The holidays are here, which means it’s time to deck the halls and lay out the perfect holiday charcuterie board that’s every bit as festively beautiful as it is delicious. Gather the family ‘round as we layer on lush artisan cheeses, salty cured meats, stunning seasonal fruits, and a sprinkle of holiday magic. This meat and cheese board isn’t just about feeding our guests—it’s about inspiring the holiday spirit and making every corner of your gathering merry and bright.
I wanted to bring y'all a holiday charcuterie board that could be used for any occasion this time of year: Thanksgiving or Christmas or New Year's Eve or anything in between!
I first started hosting holidays when my husband was still in service, and I learned quickly that you always need an appetizer for holiday parties. Thank goodness for ALDI and Trader Joe's for affordable meats and cheeses, because little ole me could take $15 of cheese and meat and a few herb sprigs from my balcony garden and make a little somethin' on a cutting board that impressed the other military wives while the turkey was in the oven!
It's been many years and I've assembled many a board since then, but I'm always following the same protocol to making a beautiful charcuterie board! It should always be beautiful and delicious with lots of flavors and textures...and also secretly simple to make!
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A Gorgeous, Festive, Holiday Charcuterie Board
I know it might seem a little intimidating to put together the perfect appetizer that looks straight out of a magazine, but I promise, with a few simple tips, you can create a beautiful charcuterie that's as fun to make as it is to eat. Whether you’re a seasoned host or this is your first time throwing a holiday party, this guide will help you make a festive holiday board that’s foolproof and fabulous.
Plus, I’ve got some tricks up my sleeve to help you save time, so you can spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying the holiday cheer.
Choose the Right Board
Any flat surface can become a charcuterie board, but wooden boards or slate platters really make your arrangement pop. Consider the size of your gathering when choosing the size of your board—the more guests you're serving, the larger it should be.
If you’re going for a festive look, add a few holiday decorations around the board or use a festive-shaped board, like a tree or wreath, as I did. I didn't want it to be too 'ho-ho-ho' Christmas-like since I also wanted to be able to use this for a Thanksgiving or New Year's party, and I feel that the wreath of oranges with leaves makes it pretty and festive.
Meat and Cheese Board Ingredients
Full ingredients, measurements, and printable instructions are in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
These are suggestions especially if you are here to learn how to make a board. These are my general guidelines, though I want you to know... this holiday board is deceptively simple!
The Cheeses
For a large board, you want around 3-4 hard and soft cheeses, and about 2-3 for a small board.
For mine in this post I used a classic triple creme wheel of Brie, slices of extra sharp cheddar, and shards of sheep's cheese manchego. This goes with my Rule of Cheese: 2 ounces of cheese per person, and the categories are 'familiar cheese, interesting cheese, soft cheese/creamy cheese, hard cheese, and a crumbly cheese'.
These don't all have to be different cheeses. You can have a familiar + soft cheese like a creamy Humboldt Fog goat cheese (I used that in my Halloween Board!), an interesting + crumbly cheese like blue cheese, an interesting + familiar cheese like a smoked gouda or creamy cheddar ball.
The Meats
I love ALDI for charcuterie meats, specifically! They always have 'party packs' of different salamis, some speck, prosciutto, etc. that's quite affordable and tasty! Perfect for a large party.
The protocol for this is 2-3 ounces of meat per person, and we want a hard variety like salami, a cured meat like the party-fave prosciutto, and (possibly) something funky, unique, or interesting like nduja, a rich paté, or sopressata.
Crackers and Breads
For a holiday board, I really love crackers and breads with herbs. They just seem more festive, don't they? I have a line up of tasty garlic herb crostini, rosemary crackers, and black pepper water crackers here, which are my family's favorites.
Fruit
This is where I really went crazy in this board! Loads of late fall and winter fruit are arranged all throughout, and what really makes this a stunner is the wreath of satsuma oranges with their leaves.
These little oranges came from a local grocery store, and I just couldn't help myself! They're so gorgeous. I also broke up a juicy pomegranate so people could pick up a small bit with the arils for easy eating. I had some figs from my fig trees, persimmons from my neighbor's tree, and some sweet golden-berries from the store.
So I didn't blow a ton of money on the abundance of fruit on the board...because there are only 5 types (with 2 that I got for free)! I told you this board was deceptive.
But of course, use any in season produce! Slices of pear, dried fruit like apricot, cranberry, or dates, apples, citrus of all sorts, all the good late fall and winter produce.
Fun Extras
These are little touches that are fun to add and makes it feel more personal and festive, which is the sign of a great cheese board, in my opinion.
Include a variety of spreads and dips like honey and seasonal jams (that fig jam? Totally goes here), nuts like candied pecans, almonds, and pistachios.
