Quick Answer: A Christmas tree charcuterie board is a triangle built in rows on a long board: a cheese star at the top, then rows that get wider as you go down, of cheese cubes, folded salami, green grapes and olives. A zigzag of rosemary makes the garland, cherry tomatoes and pomegranate seeds are the ornaments, and pretzel rods make the trunk. Before a holiday meal, plan 2 oz each of meat and cheese per guest, about 1½ lb of each for 12. The veggie tray version uses broccoli for the tree and a yellow pepper star.
The tree is the easiest Christmas shape to build, because every row is a straight line and the board's shape tells you how wide each row should be. It's the sibling of the Christmas wreath board: the wreath suits a round table, and the tree suits a buffet or a long counter where guests walk past it.
Board size and how many it serves
| Board | Tree rows | Serves (before a meal) | Serves (as the party food) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 × 18 inch rectangle | 6 to 7 rows | 6 to 8 | 4 to 6 |
| 15 × 22 inch board or a large sheet pan | 8 to 9 rows | 12 to 15 | 8 to 10 |
| Two boards, or a long tray plus a side board | Two trees or one big tree | 20 to 25 | 14 to 18 |
Stand the board the long way, top to bottom, so the tree is tall. A large rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment works fine.
Shopping list for 8, 12 or 20 guests
These follow the Lab standard for a board before a holiday meal (2 oz each of meat and cheese per guest), with 10% extra from 20 guests up. If the tree is the main food at a party, multiply the meat and cheese by 1.5.
| Item | 8 guests | 12 guests | 20 guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheese (2 to 3 kinds, cubed, plus one slice for the star) | 1 lb | 1½ lb | 2¾ lb |
| Cured meat (2 kinds) | 1 lb | 1½ lb | 2¾ lb |
| Crackers (on the side) | 50 to 65 | 75 to 95 | 135 to 175 |
| Fresh rosemary | 1 bunch | 2 bunches | 3 bunches |
| Green grapes | 1 lb | 1½ lb | 2½ lb |
| Green olives | 1 cup | 1½ cups | 2½ cups |
| Cherry tomatoes and pomegranate seeds | 1½ cups | 2 cups | 3½ cups |
| Pretzel rods (trunk) | 4 | 5 | 8 |
Pick your rows
A tree looks best with alternating light and dark rows, with green near the edges.
| Row type | Good choices |
|---|---|
| Light cheese | White cheddar cubes, Manchego, mini mozzarella, havarti |
| Orange or gold cheese | Aged cheddar, aged gouda, Wensleydale with cranberries |
| Meat | Folded Genoa salami, soppressata, pepperoni, rolled prosciutto |
| Green | Green grapes, Castelvetrano olives, cucumber slices, cornichons, pistachios |
| Ornaments | Cherry tomatoes, pomegranate seeds, raspberries, mini mozzarella balls |
How to build the tree, step by step
- Mark the triangle. Lay two long rosemary sprigs from the top center of the board down to each bottom corner, leaving room at the bottom for the trunk. Everything goes inside these lines.
- Bottom row first. Start with the widest row, just above the trunk, so the tree sits straight. Use cheese cubes or folded salami.
- Work upward. Add one row at a time, each a little shorter: cheese, then meat, then grapes, then a second cheese, then olives. Keep each row snug against the one below.
- Garland. Lay rosemary sprigs or a thin line of pomegranate seeds in a zigzag across the tree, from one edge to the other and back.
- Ornaments. Tuck cherry tomatoes, raspberries and mini mozzarella balls into the rows, spaced like ornaments.
- The star. Cut a star from a slice of yellow cheddar or gouda with a 2 to 3 inch cookie cutter and set it at the top point.
- The trunk. Lay 4 or 5 pretzel rods side by side under the bottom row, or use a short block of cheddar.
- Presents and crackers. Put the crackers on a plate beside the tree. Small cheese cubes stacked at the base look like wrapped gifts.
Christmas tree veggie tray
This is the lighter version, and it's often the first thing gone at a holiday party because it's the one thing on the table that isn't rich.
- Tree: broccoli florets packed tightly in a triangle, stems down.
- Ornaments: cherry tomatoes, mini mozzarella balls and pieces of yellow and orange pepper.
- Garland: a zigzag of thin red pepper strips or a line of pomegranate seeds.
- Star: a star cut from a yellow bell pepper.
- Trunk: celery or carrot sticks.
- Snow: cauliflower florets around the base.
- Dip: a bowl of ranch, hummus or spinach dip at the bottom like a tree skirt.
Plan about 1 cup of cut vegetables and 2 tablespoons of dip per guest before a meal: about 2 large heads of broccoli for 12. Blanch the broccoli for 1 minute and plunge it into ice water if you want it greener and a little softer.
Greenery to keep off the board
Use only edible herbs on the food: rosemary, thyme and sage. Keep holly and mistletoe off the board, because their berries are poisonous. Pine and cedar can decorate the table around the board, but not touch the food.
Make-ahead timing
- The day before: cube the cheese, cut the star, fold the salami, wash the grapes and cut the vegetables. Store each in its own sealed container. Keep the cut broccoli wrapped in a damp paper towel.
- 1 hour before: take out the aged cheese (45 to 60 minutes out of the fridge is best).
- 30 minutes before: take out the meat and build the rows.
- Once it's out: serve within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F.
See the make-ahead guide for more.
What it costs
With grocery-store cheese, salami and fruit, the charcuterie tree costs about $4.50 to $7 per guest before a meal. The veggie tray tree costs about half that. For the cheapest version, buy pre-cubed cheese and bagged broccoli florets.
FAQ
How do you make a Christmas tree charcuterie board?
On a long rectangular board, build a triangle from the top down in rows that get wider: a cheese star at the top, then rows of cheese cubes, folded salami, green grapes and olives. Lay a zigzag of rosemary sprigs across the rows as garland, dot cherry tomatoes and pomegranate seeds as ornaments, and finish with a trunk of pretzel rods or a block of cheese.
How much food do you need for a Christmas tree board?
Before a holiday meal, plan 2 oz each of meat and cheese per guest: 1 lb of each for 8 guests, 1½ lb for 12 and about 2¾ lb for 20. If the tree is the main party food, plan 3 oz each per guest.
How do you make a Christmas tree veggie tray?
Lay broccoli florets in a triangle on a long platter as the tree, add cherry tomatoes and pepper pieces as ornaments, a zigzag of red or yellow pepper strips as garland, a yellow pepper star on top and celery or carrot sticks for the trunk. Scatter cauliflower around the base as snow and put a bowl of dip at the bottom.
What do you use for the star on a Christmas tree board?
Cut a star from a slice of yellow cheddar or gouda with a 2 to 3 inch cookie cutter, or cut one from a yellow bell pepper. A star-shaped cracker or a star cut from a slice of melon also works.
How far ahead can you make a Christmas tree charcuterie board?
Cube the cheese, cut the star, fold the meat and wash the fruit and vegetables the day before. Build the tree about 30 minutes before guests arrive and serve it within 2 hours.
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