Christmas parties are all about the food (and Christmas party games) and I love to serve finger foods so people can grab and snack while they’re mingling or playing. I’m a big fan of charcuterie boards whether they be dessert boards, breakfast boards, or traditional charcuterie boards made up of meats, cheeses, and other snacks. But I couldn’t just make a standard charcuterie board so instead I made this Christmas wreath snack board instead! This fun Christmas charcuterie comes with all of your favorite charcuterie items – meats, cheeses, olives, and fruit – but it does it in a way that’s elegant, organized, and just beautiful to look at. And the wreath shape of this festive dish makes it perfect for family gatherings or to be served at a cocktail party or as one of your Christmas appetizers before Christmas dinner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make – unlike some charcuterie boards that take real finesse to make it look pretty, this wreath is nothing more than just piling ingredients on in a tight circle. The only real finesse is with the greenery, but that’s also a piece of cake!Everyone friendly – I always love giving people options and this Christmas appetizer does just that! Lots of different options for people to choose their favorites!Beautiful – I love good looking food (it just tastes better) and this wreath is about as pretty as they come!
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
Cheese – I’ve included three different types of cheese cubes in my board – cheddar, Monterey jack, and colby – mostly because those are my personal favorites. You can substitute those with any other cheese cubes you’d like! Same with the mozzarella balls, although I think they’re a great addition for anyone who likes a good caprese salad. Meat – I used salami and pepperoni but just like with the cheese, you can also switch these out for your favorites.Cherry tomatoes – I used cherry because I had those on hand but you could also use grape tomatoes. I’d stay away from any of the larger ones that aren’t bite-sized but grape or cherry work great. You could also use other veggies like sliced red bell peppers, sliced carrots, and cucumbers. Fresh greenery – I used eucalyptus for my wreath but feel free to grab anything green that you can make look like a wreath. Fresh basil would work well too.
Instructions
Choose a large, round platter or cutting board and place the fresh greenery around the outside edge creating about a 14″ diameter circle. Now start adding your other items, making sure that you spread out your colors and similar ingredients. I like to start in opposite corners and then fill in the rest of the wreath. Layer other items, except the meats, following the circular pattern and arranging into an eye appealing wreath design. I also like to make sure and break up colors so that the red grapes for instance aren’t next to the tomatoes or meat but rather next to something that’s not red (like mozzarella balls or cheddar cheese). Finally, fold your meats in half and then in half again to form a rosette, then place them between other items so they add a three dimensional element throughout your wreath design. You can also place the meat into a glass of some sort to create a rose design. Keep going, adding various fruits and snacks to finish the circle of your wreath. Use your hands to gently push the edges of your wreath into a tight circle to complete the charcuterie board. Garnish with additional greenery in the center and throughout the wreath. Add some ribbon or a bow to make it look more like a wreath. Serve with a variety of crackers, chips, pretzels, and bread items. I also love to have some dips and spreads on the side so people can add things like fig jam to their snacks.
Expert Tips
Choose any combination of ingredients you prefer and place them however you want to create the wreath. I’ve included the ingredients and measurements that I personally used for this wreath but it’s totally customizable! Wrap the completed wreath in plastic wrap and store in refrigerator until ready to serve. Place any leftovers back in the refrigerator after no longer being eaten. Just like before, refrigerate any leftovers wrapped in plastic wrap until you’re ready to enjoy again. Use small portions of a variety of items rather than large portions of a few items. The variety is what makes charcuterie boards so popular and you can always refill sections if people eat all of those quickly. Provide toothpicks and tongs nearby so people can easily pick up the items they want. Spoons and forks are disastrous when it comes to charcuterie boards, especially stacked ones like this.
More Christmas Appetizers
If you’re looking for delicious Christmas appetizers like this one, you’ll love these other yummy recipes!
Bacon wrapped smokies – these delicious little bites will be gone before you can even get the whole tray out!Crescent roll brie bites – brie, bacon, and a little sweetness on top make these the perfect holiday snack!Bacon wrapped dates – sweet dates wrapped in salty bacon then baked to perfection! Grape jelly meatballs – the easiest crockpot meatballs you’ll ever try! Christmas tree cheese ball – a delicious cheese ball that looks like a Christmas tree, festive in every way!
