Easy Christmas Tree Charcuterie

Looking for a creative and festive appetizer to make this holiday season? Look no further! Our easy Christmas tree charcuterie is the perfect delicious treat that’s sure to impress. Vibrant, flavorful, and with just the right amount of sweetness, this unique savory snack will surely be a hit at your next gathering.

Charcuterie dishes are all the rage this year! And it’s easy to see why. They’re tasty, with meat, cheese, fruit, and veggies. They’re attractive to look at, with their color and texture variations. And they’re easy to assemble and endlessly adaptable. So, this holiday season if you’re entertaining a group or want a festive appetizer before a meal, you should definitely make a Christmas tree charcuterie!

What is a Charcuterie?

A charcuterie (char-coot-er-ie) is a fancy way of saying appetizer plate. The root of the word is French, meaning pork butcher. And a basic charcuterie board is meat, with some crackers and pickled veggies to go with it. But these days, they are all over the place, with meat, veggies, fruit, crackers; foods that are pickled, dried, smoked, or roasted. It’s so fun and easy to create, and really easy to enjoy because there’s something everyone will love.

How to Prepare a Charcuterie

When planning the charcuterie, you should focus on who will be eating the dish. Will it be served at a holiday party with lots of kids who may not appreciate a smelly cheese or expensive sausage? Or will it be served at a work event, where people will appreciate some adult flavors? This will guide your selections.

Then as you make your selections, try to aim for a variety in all ways: colors, textures, flavors, shapes, and sizes. These foods should be finger foods or provide an easy vehicle to get the food into your mouth (a cheese knife and crackers will solve any problem). Think grapes, cheese slices, and meat chunks rather than bananas, melted cheese, or pate (again, unless you provide a way to serve it).

Then, prepare your food. Among the types (meat, cheese, veggies, fruits, nuts, crackers, pickled items) select one or two of each type you want, and prepare them on a platter or in bowls for easy assembly. You likely won’t use all the items you start with, but having them available will help you along the way, especially if this is the first time you’ve made a charcuterie.

Assembling the Charcuterie

1. To assemble, first select the tray or serving dish you will use for the charcuterie tree. Ideally, something at least 12 inches and closer to 18 inches long will work.
2. Start by creating the base of the tree. Use pretzels, crackers, or a ramekin of dipping sauce or cheese, placed at the base of the tray, in the center. Above that, start with a popular food that people will want in large quantities. Then, pick an item that is different: different type of food, different color, different shape, different size. And as you go up the tree, keep providing the variety as you decrease the size of the row of food.
3. Soon enough, you’ll be at the top! I used a small star cookie cutter for my tree topper. You can cut out a star-shaped cheese or apple, or even use a circular piece of meat or food at the top, or even just a sprig of rosemary or garnish!

Even with my large platter, I didn’t fit all the food I wanted to add, and that’s okay! Of it I’ll use next time, and of it, I found unique ways to include around the tree with small decorative bowls and creative cookie cutters. I added some candied almonds, M&M candies, and extra crackers, which looked wonderful.

What Can I Include in My Tree

Here are some suggestions of foods you can add to a charcuterie tree. Feel free to pull from the different groups however you want, or add things not on the list. Remember to vary the flavor, texture, color, size and shape for an attractive presentation.

Meat

• Sausage
• Prosciutto
• Pepperoni
• Salami
• Ham
• Jerky

Cheese

• Cheddar
• Pepper jack
• Colby jack
• Brie (include a knife)
• Goat cheese (include a knife)
• Swiss
• Asiago

Fruit

• Grapes, red or green
• Strawberries
• Raspberries
• Clementines
• Pineapple

Veggies

• Cucumbers
• Peppers
• Carrots
• Cherry tomatoes
• Olives
• Gherkins

Other Ideas

• Almonds, pecans, or pistachios
• Chocolate pieces
• Dried fruit like cranberries, apricots, or mangoes
• Cheese straws
• Hummus
• Veggie dip

Ways to Jazz It Up

You can use rosemary as a garnish, like branches on the sides or between layers of food. Or you can take the ham or pepperoni and shape it into roses. Dip strawberries or clementines in chocolate. Cut up apple slices using a star-shaped cookie cutter, or buy a star fruit for a festive and edible decoration.

Preparation and Safe Keeping

This is something you can prepare in advance by cutting the veggies and cheese and prepping the meat. But it’s best to wait to assemble it. That way, the food will look and feel fresh, and you won’t risk bumping it or it falling over. If you’re traveling with it, you can brace a small bowl or aluminum foil around the shape of a tree or cover it carefully with cling wrap. Plan for a last-second touch-up before presenting the tree.

Because this is finger food, it’s best to provide tongs or cocktail sticks for people to dish up. One thing we’ve learned in the last few years is how easy it is to spread, or not spread, germs by doing simple things such as using utensils instead of hands in public dishes.

When a dish like this is served, it will generally be out for a few hours. That significantly shortens the life of the food. So, get it back in the fridge as soon as you can. If you have leftovers, ensure they still look fresh and smell okay before eating them.

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• Easy Twisted Spinach Breadsticks Recipe
• How to Make the Best Veggie Tray (People Want to Eat)