Santa Charcuterie Board
This Santa Charcuterie Board is an easy appetizer with a mix of cheese, fruits, and crackers, assembled to look like Santa. I love putting it together with my kids, and it makes a perfect snack board for family gatherings, holiday brunches, or even as a centerpiece on your Christmas table.
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What I love most about this board is that it’s full of color and variety. From brie cheese and mozzarella balls to Parma ham and salami, there’s something for everyone. It’s a festive appetizer board you can serve for a crowd.
You might also want to try my Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board and Mr. Grinch Charcuterie Board for other appetizer board ideas.
How to Create a Santa Charcuterie Board
Ingredients you’ll need for this recipe
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Using a small snowflake cookie cutter, press down on the red wax of the Babybel cheese to create an imprint. Then, cut out larger snowflakes from the hard cheese.
2. For the cheese braid, untie the knot and separate it into strands. Place the cheese in a bowl and pour boiling water over it to soften. While the strands are still warm, braid them to form Santa’s hat, cut some into 5 ½ inch strips for the mustache, and roll the rest into a ball for the pom-pom.
3. Remove the white rind from the brie and place it in the center of the board. Use olive slices to create Santa’s eyes and the cheese braid to form the brim of his hat. Fold the ham in half and arrange it in a fan shape. Use cherry tomatoes to make the hat, and top it off with a pom-pom made from string cheese.
4. Shape the salami into a rose and position it on the board. Lay the remaining salami on top of the ham. To the right, line the board with cabanos. Fill the top section with green and dark grapes, and arrange the crackers around them.
5. Place Santa’s mustache and beard on the board, and add a red cherry for his nose. Complete the presentation with Babybel cheeses and nuts, and sprinkle cheese snowflakes around.
Serve and Enjoy!
Important Recipe Notes
- Pour boiling water over the cheese braid briefly to soften it, but don’t leave it too long, or it will become too soft to shape.
- For Santa’s face, use small fruits, olives, and cheese creatively for eyes, nose, and a pom-pom. You can substitute ingredients based on what you have.
- For arranging the board, start from the center and work outward. Place larger items first, then fill in gaps with smaller fruits, nuts, and crackers.
Santa Charcuterie Board
Ingredients
- Brie cheese
- 1 olive
- 1 dried cherry
- Cheese braid or string cheese
- Mini mozzarella balls
- Cherry tomatoes and strawberries
- Parma ham
- Salami
- Crackers
- Grapes
- Nuts
Instructions
- Using a small snowflake cookie cutter, press down on the red wax of the Babybel cheese to create an imprint. Then, cut out larger snowflakes from the hard cheese.
- For the cheese braid, untie the knot and separate it into strands. Place the cheese in a bowl and pour boiling water over it to soften. While the strands are still warm, braid them to form Santa's hat, cut some into 5 ½ inch strips for the mustache, and roll the rest into a ball for the pom-pom.
- Remove the white rind from the brie and place it in the center of the board. Use olive slices to create Santa's eyes and the cheese braid to form the brim of his hat. Fold the ham in half and arrange it in a fan shape. Use cherry tomatoes to make the hat and top it off with a pom-pom made from string cheese.
- Shape the salami into a rose and position it on the board. Lay the remaining salami on top of the ham. To the right, line the board with cabanos. Fill the top section with green and dark grapes, and arrange the crackers around them.
- Place Santa's mustache and beard on the board, and add a red cherry for his nose. Complete the presentation with Babybel cheeses and nuts, and sprinkle cheese snowflakes around.
Check Out More Christmas Charcuterie Board Ideas!
Festive Wreath Charcuterie Board
