How to Make the Perfect Holiday Charcuterie Board

Create the perfectly crafted charcuterie board for this holiday season that is pleasing to the eyes and the tastebuds!

Over the last several years, my family has made it a tradition to do a charcuterie board on Christmas Eve instead of a big Christmas dinner. We are one of those families that opens gifts together on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas morning (we’ve done this for as long as I can remember), and having food that we can pick away at in-between gifts has been something we’ve really started to enjoy rather than spending all the time and effort on a big Christmas dinner (that does still happen on Christmas Day, however).

And I’m sure there’s 100 different ways to make a charcuterie board, so I’m by no means saying this is the only way, but this is how I like to think through creating a holiday charcuterie board that is beautiful to the eye and satisfying to the taste buds. If I’ve missed anything, let me know below in the comments!

Components of the Perfect Holiday Charcuterie Board

1. Cream cheese spreads or baked cheese

Nobody likes a dry, boring cracker. And when I think of the holidays, I think about foods that are cozy, rich, and decadent. Foods that feel extra special and delicious. So one of the first things I always like the think about when building a charcuterie board is a good spread or something gooey that can be smeared onto a cracker or baguette - like cream cheese spreads or baked brie.

Cream cheese spreads are an easy and versatile way of taking your charcuterie board to the next level, visually and flavour-wise. Now you can of course buy the store-made cream cheese rounds/logs and just place those right on the board, or you can make a slightly more visually appealing display with a cream cheese “schmear”. Here are the simple steps below:

1. Spread plain or a semi-neutral flavoured cream cheese onto the board using the back of a large spoon, overlapping each spoonful to create whatever shape you like (I just kept it simple and went for a circular shape).

2. Top with flavour additions like salmon, capers, red onions, and chives or crushed pistachios, honey, and cranberries. Think about different colours that will pop against the white of the cream cheese. You can go sweet or savoury with your additions! I like to have one of either to have some variety.

If you’re wanting something a little more decadent, baked brie or baked camembert are another fantastic option. It brings a warm component to the charcuterie board, kind of like a fondue, that your guests are sure to love.

Here are some of my favourite baked cheese recipes:

2. Hard cheeses

In addition to the spreadable cheeses above, I love to include some cubes/slices of hard cheeses. So we’re talking,

• Gouda

• Cheddars

• Gruyère

• Havarti

• Crumbled blue cheese

• Pecorino (paired with a drizzle of honey… TO DIE FOR)

• (unbaked) Brie or Camembert

3. Meats & Cold Cuts

Some of my absolutely favourite meats to include on a charcuterie board are:

• salami roses (see photos below and above for reference) - these are SO fun and add a creative visual component to your board.

• prosciutto crudo - pair this with a cracker, brie cheese, and a little dash of fig jam… DELISH

• bresaola - thinly sliced dried, salted beef from Northern Italy. My husband’s parents have a place (it’s also an Airbnb!) just outside Chiavenna, Italy, and you can find bresaola in every single restaurant in the town. Every time we visit, it’s one of the first things we enjoy as we settle in. If you haven’t tried it, I HIGHLY recommend!

• garlic sausage or other sliced sausage - great on it’s own or paired with a slice of cheese

4. Olives, fruit slices/berries, nuts, etc.

These add the little burst of flavour and texture to break up the rich bites of meat and cheese. Some ideas to include are:

• Marinated or stuffed olives, artichokes, onions, etc.

• Goat cheese stuffed cherry peppers

• Pickled veg like onions, carrots, green beans, etc.

• Fruits like blackberries, grapes, sliced apples/pears, fresh figs, or mandarin orange segments

• Mixed roasted nuts like cashews, walnuts, pistachios, almonds, etc. I actually like to have unsalted nuts since the meats and cheese often are fairly salty to begin with and I find it balances the palate well.

5. Crackers and baguettes

You need a vehicle for all the meats and cheeses. I love to have at least 2 different types, whether it’s a cracker and freshly sliced baguette, or just two different types of crackers. Keep the box nearby when serving in case you need to refill the board as people are eating.

6. Jams and jellies for a sweet little touch

I often love to include a small spoonful of a jam or jelly on top of a salty cheese to balance the flavours. Some great ones to consider are:

• Fig jam (one of my favourites!)

• Red pepper jelly or jalapeño jelly

• Crabapple jam/jelly - can bring a slightly sour note

• Apricot jam

7. Pops of colour with extra fruit, cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs, etc.

IF you still have space on your board at this point and find it could use something a little extra visually, filling in any gaps with pops of colour can really bring a board to life. Some suggestions would be:

• Cherry tomatoes (on the vine is beautiful)

• Extra fruit like berries, green apples, grapes, pomegranate (sliced in half or quarters), mandarin orange slices, etc.

• Fresh herbs like rosemary or oregano (not to mention this brings an aromatic element to this whole presentation)

Hopefully this inspires you to have fun with creating your holiday charcuterie board this year! And if this is something you already do, what did I miss?? Let me know in the comments below!

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