Ingredients
Cheeses:
– Soft Cheeses: Brie, Camembert, or flavored goat cheese
– Firm Cheeses: Aged cheddar, Parmesan, Manchego
– Bold Cheeses: Blue cheese, Gorgonzola
Meats:
– Prosciutto
– Salami
– Pepperoni (cut into festive shapes with cookie cutters)
Fruits & Sweets:
– Fresh: Grapes, green apple slices, pomegranate seeds
– Dried: Figs, cranberries, apricots
– Holiday sweets: Chocolate truffles, peppermint bark, mini candy canes
Crackers & Bread:
– Assorted crackers
– Sliced baguette or breadsticks
Accompaniments:
– Olives and pickles
– Fig jam or honey
– Pistachios or candied pecans
– Fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs
Instructions
1. Gather all your ingredients and prepare them: slice cheeses, fan meats, wash fruits, and prep any accompaniments.
2. Choose a theme for your platter layout: wreath, candy cane, or Christmas tree.
3. For the Classic Wreath: Place a small bowl in the center of the board. Surround with cheeses, meats, fruits, and nuts, shaping into a circle. Use rosemary sprigs for the greenery effect.
4. For the Whimsical Candy Cane: On a long narrow board, outline a candy cane with crackers. Alternate red items like pepperoni or raspberries with white ones like mozzarella or white cheddar to create the striped pattern.
5. For the Festive Christmas Tree: On a rectangular board, layer crackers or greens at the base, then alternate rows of cheese, meat, and fruit, narrowing as you go to form a tree shape. Use a star-shaped cheese cutout at the top.
6. Fill in any gaps with nuts, sweets, or small herbs to complete the look.
7. Serve immediately or cover loosely and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Notes
Use a mix of textures and colors for maximum visual appeal.
Cookie cutters can be used for fun festive shapes in meats and cheeses.
Add small bowls of dips or spreads directly onto the board to vary presentation.
Prep ingredients ahead and assemble just before guests arrive for freshness.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/10 board
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 550
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Unsaturated Fat: 11
- Trans Fat: 0
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 14
- Cholesterol: 40