Try peppermint candies and chocolate dipped pretzels, seasonal cookies and sweets, for a sweet break between savory bites.
Let's Make this Holiday Charcuterie Board
Begin with your largest items, typically your cheeses. Place them spaced out across the board. Next, fold or roll slices of meat and place them around the cheeses.
Fill gaps with small bowls of olives, nuts, or your chosen spreads. Drape grapes or arrange slices of fruit in attractive patterns. Finally, tuck in the garnishes to add a pop of green and make your board look lush and abundant.
Personal Touches to Make it Special
This is where you make the board look like a holiday board, you know?
I put some holiday M&M's candies inside of a gingerbread man shaped cookie cutter and used a snowman cookie cutter to cut out the center of my brie, and filled the snowman center with those bright orange goldenberries. So cute, and very tasty.
Pro Tips
- Prep Ahead: Slice cheeses and fruit and fold meats before guests arrive. Store them in the fridge, then assemble when you’re ready to serve.
- Offer a range of textures and flavors to keep the board interesting and cater to different tastes. And remember to ask about your guests allergies so you don't end up with the 'wrong textures and flavors' if you know what I mean.
- Keep It Accessible: Arrange your board so every item is easy to reach and label any commonly allergenic foods like nuts and gluten.
Equipment
- A Large Round Wooden Board - I used a huge tray!
- Spread Spoons and Cheese Knives
- Cheese Markers - this labels the cheeses for your guests
- small plates - for serving, of course!
FAQs
A charcuterie board primarily features cured meats and cheeses as a snack or appetizer, while a grazing board offers a broader variety of foods, serving as more of a meal replacement meant to be eaten over an extended period of time.
Start with large items like cheese blocks and bowls of dips or nuts, then add meats, folding or rolling them artfully. Fill gaps with small items like fruits and nuts. Use garnishes like rosemary sprigs for a festive touch.
Try sparkling wines like Champagne or Prosecco, light-bodied white wines like Sauvignon Blanc, or fruity reds like Pinot Noir. Non-alcoholic options could include sparkling apple cider or a festive mocktail.
More Appetizer Recipes
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How to Make a Festive Holiday Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
Charcuterie Meats
- 7 oz prosciutto, thinly sliced
- 7 oz spicy salami, sliced
Cheeses
- 11 oz manchego cheese
- 10 oz aged cheddar cheese
- 1 large Brie wheel, usually labeled for 'entertaining'
Fruit
- 12-16 satsuma oranges, with leaves, to arrange into a wreath
- 6 fresh figs, quartered
- 1 cup goldenberries, rinsed thoroughly
- 1 pomegranate, broken into pieces
- 2 persimmons, sliced
Extras
- a handful of candied pecans
- a small bowl of cranberry sauce or fig jam
- Honeycomb or a small jar of honey, for drizzling
- a variety of artisan crackers and sliced baguette
- sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme, for garnish
Instructions
Prep your Board
- Choose a large, flat board or platter. You may also use a large slate or a specially designed charcuterie board. Ensure it's clean and dry before starting your arrangement.
Create the Fruit Wreath
- Arrange the satsuma oranges in a circular wreath shape towards the edge of the board, ensuring some leaves are visible for a fresh, festive vibe.12-16 satsuma oranges
Arrange the Cheeses
- Start by placing your cheeses on the board. Space them out to allow room for other items. Place the Brie on one side, Cheddar in another corner, and Manchego on the opposite side for space to put other ingredients for flavor and visual balance.11 oz manchego cheese, 10 oz aged cheddar cheese, 1 large Brie wheel
Place Extras
- Place small bowls of cranberry sauce or fig jam on the board. Add clusters of nuts near the cheeses to enhance texture and flavor. If using, place a piece of honeycomb centrally or a small jar of honey for drizzling.a handful of candied pecans, a small bowl of cranberry sauce or fig jam, Honeycomb or a small jar of honey
Add the Meats
- Fold the prosciutto slices into elegant ribbons and fan them out near the Brie for a soft texture contrast. Roll or fold the salami slices and place them near the Cheddar for a robust flavor pairing.7 oz prosciutto, 7 oz spicy salami
Distribute the Fruits
- Scatter the fig quarters, goldenberries, pomegranate pieces, and persimmon slices around the board, filling gaps and adding color contrast.6 fresh figs, 1 cup goldenberries, 1 pomegranate, 2 persimmons
Bread and Crackers
- Neatly arrange a selection of artisan crackers and slices of baguette around the board or on a separate plate.a variety of artisan crackers and sliced baguette
Garnish
- Tuck sprigs of rosemary and thyme around the board to fill any small gaps and add a festive touch. Before serving, ensure all elements are accessible and that there’s a cheese knife for the Brie and a small spoon for the jam and honey.sprigs of fresh rosemary and thyme
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