Written by:
Penny
It doesn’t get any easier to feed your family and friends at holiday gatherings with these amazing Christmas charcuterie board recipes. They are made with simple ingredients that you can find in your local grocery store and can be quickly put together.
These festive boards are so delicious and can be created for just about any meal as well as dessert or even just a quick snack. Don’t have a fancy cutting board or platter to create a charcuterie board? Then check out the FAQ section below for tips on how to save money by using items you already have on hand.
That’s another great thing I love about these boards. You don’t have to go shopping for specialty ingredients. You can easily use items found in your local grocery store or that you already have on hand to put together a board that everyone will enjoy. Check out some of these boards for lots of great ideas!
What is a Charcuterie Board?
Charcuterie boards (pronounced “shar-KOO-tuh-ree”) are trays, cutting boards or platters filled with different snacking items such as sliced meat, sausage, cheese, fruit, vegetable sticks, oils, nuts and dipping sauces. “Charcuterie” is a French term for displaying a variety of cured meats.
These days you can find charcuterie boards filled with just about any food item you can imaging. Now it’s not just savory food items found on a charcuterie board. You can find recipes for just about any type of dessert board you can imagine!
Check out the FAQ section after the list of holiday charcuterie boards for more information on building your own board.
Easy Breakfast Grazing Board (Charcuterie)
Make the holiday morning even more special with this delicious breakfast grazing board. Filled with favorite breakfast foods such as pancakes, waffles and sausages. It's made extra special with the additional of strawberry cheesecake and blueberry cheesecake stuffed crescent rolls. Top with fresh fruit and serve with syrup, orange juice, coffee and tea for a filling meal that has something for everyone.
Get the recipe here
Breakfast Charcuterie Board
Spice up your Christmas morning with this breakfast charcuterie board featuring pancakes, waffles, granola and fresh fruit!
Bagel Board
Looking for a board to bridge the gap between breakfast and lunch? This homemade Brunch Bagel board is sure to become a new family favorite. Taking just 20 minutes to make, this pick and mix DIY Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese Bagel Bar has something for everyone.
Sweet Butter Board Recipe
Butter boards are a new type of charcuterie board. You may have seen them showing up in your Tik Tok feed. The idea is simple enough. Top a cutting board with a creamy spread (often butter) and top it with other ingredients. This board includes a drizzle of honey, pomegranate seeds, chopped nuts and even a sprinkle of rose petals. This board is easy to make and can be served on Christmas day at breakfast time (serve with toast, muffins, English muffins, scones, etc).
The Spread (Mascarpone Butter Board with Balsamic Strawberries)
This butter board swaps out the butter for mascarpone (you can also use cream cheese). Topped with balsamic strawberries it is an easy to make, savory side board to go with any holiday meal.
Smoked Salmon Platter
This Smoked Salmon Platter is loaded with cold and hot smoked salmon, colorful vegetables, and a delicious cream cheese spread with crostini. Perfect for a holiday brunch!
Low Carb Cheese Charcuterie Boards
Don't forget your family and friends who are on a low carb or keto diet by creating a charcuterie board for them. It's easy to swap out higher carb items and come up with something that they can enjoy.
Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
It doesn’t get more festive than your favorite meats, cheese, fruit, vegetables and nuts displayed in a Christmas tree shape. This holiday charcuterie board is the perfect appetizer for all of your Christmas parties!
Easy Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
Here's another easy Christmas charcuterie board that only takes 10 minutes to cut and assemble. It is festive and fun, and my guests always comment on it. You can turn this grazing board into a Christmas cheese board if you want to keep it vegetarian.
Festive Christmas Charcuterie Board
This festive and tasty Christmas Charcuterie Board will be the star of your holiday party appetizer table. Filled with salami roses, green olives, decorative soft cheeses cut into decorative shapes such as trees, you’ll want to make this beautiful board a regular part of holiday parties.
Gluten Free Charcuterie Board
If you have guests with special dietary needs, such as needing gluten free foods, then try this charcuterie board. It's easier than you think to create a holiday board that everyone can enjoy.
Vegetable Christmas Tree Appetizer Tray
More Christmas Tree charcuterie boards to make your holiday table festive. This one is made with fresh vegetables
like pea pods, green beans, celery, carrots, and bell peppers. Decorate the veggie Christmas tree with cherry tomatoes and cucumber, all "standing" on a bed of cauliflower. Choose your favorite dips and sauces to complete this yummy Christmas tree vegetable tray.
