This Christmas Charcuterie Board has a red, white, and green theme for a festive spread! Follow the step-by-step instructions to learn exactly how to put it together to create a beautiful board for your holiday events.
A Red, White, and Green Christmas Charcuterie Board!
My Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board has been such a successful post year after year, and it’s one of my favorites of all time on the blog!
I dreamed up this holiday charcuterie board ingredient by ingredient until I had a red, white, and green theme going. We eat with our eyes, so the festive colors of this Christmas Charcuterie Board bring out the merry in us all.
Call it an abundance board, a charcuterie board, or a grazing board – it’s perfect to set out at a holiday gathering and enjoy all day. After you finish reading this tutorial, you’ll be able to create it yourself to take to a holiday party or set out for nibbling on Christmas Eve.
If you have leftovers that didn’t fit on your board, you can serve them on Christmas Day. Or use this post to inspire more apps: 30+ Holiday Potluck Appetizers.
Why You’ll Love This Board
- Fast 20–30 minute assembly
- Affordable ingredients or easy swaps
- Crowd-pleasing flavor mix
- Beginner-friendly “anchor + fill” method
- Customizable for dietary needs (GF crackers, vegan dips, nut-free options)
I’m sure you guys have some ideas for even more ingredients you could add!
The key to a beautiful cheese board is to fill in all the spaces so it looks plentiful and abundant!
Once again I made this step by step so you could see how everything comes together. It’s really quite easy!
I followed the simple technique of anchoring with the cheeses and cured meats, following with fruit and crackers, and ending with the smaller pieces like nuts and herbs. You could even assemble it in a tree shape if you’d like.
Once you get the hang of the technique, you’ll be able to design your own boards using whatever ingredients you choose.
Christmas Charcuterie Board Ingredient List
Cheeses
I used the same trio as last time: a triple cream brie, a sharp cheddar, and a firm manchego.
I think it’s always great to have one to serve with preserves (a goat cheese log or other soft cheeses rolled in rosemary would also be especially festive!), one to cube, and one to slice.
Come to think of it – the manchego could have been dressed as little Christmas trees if I’d turned the triangles 90 degrees!
Meats
A trio of Spanish meats will give you some variety. I could have used two of these because the meats go fast!
Look for one that has two different shapes – long prosciutto and little salami rounds.
Fruit
Fresh fruit, thinly sliced, and dried fruit.
Pomegranates are especially festive, as do plump dried cranberries or cherries.
Green pear, red apple, either kind of grapes, berries – stay in your color theme and there are tons of options!
Vegetables + Dip
I added red and green peppers and cucumbers to my board plus a vibrant green vegan kale pesto for dipping. A white herby ranch or cream cheese-based dip would be great too!
Crackers
The little red beet crackers were perfect for my theme! I also love the little toast-shaped crackers for the holidays. Regular white-ish crackers will do too.
I skipped the yellow cheese straws for this year.
Nuts + Olives + Decor
You can’t have a cheese board without truffle almonds!
A tin of holiday nuts would serve you well here – smoked almonds, cashews, candied pecans, etc.
I tucked rosemary springs from my garden and used a fig spread to decorate the brie.
Something Sweet
I think for a holiday board a little sweetness really rings true to the season. While dark chocolate almonds would have been nice, they didn’t fit my color scheme!
So instead I used peppermint meringues from Trader Joe’s! Little perfect clouds of seasonal surprises on top added the perfect festive touch.
Graham crackers or Christmas cookies would be a nice touch too.
Your Shopping List
Many of these can be found at Trader Joe’s. Otherwise look for similar products at other grocery stores.
- Block of sharp white cheddar
- Triple Cream Brie
- Block of aged manchego
- Package of charcuterie meats
- Fig & Olive crisp crackers
- Box of assorted crackers
- Red beet crackers
- Truffle or smoked almonds
- Green olives
- Red and green bell peppers
- Cucumber
- Pesto for dipping
- Raspberries
- Pomegranate
- Red grapes
- Green pear
- Dried cranberries or cherries
- Dried Fuji apples
- Peppermint Meringues
- Fig preserves
- Fresh rosemary
The Video!
