CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD

Christmas Charcuterie Board

When family and friends gather at our home for Christmas celebrations, one of my favorite things to pull together is a Christmas Charcuterie Board – easily customized with all our favorite holiday meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts and crackers. There’s no better way to celebrate the Christmas holidays with a crowd, or for a quiet and relaxed night at home with family!

Christmas Charcuterie Board

LET'S CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS!

A Christmas celebration should be BIG, and fun, and glorious!  Or sometimes the evening is better spent with a small group or special person, relaxing in front of a crackling fireplace, enjoying some quiet time together far away from the crowds, listening to your favorite holiday music or watching your favorite Christmas movies.  

We typically host a family "Christmas Appetizer Party" on Christmas Eve, which allows everyone to come and go as they need to.  For my Christmas Charcuterie Board, I pick all of our holiday favorites, full of flavor, color and fun!  It's no surprise that a Christmas Charcuterie Board has now become part of our holiday tradition.  No matter how you may be celebrating the season, a Christmas Charcuterie Board is the perfect place to start! 

Christmas Charcuterie Board

FOR MY CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD I USED:

• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Ham & Dill Rollups
• Italian Salame
• White Cheddar with Cranberries
• Raincoast Crisps – Rosemary Raisin Pecan Crackers
• Bacon Pecan Cheese Log
• Norwegian Smoked Salmon (Traditional, Pepper and Dill)
• Milk Chocolate Covered Cherries
• Savory Onion Crackers
• Harvest Wheat Crackers
• Danish Blue Cheese (we also like Gorgonzola)
• Raincoast Crisps Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers
• Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese
• Wild Herring in Wine Sauce
• Fresh Sugar Snap Peas
• Classic Deviled Eggs
• Fresh Cranberries
• Buttercrisp Crackers
• Naan Dippers
• Fresh Red Seedless Grapes

 
GARNISH:

• Fresh Rosemary
• Fresh Cranberries
• Fresh Looseleaf Lettuce (ruffled dark red and deep green)

Christmas Charcuterie Board

CHARCUTERIE FOR VEGANS OR ALLERGIES?

• It’s important to consider your guests – if you will be serving vegetarians or vegans, someone with food allergies, or children, it’s nice to include a selection of food items that they can enjoy.  If you don’t have room on your platter, you can prepare and serve them on a separate board.

• If you are hosting vegetarians/vegans, you should try to keep meats, seafood and cheeses separate from the other food.
• Food allergies and food sensitivities are so common, it’s helpful to identify anything that you know a guest may be allergic to, including “hidden” ingredients that may cause a problem.

Christmas Charcuterie Board

HOW TO MAKE A VEGAN OR ALLERGY-FRIENDLY CHARCUTERIE BOARD:

A vegan cheese board is similar to a traditional charcuterie board, but with a vegan twist when it contains plant based cured meats, dairy-free (vegan) cheeses and crackers, together with fruits and vegetables.  I recommend using food labels to identify what each item is so there is no confusion! 

• Cream Cheese - flavored or plain
• Cheese Sticks - mozzarella/cheddar
• Dairy-Free Cheese Blocks or Slices
• Plant-based cured meats
• Rice Crackers and Seeded Crackers
• Gluten-Free Crackers, Pretzels, Crostini or Pita Slices
• Fresh Vegies (avocado, carrots, celery, bell pepper, sugar snap peas)
• Any allergy friendly seed butters
• Hummus - homemade/store bought
• Jams & Jellies (Fig, Apricot or Onion Jam are all great options)
• Gluten-free cookies and candies, including marshmallows, candy canes & peppermint bark
• Fresh Fruit (apples, pears, grapes, orange slices, pomegranate seeds)
• Dried fruit or natural fruit bars or bites
• Protein Balls
• Fresh fruit, dried fruit, dehydrated fruit
• Roasted Nuts
• Seeds – pumpkin, roasted chickpeas
• Roasted or Pickled Vegetables
• Pickles & Olives, Olive Tapenade
• Honey

Christmas Charcuterie Board

HOW TO SAFELY SERVE CHARCUTERIE BOARDS:

