How to Create the Ultimate Santa Charcuterie Board for Christmas

If you’re on the hunt for a truly special centrepiece that will have everyone talking this Christmas, look no further. We have the perfect suggestion: a Santa Charcuterie Board! This delightful creation is so much more than a simple appetiser; it’s a piece of edible art that perfectly captures the festive spirit. It brings together all the sweet, savoury, and salty elements you’d expect from a classic charcuterie board but arranges them into the jolly shape of Father Christmas. In this guide, we’ll take you through the entire process, from selecting the finest ingredients to arranging them into a cheerful, edible masterpiece that’s remarkably easy to put together.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• A True Festive Centrepiece: This board is edible entertainment at its best. It’s guaranteed to be a conversation starter at any Christmas get-together, bringing a huge helping of festive joy to your spread.
• Incredibly Easy to Make: Although it looks impressive, you don’t need any professional food styling skills. We break the process down into simple, clear steps that are easy for anyone to follow. It’s all about clever ingredient placement!
• Wonderfully Versatile: Feel free to switch out ingredients to match your personal taste, budget, or dietary needs. From gluten-free crackers to dairy-free cheeses, this board can be easily adapted.
• Enjoyment for Everyone: Both children and adults will be absolutely charmed by this imaginative display. It’s also a brilliant way to encourage little ones to try new foods.
• Completely No-Cook: Say goodbye to hours spent in a hot kitchen. This is one of the simplest christmas appetizers easy to prepare because it focuses entirely on assembly, freeing up your valuable time during the hectic holiday period.

Ingredients

• Fresh Raspberries or Strawberries
• Brie or Camembert
• Mozzarella Pearls
• Crumbled Goat Cheese or Feta
• Black Olives
• Cherry Tomato
• Assorted Crackers
• Mixed Nuts
• Pomegranate Arils
• Fresh Rosemary or Thyme

Choosing Your Board and Tools

Before we begin assembling our cheerful St. Nicholas, let’s discuss the foundation. The right platter can truly elevate your creation. For a santa board, we strongly suggest using a large, round wooden or slate board. Its circular form is ideal for creating a face. However, if you don’t have a round one, a sizeable rectangular board will work just as well—it simply gives you more room around the edges to fill with extra treats!

You don’t need much specialist equipment, but having these items to hand will certainly make the process go more smoothly:

• A large round or rectangular serving board (at least 14 inches in diameter).
• Small bowls or ramekins for any dips, olives, or smaller items.
• Cheese knives for serving.
• A small, sharp knife for any trimming you might need to do.

Building Your Santa Charcuterie Board: A Step-by-Step Guide

Now we get to the really enjoyable part! Putting your Santa together is a wonderfully creative activity, so please feel free to make it uniquely yours. We’ll show you how to achieve the classic look, but we encourage you to experiment with your own favourite ingredients. Our top tip is to start at the top with the hat and work your way down.

Step 1: Crafting Santa’s Iconic Hat

Santa’s bright red hat is his most famous feature, so it’s the perfect place to begin. Our aim is to form a triangular shape at the top of the platter.

1. Form the Red Part of the Hat: Start by folding slices of salami into quarters to create little “salami roses”, or you can simply layer them in a fanned-out pattern. Arrange these, alongside the raspberries or strawberries, to build a large, slightly floppy triangle at the top of the board. The contrast in textures between the cured meat and fresh fruit adds great visual appeal and a delicious flavour balance.
2. Create the Fluffy Trim: Use a neat line of mozzarella pearls to form the soft white trim at the bottom of the hat. You could also mix in some crumbled goat’s cheese here for a varied texture.
3. Add the Pom-Pom: Make a small mound of mozzarella pearls or use a little ramekin filled with a white dip (like whipped feta) to form the pom-pom on the hat’s tip.

Step 2: Placing Santa’s Face

Santa’s face is the heart of your christmas charcuterie board. Position the wheel of Brie or Camembert so it sits just below the hat’s white trim. This round, creamy cheese serves as the perfect base for his facial features and its mild flavour complements the other board components beautifully.

Step 3: Creating the Magnificent White Beard

Santa’s beard should be magnificent, white, and full! This is where your creativity can truly shine.

1. Shape the Beard: Begin arranging the rest of your mozzarella pearls and crumbled goat’s cheese underneath and around the sides of the Brie. Fashion a generous, flowing beard shape that covers the lower half of your board.
2. Build Up the Texture: Don’t worry about making it too neat—a great beard has a bit of a wild, abundant look! Feel free to mix in other white items, such as small cauliflower florets or thin slices of white cheddar, to give it more depth.

Step 4: Adding the Final Festive Features

Now it’s time to add the finishing touches that bring him to life! These little details make all the difference.