Recommended Board Size / Tools You Need
- Board size: aim for an 8×12″ board for 10–12 people
- You’ll want small bowls / ramekins for dips or olives
- Cheese knives for soft cheeses
- Tiny spoons for spreads
- Optional: parchment paper for easy cleanup
How To Assemble Your Christmas Charcuterie Board
First step: Prep your ingredients on a separate cutting board
- Unbox crackers
- Keep the brie whole
- Cube the cheddar
- Slice the manchego in triangles and stack vertically. Once you have a tower, you can turn on its side to be seen as zig zags on the board.
- Roll the longer meats into cigars
- Fold circle meats into “flowers” by folding in half and folding in half again
- Wash and slice fruits and vegetables into thin slices or strips
- Pour vegetable dip into a little bowl
Second step: Arrange cheeses evenly across the board.
Third step: Add meats in curved line around cheeses, arranging the longer rolls as vertical as possible
Fourth step: Arrange bowls of dip and olives
Fifth step: Add fruits and vegetables all around board
Sixth step: Decorate with crackers in stacks and rows
Seventh step: Fill in edges and holes with nuts, dried fruit and herbs
Eighth step: Add preserves to brie and meringues on top!
If you’re taking your board outside or need a germ-safe way to share this, consider mini to-go containers like this Picnic Charcuterie Board.
Just divide up and pack everything inside of a holiday themed to go box or holiday tin and enjoy one per family.
Leave a cheese board on your friends’ doorsteps instead of cookies this year!
Charcuterie Board Making Tips
Use a separate board for prep as for serving
When you cut your cheeses, fruits, and fold meats, you’ll get the board dirty so keep one for prep and one for serving.
How to cut triangle cheese for a charcuterie stack
Turn the manchego on its side and slice into triangles. Then stack them vertically. Once you have a tower, you can turn on its side to be seen as zig zags on the board.
How to fold and roll meats
- Roll oval meats into cigars
- Fold circular meats into “flowers”
Taking The Board To A Party
If you need to transport board after assembly, you can use the knives to keep plastic wrap from smushing the board. And you can put the whole board inside of a large tray with sides to prevent it from shifting in the car. A large shallow box would work too.
Use bowls for spreads
If you’d like to add a dip like a beet hummus, use a small bowl and put it down early with the cheeses.
FAQs
How many people does this Christmas charcuterie board serve?
A medium-to-large board (around 18×12 inches) will comfortably serve 10–12 people as an appetizer. For larger gatherings or if the board will be the main snack, you can scale up by adding more fruit, crackers, and nuts to keep things abundant.
What if I don’t eat meat? What can I substitute?
You can easily make this board vegetarian. Swap cured meats for extras like marinated artichokes, grilled or roasted vegetables, seasoned tofu cubes, stuffed mini peppers, or additional cheeses. A few protein-forward spreads like hummus or white bean dip also help keep the board balanced.
Can I make this board ahead of time?
Yes! Prep the ingredients up to one day in advance and store them separately in airtight containers. Assemble the board 1–2 hours before serving and refrigerate it (without the crackers). Add crackers, herbs, and any delicate garnishes right before guests arrive so everything stays crisp and fresh.
What’s the best way to store leftovers?
Transfer leftover cheeses, meats, fruits, and veggies into separate airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3–4 days. Crackers and nuts should be stored at room temperature to maintain crunch. Soft cheeses can be wrapped in parchment, while firmer cheeses can be wrapped in wax paper or cheese paper and stored in a zip-top bag.
Can I make this kid-friendly?
Absolutely. Add items like mini mozzarella balls, cheese sticks, sliced apples, pretzel sticks, graham crackers, pepperoni slices, or small Christmas cookies. Keep spicy or strong cheeses to one corner of the board so littler palates can easily avoid them. Check out this post for more ideas: Kids Charcuterie Board.
What if I don’t have a fancy wooden board?
Any flat surface works! A large baking sheet, serving tray, or even two smaller cutting boards pushed together can hold everything beautifully. You can also line your surface with parchment paper for easier cleanup and a more polished look.
How Far in Advance Can You Make A Charcuterie Board?
- Prep fruits/veggies 1 day ahead
- Slice cheese day-of so it stays fresh
- Store assembled board (without crackers) covered in the fridge
- Add crackers and herbs right before serving
How can I make this charcuterie board budget-friendly?
