This tree-shaped Christmas cheese board is an easy and festive appetizer recipe that will impress your guests and be the centerpiece of your holiday table.
A Festive Cheese Board
During the holiday/Christmas season, I’m all about taking things to the next level. That’s exactly what we’re going to do today with this tree-shaped Christmas cheese board.
Sure, you can add cheese, pepperoni, and crackers to a plate and call it a day, but as you’re preparing your cheese board, why not turn it into a show-stopping display you can eat?!
There’s no need to be intimated. This Christmas cheese board only took me a few extra minutes to create and the results speak for themselves. It will be the centerpiece of your Christmas appetizer table. Try pairing it with a speciality seasonal cocktail! Yum!
Plus, it’s just a whole lot of fun. It’s joy-inducing and that’s what this season is all about.
Ready to give it a try. Let me tell you what you will need and then I’ll walk you through the process step-by-step.
Want more Christmas appetizers? You’ll love these
- Red Peppy Jelly Appetizer
- Artichoke Wonton Wrappers
- Jalapeño Popper Dip
- Tortilla Roll-Ups with Salsa
- Cranberry Brie Bites
Ingredients:
Below is a list of what I used on my Christmas cheese board. However, feel free to get creative and use what you love. I’ll share a few recipe variations after showing you how to put this cheese board together.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- sliced cheeses – I buy the presliced cracker cheese to save time.
- assorted meats – Use pepperoni, salami, prosciutto, etc.
- crackers – I used Raincoast Crisps here. They are my favorite cracker! Not only are they delicious, but they are beautiful too.
- assorted berries – You can use whatever you’d like. I used blackberries and golden berries.
- sugared cranberries – I make a batch of these sugared cranberries early in the season and use them to garnish appetizers, desserts, and cocktails.
- fresh rosemary – It’s the perfect garnish for a tree.
- small cookie cutters – These are game changers. Use them to cut out shapes like stars, snowflakes, and candy canes. These cookie cutters will take your holiday cheese board to the next level.
How to Assemble:
Now it’s time to put it all together! You can follow my steps below or use the printable recipe card at the end of this post.
- Begin creating your Christmas cheese board by adding two layers of crackers to the bottom of a large wooden cutting board.
- Working upwards, add two layers of sliced cheese. Next, add a layer of sliced meat.
- As you layer, start to form the shape of a tree. (You can use my photos as a reference.)
- Continue layering with more crackers, cheeses, and meats until you reach the top of the tree.
- Decorate your tree with various berries and fruits. Sprinkle with sugared cranberries.
- Tuck in pieces of fresh rosemary around the tree.
- Using small cookie cutters, cut shapes from the cheese slices to decorate your tree and board.
That’s it!
Serve immediately or wrap with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Pretty adorable, right? I’m in love!
And if you like tree-shaped things, be sure to check out my cheese-filled pull-apart rolls and my Christmas tree cheese ball!
Variations:
Despite its festive presentation, I kept my Christmas cheese board fairly simple. If you want to make it even more robust, here are some additions to consider:
- spreads such as honey, fig preserves, jams, and jellies
- assorted vegetables such as mixed olives, marinated artichokes, and pickles
- mixed nuts such as almonds, pistachios, and macadamia nuts
- more cheeses such as brie, goat cheese, and blue cheese
What I love about recipes like this one is that you can make them your own. Experiment and have fun using your favorite ingredients.
Happy Entertaining!
And that’s a wrap on this tree-shaped Christmas cheese board. I hope this post inspires you to go beyond the typical and craft something extra special for the holiday season. I know your guests will appreciate it.
If you recreate this Christmas tree cheese board, I would love to see it! Share it on Instagram and tag me @inspiredbycharm.
Enjoy!
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Tree-Shaped Christmas Cheese Board
Ingredients
- 1 pound assortment of sliced cheese
- 1 pound assorted meats - salami, pepperoni, etc.
- 12- ounce box of crackers - I used Raincoast Crisps
- 1/2 cup assorted berries
- 1/2 cup sugared cranberries
- fresh rosemary to garnish
- small cookie cutters
Instructions
- Begin creating your holiday/Christmas cheese board by adding two layers of crackers to the bottom of a large cutting board.
- Working upwards, add two layers of sliced cheese. Next, add a layer of sliced meat.
- As you layer, start to form the shape of a tree. (You can use my photos as a reference.)
- Continue layering with more crackers, cheeses, and meats until you reach the top of the tree.
- Decorate your tree with various berries and fruits. Sprinkle with sugared cranberries. Tuck in pieces of fresh rosemary around the tree.
- Using small cookie cutters, cut out shapes from cheese slices. Use the shapes to decorate your tree and board.
- Serve immediately or wrap with plastic and refrigerate until ready to serve.