Christmas Wreath Fruit Tray
Christmas fruit trays are a great way to serve a healthy festive treat at a Christmas party or on Christmas morning. This Christmas fruit platter is shaped like a Christmas wreath, and is easy to make with green grapes and berries. So easy to grab and snack on throughout your holiday gathering.
Antipasto Christmas Wreath
If you’re looking for an amazing appetizer to make this holiday season this Antipasto Christmas Wreath is perfect! It has bite-sized cheeses, Italian meats, olive, and takes minutes to put together!
Christmas Wreath Shaped Veggie Platter Appetizer Recipe
Take your usual broccoli and ranch dip appetizer to a whole new level by creating this easy to make wreath charctuerie board. This beautiful edible Christmas wreath appetizer platter will be the talk of your Holiday party! Christmas wreath veggie tray made out of broccoli, cherry tomatoes and decorated with sprigs of rosemary, with the dipping sauce in the middle – yes, please!
Charcuterie Wreath
This charcuterie wreath is an easy appetizer that comes together in less than 30 minutes. It features mozzarella balls, black olives, green olives, cherry tomatoes and a variety of sliced meat all threaded on toothpicks for a quick grab and go appetizer.
Candy Cane Caprese (Fun & Easy Holiday Appetizer)
This Candy Cane Caprese is a delicious appetizer board idea or snack during the festive holidays! Enjoy this recipe made with fresh mozzarella, ripened tomatoes, bright basil, and sweet balsamic glaze on your Christmas Eve menu filled with all types of other party food ideas. Delicious with crackers, toasted
baguette slices, bread, and more!
Charcuterie In A Jar Or Cup
Create these fun and unique appetizers for your next
gathering. Charcuterie in a Jar or Cup are single serving sized appetizers. They are ready made, hand held treats filled with a little bit of everything that is layered into the jars as well as on toothpicks.
Get the recipe here
Christmas Charcuterie Board
Try this spectacular Christmas Charcuterie Board as an easy and festive appetizer at your next holiday party or gathering. Made with an assortment of cheese, cured meats, juicy red fruit, crunchy nuts and finished with festive holiday party. Garnish it with fresh rosemary sprigs for the ultimate Christmas vibe.
Christmas Tree Cake Dip Dessert Charcuterie Board
Get ready to feed your family and friends at your next holiday gathering with this Christmas Tree Cake Dip Dessert Charcuterie Board. The dip is so easy to make and you can quickly put this dessert board together in 30 minutes.
Get the recipe here
Christmas Butter Board
This Christmas butter board will be a hit with your family this season. Or bring it as an appetizer to your next holiday party!
Christmas Candy Charcuterie Board
This Christmas candy charcuterie board makes a eye catching and fun way to serve up some sweet treats at holiday parties and family gatherings. You can easily satisfy everyone’s sweet tooth without having to spend a whole lot of time in the kitchen.
Get the recipe here
Holiday Charcuterie Board
Easy, delicious, and the perfect appetizer to serve during the winter holiday's! This Holiday Charcuterie Board is filled with crowd-pleasing cheeses, meats, fruits, and snacks to get through any party. It's so simple, but oh so delicious!
Easy Holiday Charcuterie Board
Learn how to make a holiday charcuterie board, the perfect grazing board to entertain, or as an easy, no-cook meal at home.
The Perfect Grazing Board Platter
Your ultimate guide to creating the perfect grazing board, including recipe and step-by-step photos.
Grinch Board
This fun Grinch themed Christmas dessert charcuterie board is the perfect addition to any Grinchmas celebration, Grinch movie night, or Christmas party! Just pick a board or dessert platter and fill it with sweet treats (especially green food and snack items) to look like the Grinch’s face and you’ll have the perfect themed addition to any holiday season festivity!
How to Make a Christmas Cookie Charcuterie Board with Homemade Christmas Cookies
Entertain with ease this holiday season with this fun & festive charcuterie board of Christmas cookies.
Christmas Hot Chocolate Charcuterie Board
Have fun making a Christmas hot chocolate charcuterie board to serve with your favourite hot chocolate recipe. This Christmas-themed hot chocolate charcuterie board is perfect to enjoy in the run-up to Christmas, but change the toppings and it is perfect for a cozy afternoon in any time of the year!
