Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
Impress your guests with this easy and festive Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board. Using slices of wedge-shaped cheeses and fresh sprigs of herbs, you can create an adorable and edible Christmas tree that is decorated with fresh and dried fruits, nuts, and ribbons of prosciutto.
Servings: 10 people
Ingredients
- 2- 4 ounces wedges of hard to semi firm cheeses (gouda, cheddar, manchego)
- 4 ounces dill or plain havarti , or other semi soft cheese cut into small 3/4-inch cubes
- 8 ounces container marinated or plain fresh mozzarella balls (cilienge or pearl size)
- 4 ounces prosciutto
- 4 ounces dried fruits (apricots, cherries, figs)
- 16 ounces fresh grapes , cut into small clusters
- 8 ounces berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, pomegranate seeds)
- 4 ounces nuts (pecans, almonds, pistachios, pumpkin seeds)
- 4 ounces fresh herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme)
- 6-10 pretzel sticks
- Assorted crackers , pretzels, jams, mustards and condiments for serving
Instructions
- For visual help building your tree, there's step by step photos included in the article.To prepare the ingredients: Cut the cheese wedges into thin triangles. Drain the mozzarella balls on some paper towels. Wash and dry the grape clusters and fresh berries.
- Prepare a 12”x18” rectangular board or platter. Using a piece of parchment paper, cut out a tall triangle that fits within your cutting board or platter and place it on the platter to help you form your tree. (You can use small pieces of rolled tape underneath to help hold it in place.)
- Start by using the triangle slices of cheese, outline the outermost edges of some rows of your tree (in 3-4 places per side of the triangle), overlapping the edges of the parchment paper triangle just slightly, making sure the points are facing out and following the shape of your tree.
- Next, take the clusters of grapes, and add them to the board, evenly spacing them around within the triangle. Do the same with small piles of the cubed cheese and mozzarella balls. Making sure to space them around evenly, and keeping in mind color blocking - you don't want to pile two items of similar color together on the board.
- To make a prosciutto garland, fold your slices of prosciutto in half long ways (like a hotdog bun), then gently fold the meat back and forth on itself, creating a small ribbon. Stack these ribbons together, zigzagging it across the tree shape in an “S” shape.
- Continue to fill in the center of the tree using small “piles” of the rest of the fruits and nuts, creating color blocks, making sure to keep the points of the triangular cheese slices peaking out.
- Tuck in small sprigs of the fresh herbs around the board to help reinforce the rustic tree shape. You can also cut a piece of cheese, meat or fruit to look like a star to top your tree. Pretzel sticks, breadsticks, or rectangular crackers make a great trunk for the bottom of your tree.
- Serve this charcuterie board with small bowls of honey, jams, or mustards and extra crackers.
Nutrition
Calories: 347kcal | Carbohydrates: 23g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 45mg | Sodium: 330mg | Potassium: 358mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 1188IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 318mg | Iron: 2mg