Choose 2–3 cheeses instead of several specialty varieties, and use more affordable favorites like cheddar, colby jack, or gouda. Buy cured meats in smaller mixed packs or skip the pricier options and lean on extra fruits and veggies to fill the board. Costco has some great options!
Go for in-season produce (like apples, pears, and grapes) rather than specialty berries. Store-brand crackers, nuts, and preserves work just as well as artisan brands, and you can stretch everything further by adding lower-cost fillers like popcorn, pretzels, or homemade crostini.
Ingredient Substitutions & Color-Themed Alternatives
Sticking to the red, white, and green color palette makes the board feel instantly festive, but you have plenty of room to mix and match ingredients. Here are easy substitutions and add-ins that keep the holiday theme strong:
Red Ingredients
- Strawberries or raspberries
- Cherry tomatoes
- Red radishes
- Dried cherries or cranberries
- Red plums
- Watermelon radishes
- Red beet hummus
- Red licorice bites or holiday candy (for a sweeter board)
White Ingredients
- Fresh mozzarella balls or burrata
- Goat cheese logs (plain or rolled in herbs)
- Cauliflower florets
- White cheddar popcorn
- White chocolate–covered pretzels
- Crackers, toasts, or breadsticks
- Coconut macaroons or shortbread cookies
Green Ingredients
- Kiwi slices
- Green figs or green grapes
- Sugar snap peas
- Broccolini or broccoli florets
- Castelvetrano or other green olives
- Green apple slices
- Pesto, herb dips, or green hummus
Christmas Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- Block of sharp white cheddar
- Triple Cream Brie
- Block of aged manchego
- Package of charcuterie meats
- Fig & Olive crisp crackers
- Box of assorted crackers
- Red beet crackers
- Truffle or smoked almonds
- Green olives
- Red and green bell peppers
- Cucumber
- Pesto for dipping
- Raspberries
- Pomegranate
- Red grapes
- Green pear
- Dried cranberries or cherries
- Dried Fuji apples
- Peppermint Meringues
- Fig preserves
- Fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Prep your ingredients on a separate cutting board. Unbox crackers. Cube the cheddar. Slice the manchego in triangles and stack vertically. Once you have a tower, you can turn on its side to be seen as zig zags on the board. Roll the longer meats into cigars. Fold circle meats into “flowers” by folding in half and folding in half again. Wash and slice fruits and vegetables into thin slices or strips. Pour vegetable dip into a little bowl
- Arrange cheeses evenly across the board.
- Add meats in curved line around cheeses, arranging the longer rolls as vertical as possible
- Arrange bowls of dip and olives
- Add fruits and vegetables all around board
- Decorate with crackers in stacks and rows
- Fill in edges and holes with nuts, dried fruit and herbs
- Top brie with preserves and meringues on top!
Video
MORE PARTY IDEAS:
More Charcuterie Board Ideas:
Susan Dewhirst says
Fun! My 14 year old has been wanting to do something just like this. How do you suggest eating the pomegranate seeds when served this way? They stain so easily.
Kath Younger says
I considered the POM quarters to be decoration, but I took the other half and removed the seeds so they are sprinkled around. Birch eats them and they don’t stain his fingers (but I don’t know if he even knows how to squeeze them!)
Kelly says
Can you share how large your board is please?
Kath Younger says
Good question – it’s 19″ by 14″
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog says
The board looks amazing, Kath! Thanks for the tips! 🙂
Charmaine Ng | Architecture & Lifestyle Blog
http://charmainenyw.com
Ani says
This is absolutely stunning!
Kath Younger says
Thank you!
Laura says
Love this! I hope you’ll keep the charcuterie board series going! The video and shopping list are my favorite part. You really have an eye for this!
C L says
I hope this year everyone is making this petite sized for household only gatherings and not having big xmas parties. Can’t wait to return to big gatherings in 2021.
Jessica says
I completely agree!
I also wonder how a charcuterie board like this looks as the party progresses. Would making two or three smaller boards keep them tidier as people dismantle them?
Ann Duncan says
I made your Thanksgiving board and it was a big hit! I think I’ll make this one too. Thank you for the clear shopping list and directions. Everything looks so pretty and delicious!
Kath Younger says
Yay!
Lauren says
The Christmas board was a big hit for our church party! Thank you for the step by step instructions. That really helped a lot! It turned out beautiful!
Kath Younger says
Yay so glad!