How To Make A Christmas CharcuterTREE Board
by Tracy Shaw
Wow family and friends this holiday season with this Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board. Filled with all your favorite eats and treats, this is a must-make this Christmas. This partnership with CMI Orchards has donated 2,500 meals to those in need. While the post is sponsored by CMI Orchards, our love for giving back to the community and a fun charcuterie board is our own!
The holiday season has arrived and that means it’s time to bring out all of our favorite seasonal treats for parties, family gatherings, and celebrations of the season. The Christmas Charcutertree board is a delicious way to feed your guests and celebrate the season!
A charcuterie board is simply an appetizer platter that is typically arranged and served on a large wooden board or stone slab. Foods served on a charcuterie board include fruits, nuts, and a selection of cheeses, and meats that go well together. In this instance, the foods you serve will be arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree in honor of the holiday season. I used a Christmas Tree shaped board to make it a little easier 😉
Apples are a great choice for your charcuterie board because they are refreshing, sweet, and crispy. They are also delicious and good for you! Even though it’s the holidays you want to balance out your meals so that you stay healthy enough to enjoy the season.
I used four different types of apples on our holiday charcuterie board, all with different flavor profiles and recommended pairings. Which I will share with you because it will make building your charcuterie board a breeze!
Pairing ingredients on a charcuterie board involves considering the complementary flavors, textures, and visual appeal of each element.
Some things to consider when making your holiday charcuterie board:
- Aim for a variety of flavors, including sweet, savory, salty, and tangy.
- Include a mix of textures for a more fun eating experience.
- Create clusters of cheeses, meats, fruits, and nuts rather than scattering them randomly.
- Use contrasting colors to enhance the overall aesthetic.
- Designate specific zones on the board for different types of ingredients.
- Incorporate seasonal ingredients for a festive touch. That’s why I added the pomegranate seeds and the rosemary…they added to the holiday vibe.
Alright, let’s build our board shall we? Have all your ingredients and the below pairing recommendations and group the pairing in one section at a time. Then you’ll fill in any gaps with other fun snacks and pops of color! Like, I used green olives and pickles for a pop of green. Strawberries for an extra pop of red. Perfect colors for the season 🙂
Ambrosia Gold Apples
The Ambrosia Gold apple is sweet as honey and pretty as sunshine, and it has a honeyed naturally sweet flavor. It also boasts a crisp and juicy texture that your guests will love. Since it pairs beautifully with brie, I placed it on the top of the board since brie is the “star” of the tree.
Ambrosia Apples Pairing Recommendations
- Honeycomb
- Brie
- Honey-roasted almonds
Envy Apples
Another perfect choice for your holiday charcuterie board are the beautiful Envy apples. The Envy apples have a sweet sophisticated flavor and a crunchy white flesh that you are going to love. Plus, they pair perfectly with all your favorite snack board ingredients!
Envy Apple Pairing Recommendations
- Chocolate
- Nuts
- Mild cheeses
- Prosciutto
Kanzi Apples
The foodie choice! Experience an intense sweet and tangy flavor that pairs perfectly with cheese, hard meats and crackers. The Kanzi apples are a European favorite that are increasing in popularity in the US due to their intriguing flavor and crisp crunch. Pair the Kanzi apple on your charcutertree board with sharp cheddar cheese, hard meats like salami, and goat cheese.
Kanzi Apple Pairing Recommendations
- Sharp cheddar cheese
- Hard meats like salami or pepperoni
- Goat cheese
Sugar Bee Apples
Sugar Bee apples are brought to us courtesy of honeybees who combined the pollen from an unknown with a honey crisp apple, and you’ll be glad they did! I actually got to be there for the Perfect Pick event this year and it was an absolutely incredible experience. Learn more about our trip out to the The Sugar Bee Perfect Pick Event. The Sugar Bee apple is sweeter and crisper than a honeycrisp apple. The flavor of this apple is sweet and juicy with notes of caramel, honey, and molasses.
Sugar Bee Apple Pairing Recommendations
- Smoked gouda cheese
- Dried cherries or apricots
Your friends and family will love this beautiful and delicious charcutertree board at your Christmas parties and holiday gatherings. The differences in the apple flavors, what they are paired with, and how it makes them taste is truly amazing. The food pairings really bring out the best in flavor and texture from each apple variety on the board.
Don’t let making a charcuterie board overwhelm you this holiday season. They are easy to put together and such an elegant appetizer that your guests are sure to love.
Ultimately, the goal is to create a visually appealing and well-balanced assortment that caters to various to all your guests.
Need more tips on how to build a charcuterie board? Grab our eBook on How To Build The Perfect Charcuterie Board.