• Eyes: For his eyes, place two black olives onto the Brie.
• Nose: Use the cherry tomato or a small, round piece of red pepper for his nose, positioning it in the centre of the Brie just below the eyes.
• Mouth (Optional): To give him a cheerful smile, you can shape a thin piece of prosciutto or red pepper into a gentle curve and place it under his nose.

Step 5: Filling in the Gaps

Your Santa should now be fully formed. The last step is to artfully fill any remaining gaps on the board to give it a look of festive abundance. Arrange clusters of crackers, small handfuls of nuts, and fresh sprigs of rosemary around the edges of your Santa. A final sprinkle of pomegranate arils over his beard and hat adds a lovely, jewel-like sparkle. This not only looks wonderful but also ensures your guests have plenty of tasty accompaniments to enjoy.

Tips for the Perfect Santa Board

Keen to elevate your board from wonderful to truly unforgettable? Here are some of our favourite tips.

• Create a Balance of Tastes and Textures: A fantastic charcuterie board offers a little bit of everything. We’ve included savoury salami, creamy cheese, fresh fruit, and crunchy nuts. Consider adding a sweet touch, like a small pot of fig jam or a piece of honeycomb.
• Get a Head Start: You can wash and slice your fruit and vegetables a day beforehand. To save even more time on the day, you can arrange non-perishable items like crackers and nuts on the board first, adding the meats and cheeses just before you’re ready to serve.
• Consider Your Menu: While this board makes a brilliant starter, if you are planning a larger meal, you could follow it with a popular main course like our Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Although you want the board to look plentiful, make sure your guests can easily pick up items without causing a delicious avalanche. Keep an eye on it and replenish items as they disappear.

Customising Your Christmas Charcuterie Board

The wonderful thing about a charcuterie board is its sheer versatility. It’s easy to adapt this Santa design to suit any preference or diet.

• For a Sweet Version: Replace the savoury ingredients with sweet treats. Use red sweets like gummy bears for the hat, marshmallows for the beard, and a round biscuit for the face.
• For a Veggie or Vegan Board: Leave out the meat and use extra red fruits, sliced red peppers, or sun-dried tomatoes to make the hat. There is a fantastic range of vegan cheeses available now that would be perfect for the face and beard.
• For a Gluten-Free Option: Simply serve a selection of gluten-free crackers, rice cakes, and vegetable sticks like cucumber and carrot for dipping and scooping.

This festive platter is one of our all-time favourite holiday concepts. For more quick and tasty meals perfect for a busy weeknight, why not have a look at our Sticky Chicken Rice Bowls.

FAQ

Conclusion

Putting together a Santa Charcuterie Board isn’t just about making an appetiser; it’s about creating a truly joyful moment for your family and friends. It’s a simple, stress-free, and wonderfully fun method for adding a personal touch to your holiday festivities. With its charming appearance and delicious mix of flavours, this board is certain to be the star of your festive table.

So, why not gather your favourite festive nibbles, put on some Christmas tunes, and let your culinary creativity shine? We would absolutely love to see your incredible creations!

Have you tried making a Santa board? What are your must-have ingredients? Please share your tips and photos with us in the comments section below!

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Prep & Assembly: 30 mins
Cook Time: 0 mins
Serves: 8-10

Ingredients

• Salami, sliced (for the hat)
• 1 cup Fresh Raspberries or Strawberries
• 1 (8 oz) wheel of Brie or Camembert (for the face)
• 1 cup Mozzarella Pearls (for hat trim and beard)
• 1/2 cup Crumbled Goat Cheese or Feta
• 2 Black Olives (for the eyes)
• 1 Cherry Tomato (for the nose)
• Assorted Crackers, for serving
• Mixed Nuts, for filling gaps
• Pomegranate Arils, for garnish
• Fresh Rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

1. Create the Hat: On a large round board, form a triangle at the top using folded salami slices and raspberries. Create a trim at the base of the hat and a pom-pom at the tip using mozzarella pearls.
2. Position the Face: Place the wheel of Brie just below the hat’s trim to serve as Santa’s face.
3. Build the Beard: Arrange the remaining mozzarella pearls and crumbled goat cheese below and around the Brie to form a full, flowing beard that covers the lower half of the board.
4. Add Facial Features: Carefully place two black olives on the Brie for the eyes and a cherry tomato in the center for the nose.
5. Fill and Garnish: Fill any empty space around your Santa with assorted crackers and mixed nuts. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and a sprinkle of pomegranate arils over the hat and beard for a festive sparkle. Serve immediately.

Nutrition (per serving): Nutrition will vary depending on the specific ingredients and quantities used.