• Some of the foods served in charcuterie require time and temperature controls for safety, particularly meats or seafood, dairy products (including cheeses), dairy-based dips or spreads, most cooked dishes, some fruits and cooked vegetables.
• When selecting meats for a charcuterie board, choosing packaged cured meats that do not require refrigeration and are okay to leave out for extended periods of time.
• If food packaging says to refrigerate, be sure to refrigerate any food on a charcuterie board after two hours if you're planning to nibble on it later. If you are going to throw out the remainder of the board at the end of the gathering, you can safely leave it out for up to four hours.
• I recommend placing small amounts of items on a charcuterie board and replacing them every couple hours – it’s easy to refresh a bowl or small platter and keep food safe and fresh.
• For seafood or dairy-based dips, you can place the food in a small bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice to keep it chilled (you may even have a dip-server that allows for this).  Likewise, if you have a food item that is served hot, serving small amounts and re-filling as needed will keep the food hot and fresh.  
• Using the same utensils to select multiple items from the board can cause cross-contamination of allergens, which may impact guests with food allergies.  Placing separate tongs, spoons or toothpicks near each item will help prevent this.
• Keep seconds safe!  When serving a large group, you may want to provide a clean plates and single-use toothpicks for repeat trips to the board.

Christmas Charcuterie Board

CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD

When family and friends gather at our home for Christmas celebrations, one of my favorite things to pull together is a Christmas Charcuterie Board – easily customized with all our favorite holiday meats, cheeses, fruits, nuts and crackers. There’s no better way to celebrate the Christmas holidays with a crowd, or for a quiet and relaxed night at home with family! 
​

Christmas Charcuterie Board

INGREDIENTS:
 
FOR MY CHRISTMAS CHARCUTERIE BOARD I USED:

• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Ham & Dill Rollups
• Italian Salame
• White Cheddar with Cranberries
• Raincoast Crisps – Rosemary Raisin Pecan Crackers
• Bacon Pecan Cheese Log
• Norwegian Smoked Salmon (Traditional, Pepper and Dill)
• Milk Chocolate Covered Cherries
• Savory Onion Crackers
• Harvest Wheat Crackers
• Danish Blue Cheese (we also like Gorgonzola)
• Raincoast Crisps Cranberry & Hazelnut Crackers
• Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese
• Wild Herring in Wine Sauce
• Fresh Sugar Snap Peas
• Classic Deviled Eggs
• Fresh Cranberries
• Buttercrisp Crackers
• Naan Dippers
• Fresh Red Seedless Grapes

 
GARNISH:

• Fresh Rosemary
• Fresh Cranberries
• Fresh Looseleaf Lettuce (ruffled dark red and deep green)

 
The secret of a great charcuterie board is to find fresh flavors and textures that work for you and your friends.  Mix and match your favorite cheeses, meats, fruits, nuts and condiments for something wonderful and unique every time!
 
CHEESE:  a selection of 3 or 4 is the way to go.  One cheese should be soft and creamy; another firm and aged, another flavorful, and another that is seasonal and different.  Some of our favorites include:

• Soft & Creamy:  Chevre Goat Cheeses, Feta Cheese (cubed & marinated)
• Firm & Aged:  Asiago and Manchego (similar to Monterey Jack cheese)
• Seasonal & Different:  Fig Goat Cheese Log, Cranberry Goat Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Semi-Soft Cheese, Cranberry White Cheddar Cheese

 
MEAT:  a selection of 3 Italian sliced deli-meats is the magic number.  Something spicy, something peppery, and something traditional. For Christmas holidays and New Year celebrations, I like to include a selection of fish as well!  Some of our favorites include:

• Prosciutto (traditional!)
• Hot Calabrese or Capocolla
• Peppered Salami
• Summer Sausage
• Smoked Salmon
• Wild Herring
• Fresh Shrimp

 
SPREADABLES:  a selection of 1 or 2 gives you a nice balance.  Something with an edge – and another that is a simple surprise.  Some of my favorites include:

• Traditional Hummus
• Roasted Pine Nut Hummus
• Roasted Red Pepper Hummus
• Crab Dip

 
NUTS & CHOCOLATES:  you can’t go wrong here at all with a selection of 3.  Something simple and roasted, another spicy, and something sweet – the perfect trifecta of favorites.  Popular choices include:

• Marcona Almonds
• Seasoned Almonds
• Glazed Pecans
• Chocolate Covered Nuts
• Spiced Nuts
• Dark Chocolate pieces or seasonal candies

 
FRUITS & VEGETABLES:  a selection of seasonal fruit and traditional vegies, both fresh and dried, gives you a nice balance and a burst of color.  Some of our winter favorites are:

• Red Seedless Grapes
• Fresh Figs (cut in half)
• Fresh Blackberries
• Dried Apricots
• Cherry Tomatoes or Sweet Cherry Peppers stuffed with Goat cheese
• Marinated Artichokes
• Roasted Red Bell Peppers
• Sun Dried Tomatoes
• Sugar Snap Peas

 
GARNISHES & CONDIMENTS:  a simple selection of 2 or 3 rounds everything out – something sweet and something savory.  Crowd favorites include:

• Italian Olives, Marinated Olives, Feta Cheese Stuffed Olives or Flavored Olive Tapenade (visit your local olive bar and pick up something fresh and colorful)
• Honey
• Whole Grained Dijon Mustard
• Bonne Mamon Intense Fruit Spread or Smucker’s Fruit & Honey Fruit Spread
• Fig Jam
• Baby Dill Pickles
• Cocktail Sauce
• Fresh Rosemary, whole cranberries, and ripe pomegranates or pomegranate arils make the perfect garnish for a Fall or Winter charcuterie board!