Christmas Dessert Charcuterie Board
Christmas Dessert Charcuterie Board: A dessert platter for the holiday season that’s full of sweet treats, and is a great way to serve smaller items and so much fun to have a variety of sweets.
Christmas Dessert Board (10 Minutes)
Find out how to make a dessert charcuterie board for Christmas that is quick, easy, and both mess-free and hassle-free!
Chocolate Charcuterie Board
This chocolate charcuterie board is a crowd favorite. Packed with sweet and savory treats it’s a great balance for the holiday season.
I don’t have a board or platter. What can I use?
No board or platter available? No worries. You can easily use a baking sheet (or two) in place of a platter. If your baking sheet has an raised edge that will help keep everything on the board. Is your baking sheet discolored from use? You can line the baking sheet with aluminum foil if desired to hide any discoloration.
Don’t have a tray with an edge? You can also use a wooden board, cutting boards or even a baking sheet in place of the tray.
Baking sheets are a simple charcuterie board that have an edge which helps keep the different items in place. Its an inexpensive charcuterie board swap as most people have baking pans in their homes. This is a great way to save money if you are on a tight budget.
How much food should I plan per person?
How much food to plan will depend upon how your charcuterie board is being used. Is it a snack and there are other foods being served? Or is it being used as a main dish to feed guests throughout a party?
It’s estimated that guests will graze on 3 to 5 appetizers per hour of a party if just appetizers are served. So if you are planning a grazing board as well as finger foods as well as appetizer type foods (meatballs, chicken wings, stuffed mushrooms, spinach artichoke dip, deviled eggs, etc) then you will want to also keep those amounts in mind when planning.
Here are some amounts that are typically used to build a grazing board if there are other dishes or appetizers being served (more than a snack but less than a main dish):
- Meat – choose 2 to 3 types of meat and 1 to 2 ounces per person
- Cheese – choose 3 to 4 types of cheese and 1 to 2 ounces per person
- Crackers/bread/baguette – choose 2 to 3 types and about 3 crackers/slices per guest per hour
- Fruits/Veggies – choose 1 to 2 types and 2-3 ounces per person
- Dips or Hummus – about 2 ounces per person
- Condiments – choose at least 2 types though you may want more depending upon the food being served. These can be savory such as mustard or sweet such as honey, fig jam or your favorite jelly.
- Filler Foods – this includes nuts, dried fruits, olives, pickles, small candies or pretzels that you use to fill in the gaps on the board or that may be served up in small bowls. Plan about 3/4 cup combined per person
- Chocolate – about 2 ounces per person
- Mini Desserts – this includes little cheesecakes, mini desserts, brownie bites, cookies or other small sweet treats. Plan about 3 per person.
Don’t forget to grab some fresh herbs to tuck around your board. This helps to fill in some of the empty spaces and creates a gorgeous charcuterie board.
How do I store leftovers?
Depending upon what you serve and how long it has been sitting out will guide your storage plans.
If I’ve been serving dips and the charcuterie boards have been sitting out at room temperature all day I typically throw them out. It’s not worth the risk of eating dip that has gone bad.
Many of the other items served are usually stored at room temperature (bread, crackers, fruit, etc) so these leftovers can be saved. If you plan on snacking on the leftovers over the next many of them can be stored in the refrigerator or at room temperature.
Place any leftover crackers or bread into storage bags for storage or cover in plastic wrap to keep them from going stale.
Desserts such as cookies, brownies, etc can also be placed into storage bags. Got more than you want to eat? Many of these items can easily be frozen for snacking at a later date.
Meat and cheese can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator or you can even freeze them.
Charcuterie or grazing boards can be made with just about any type of food. They are an easy to put together way to feed your guests without having to put a lot of time into making meals. Try one of the above boards at your next family gathering or holiday party.
Want to get new recipes sent directly to your inbox? Then subscribe to our newsletter (see below) and be the first to know when we post a new recipe as well as get weekly shopping, cooking and meal planning tips. Follow me on Pinterest where you can find links to our recipes as well as other recipes you and your family will enjoy.
Who knew that a story from a children’s book would not only help me feed my family during tough times but help me get out of debt. My goal is to help make meal making easier and affordable for you. I love sharing easy to make recipes that can feed your family without breaking your grocery budget. Find out more about my story here.
Penny
