Christmas Tree Charcuterie

This festive Christmas tree charcuterie board is the ultimate holiday appetizer — easy to assemble, gorgeous on the table, and always a crowd-pleaser.

When it comes to festive appetizers, nothing wows guests quite like a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board. It’s playful, seasonal, and surprisingly easy to put together. Instead of the traditional flat board, you layer cheeses, fruit, and herbs into the shape of a Christmas tree. It doubles as both a centerpiece and a snack — my favorite kind of holiday entertaining.

This version features creamy Brie, Manchego, grapes, and cucumbers, along with bright pops of color from raspberries and sugared cranberries. Fresh rosemary sprigs act like “evergreen branches,” and a simple cracker cut into a star makes the perfect tree topper.

How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

Ingredients You’ll Need

• Cheese: Brie rounds, sliced into wedges; Manchego or other firm cheese
• Fruit: Green grapes, raspberries, kumquats, sugared cranberries
• Vegetables: Sliced cucumber for color and crunch
• Nuts: Pecans (or walnuts/almonds work too)
• Herbs: Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Crackers: I love to use Valley Lavosh star crackers. 

Assembly Tips

1. Shape the Tree: Start from the bottom and work your way up, layering cheese, fruit, and vegetables in a wide-to-narrow pattern until you reach a desired point.
2. Texture & Color: Alternate creamy brie, bright red berries, green grapes, and cucumber slices for a contrasting effect.
3. Add the Star: Cut a cracker into a star shape and place at the top.
4. Finishing Touches: Tuck rosemary sprigs along the sides for a “pine needle” effect, and scatter pecans at the base to resemble a tree trunk.

Serving Suggestions

• Pair with a crisp Prosecco or a festive cocktail, such as my Snow Globe Cocktail, Hugo Spritz, Martini, or French Gimlet. 
• Serve alongside simple appetizers such as crostini or my Hot Honey Baked Brie or Spinach Artichoke Dip.
• Works beautifully as a starter for holiday dinners, or as part of a bigger Christmas Eve grazing table. 

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Yield: Serves 6-8

Christmas Tree Charcuterie

Prep Time 15 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

An easy and festive holiday appetizer shaped like a Christmas tree, layered with cheese, fruit, nuts, and herbs.

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Ingredients

• 8 oz brie, cut into wedges
• 6 oz Manchego or other firm cheese, cut into slices
• 1 cup green grapes
• ½ cup raspberries
• ½ cup sugared cranberries
• 2 small cucumbers, sliced
• 3–4 kumquats (optional, for color)
• ½ cup pecans
• Fresh rosemary sprigs (about 6–8)
• Crackers, for tree topper and serving

Instructions

1. Arrange cheeses, grapes, cucumbers, and berries in rows on a wooden board, forming the shape of a Christmas tree (wide base to narrow tip).
2. Tuck rosemary sprigs around the edges to mimic pine branches.
3. Add pecans at the bottom for the “tree trunk.”
4. Place a star-shaped cracker at the top of the tree.
5. Serve with additional crackers on the side.

Notes

Plan ahead: Prep and slice your cheeses, fruits, and veggies before arranging to make assembly quick and stress-free.

Keep it fresh: If making in advance, cover the board tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. Add crackers and nuts just before serving so they stay crisp.

Shape tip: Start with the “tree outline” first (using rosemary sprigs or cheese wedges) to guide the shape, then fill in with layers of color and texture.

Cheese swap ideas: Brie, goat cheese, manchego, cheddar, or gouda all work beautifully — use a mix of soft and firm cheeses.

Serving size: This board feeds about 6–8 people as an appetizer, depending on what else is served.