 
CRACKERS & BREAD:  a selection of 3 is the perfect amount – if you don’t have room on your platter, you can place them in a basket next to your board.  Some favorites are:

• Fresh Pita or Naan Bread (I LOVE little tiny Naan Dippers on my boards!)
• Artisanal Crackers or Flatbread (something with seeds and nuts are perfect)
• Buttery Crackers
• Pita Chips
• Breadsticks

 
FAVORITE WINES:  Pick a few of your favorites and you’ve got an instant party!  You can’t go wrong with a red and white, something dry and something sweet:

• A good Pinot Noir
• Cabernet Sauvignon
• Moscato
• Zinfandel
• Merlot
• Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc
• For something special, serve with spiced Mulled Wine, Sparkling Cider, or bubbly Champagne!

 
HOW I MADE THIS:

1. Choose a nice solid cutting board or wooden serving tray to create your platter.  Your guests will be serving directly from the board, so be sure to use something sturdy.  You can always add additional platters if you are preparing this for a crowd!
2. Assemble your favorites and place on serving board, starting with the garnishes around the outside of the board. 
3. Place small bowls or crocks for dips and spreads, or other small items on the board next.
4. Meats and seafood are layered next, together with the Ham & Dill Rollups and Deviled Eggs, as they are the stars of the show!
5. Wedges and sliced cheese are next up.  Although I don’t typically serve sliced cheeses on my charcuterie boards, sliced swiss, cheddar and havarti are an easy and tasty addition.  You can also cut cheese slices into holiday shapes using a small cookie cutter and layer them on the board.
6. Crackers and bread selection can be fanned out to fill in large spaces and create pattern and flow.  If you don’t have enough room on your platter, place your crackers and bread selection in a basket or on a separate board. 
7. Add fresh vegetables and fruit dry; add fresh and dried fruits for color.  If you’re serving fresh apple slices, soak them in Sprite or Seven-Up and pat dry so that they don’t turn brown.
8. Fill crocks or small bowls with dips and spreadables next.  If you serve olives or pickles, place them in tiny bowls so that they don’t roll around and flavor other platter ingredients. 
9. Chocolates and candies were added next to fill in any “gaps” on my board.
10. Garnish with lots of fresh green and reds - fresh rosemary, whole cranberries, ripe pomegranates or pomegranate arils – the perfect garnish for a Christmas Charcuterie Board!
11. Add holiday toothpicks for serving, cheese knives, small tongs and small spoons next to the board along with appetizer plates and napkins. 
12. Start with small amounts of each item – you can always refresh your platter as time goes by!
    
    

YIELD:  This was the perfect board for 6 – but it serves a crowd!

RECIPE NOTES:
HOW TO SAFELY SERVE CHARCUTERIE BOARDS:

• Some of the foods served in charcuterie require time and temperature controls for safety, particularly meats or seafood, dairy products (including cheeses), dairy-based dips or spreads, most cooked dishes, some fruits and cooked vegetables.
• When selecting meats for a charcuterie board, choosing packaged cured meats that do not require refrigeration and are okay to leave out for extended periods of time.
• If food packaging says to refrigerate, be sure to refrigerate any food on a charcuterie board after two hours if you're planning to nibble on it later. If you are going to throw out the remainder of the board at the end of the gathering, you can safely leave it out for up to four hours.
• I recommend placing small amounts of items on a charcuterie board and replacing them every couple hours – it’s easy to refresh a bowl or small platter and keep food safe and fresh.
• For seafood or dairy-based dips, you can place the food in a small bowl inside a larger bowl filled with ice to keep it chilled (you may even have a dip-server that allows for this).  Likewise, if you have a food item that is served hot, serving small amounts and re-filling as needed will keep the food hot and fresh.  
• Using the same utensils to select multiple items from the board can cause cross-contamination of allergens, which may impact guests with food allergies.  Placing separate tongs, spoons or toothpicks near each item will help prevent this.
• Keep seconds safe!  When serving a large group, you may want to provide a clean plates and single-use toothpicks for repeat trips to the board.

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