Festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board Recipe

Ingredients

Fruits and Greens

• 1 1/2 lbs. green grapes
• 6 long rosemary sprigs
• 8 oz. red grapes
• 5 ripe kiwi, peeled, halved lengthwise and sliced
• 6 oz. fresh raspberries

Cheeses

• 5 (8 oz) blocks of various white cheeses (havarti, manchego, fontina, sharp white cheddar)

Meat and Nuts

• 14 oz salami nuggets (spicy and fennel flavored)
• 1/2 cup candied pecans or plain pecans
• 5 oz salted roasted pistachios or pumpkin seeds

Other

• 1 (10 oz) jar Castelvetrano olives, drained
• 6 oz water crackers

Instructions

1. Cut two blocks of cheese into small cubes, two blocks into wedges, and the last block into a star shape using a star cookie cutter. Cut scraps from the last block into cubes. Keep cheeses chilled until assembly.
2. Use a very large surface (about 28 by 20 inches); a clean marble tabletop or white parchment paper as a base works well.
3. Form the bottom of the Christmas tree with green grapes arranged in long stems. Top with rosemary sprigs and dot with red grapes. Leave a space at the bottom center for the tree stump.
4. Place pecans in the designated space between the grapes to resemble the stump of the tree.
5. Add half of the wedge-shaped cheeses and two-thirds of the cheese cubes over the grape base.
6. Arrange half of the salami nuggets atop the cheese layer.
7. Add the sliced kiwi followed by a layer of fresh raspberries.
8. Add one-third of the remaining cheese cubes and the other half of the wedges on top.
9. Sprinkle the pistachios or pumpkin seeds over this cheese layer, then add the Castelvetrano olives at the top point of the tree.
10. Place the cheese star on top of the tree and spread water crackers under the tree to represent the ground. Serve soon after assembling, as ingredients should not sit at room temperature for longer than 2 hours.

Notes

• Substitute greens with small cucumber slices, baby dill pickles, celery sticks, or thinly sliced green apples.
• For red ingredients, try strawberries halved, cherry infused Craisins, fresh cherries, grape tomatoes, thinly sliced red apples, or pomegranate arils.
• Meat alternatives include capocollo, prosciutto, pepperoni, or larger salami slices.
• Use pretzel sticks or chocolate sticks as a fun substitute for the tree trunk if desired.
• Keep cheeses and perishable ingredients chilled until just before assembly to maintain freshness and food safety.
• Serve within 2 hours of assembly to ensure best taste and safety.