers on the side, but one cracker can resemble the tree trunk base. You can also use pretzel sticks to make the tree base.

Fresh rosemary sprigs – Fresh herbs, like sprigs of rosemary or thyme, are an absolute must as they give the charcuterie board its evergreen tree look.

Fresh or dried cranberries – These make pretty red “ornaments.” You can also use green olives, cherry tomatoes, and pomegranate seeds.

How Much Meat & Cheese to Serve Per Person

Aiming for 2-3 oz. of meat per person and 2-3 oz. cheese per person for an appetizer is a good rule of thumb. This total includes all the meats and cheeses combined. 

For example, if you’re offering three different types of meat, the combined total should still be around 2-3 ounces per person—not 2-3 ounces of each meat. The same rule applies to cheese: 2-3 ounces total across all the varieties you’re serving.

If the charcuterie board is meant to be the main course, simply double the portions to 4-6 ounces of meat and 4-6 ounces of cheese per person to ensure it’s filling enough. This works whether you’re serving just one type of meat and cheese or a variety—the total amount is what matters.

Equipment Needed

The only “special” equipment you need is a surface for the Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board. I used a large, wooden board, but here are a few options that you can use to put your charcuterie tree on:

Unbleached Parchment Paper

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Tree-Shaped Charcuterie Board

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Large Wood Board

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Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 – Add the grapes, mozzarella balls, and cheese cubes to the board shaping each row in decreasing lengths to make a Christmas tree shape.

Steps 2-4 – Fold your salami slices into fourths and stack them with other slices that have been folded in fourths. Arrange the stack into one of the rows.

Step 5 – Add the berries for another row on the tree.

Step 6 – Take rolled coppa (or prosciutto) and arrange in a circular or star shape at the top of the charcuterie Christmas tree.

Step 7 – Add a cracker to the bottom for the trunk, and serve the rest on the side. Then, tuck rosemary sprigs throughout the board.

Step 8 – Add fresh or dried cranberries for “ornaments.”

Prepping in Advance & Leftovers

You can prep the entire board the day before—just wrap it tightly in plastic and keep it in the fridge, adding the cracker base right before serving to avoid sogginess. 

Remember not to leave perishable items at room temperature for longer than two hours. Keep leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Reusable deli containers can help keep leftover meats and cheeses fresh and don’t forget to double-check the package dates for unopened items.