Want to join the ever-popular charcuterie trend with a jolly twist this holiday season? Get ready to sleigh the snack game with this festive Santa charcuterie board!
Easy, fun, and totally picture-perfect, this Santa board is the secret sauce for turning ordinary family snack time into a festive fiesta that even the pickiest eaters can’t resist.
But this visually stunning festive appetizer isn’t just for family-style holiday meals. Make it for friends, large Christmas parties, or colleagues and everyone will be amazed at your creativity!
The best part is that with my step-by-step pictures and instructions, it’ll be super easy to put together.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
The holiday season is all about creating memories and enjoying delicious food with loved ones.
The Santa charcuterie board isn’t just a snack board, it’s a centerpiece that adds a touch of Christmas cheer to your gatherings. Here’s why you’ll love it:
- Visual Appeal: The Santa-themed charcuterie board is a feast for the eyes. It captures the essence of Christmas with Santa’s face, beard, and hat, creating a festive atmosphere.
- Versatile Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients and allows you to get creative with an assortment of cheeses, fresh fruits, and sweet treats. The array of different ingredients ensures a diverse and tasty selection for everyone.
- Simple to Make: With easy-to-follow instructions, this Santa snack board is perfect for both seasoned hosts and those new to holiday entertaining. It’s a fun and engaging activity for the whole family.
- Customizable: You can tailor the board to suit your preferences and dietary needs. Whether you’re a fan of savory or sweet, there’s room for customization to make it your own. And don’t forget to choose the right dip for your charcuterie board!
Tips and Tricks
Creating perfect charcuterie boards requires a bit of finesse. Here are some tips and tricks to ensure your holiday masterpiece turns out just right:
- Room Temperature Ingredients: To enhance the flavors, allow cheeses and meats to reach room temperature before assembling the board.
- Cutting Board and Cookie Cutters: Use a round cutting board for the best Santa face display. Get creative with cookie cutters to shape cheese or other ingredients into festive shapes like stars or Christmas trees.
- Fresh and Quality Ingredients: Opt for fresh fruits, quality cheeses, and a variety of nuts to enhance the overall taste and aesthetic of your Christmas charcuterie board.
- Prep in Advance: Prepare some elements of the board in advance to save time on the day of your gathering. Slice fruits, arrange cheeses, and store them separately until you’re ready to assemble.
Ingredients Needed for Santa Charcuterie Board
Gather the following ingredients to bring your holiday spread to life:
- 1 circle any type of round cheese (round brie cheese would work too)
- 6-7 pieces cheese pigtail (or make thin stripes from mozzarella string cheese)
- 1 cup mozzarella balls
- 1 cup blueberries
- 8-10 slices of cured meat (ham, beef, turkey, or pepperoni slice)
- 1-2 cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup honey (or your favorite charcuterie dip)
- 1 cup olives with chili (or large black olives)
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup dates (optional)
- 1/4 cups almonds
- 1/4 cups pistachios
- 1 tbsp sliced black olives
- 1 cup grapes
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Step-by-Step Instructions with Pictures
1. Cut a little from the bottom of the cheese circle to create a semicircle, forming Santa’s face. Place it on a clean round wooden board or bamboo board with the cut corner down. I used a large woven placemat.
2. Add mozzarella balls to the bottom of the circle cheese to create Santa’s beard. Use pigtail cheese for the mustache and hair.
3. Place a halved cherry tomato in the center of the pigtail cheese to serve as Santa’s nose.
4. And halved slices of black olives will be Santa’s eyes.
5. Line up strawberries on top of Santa’s head to form his hat. Cut a small circle of cheese to serve as the ball of Santa’s hat.
6. Place a small bowl with honey for dipping next to Santa’s face.
7. Here’s where you can get creative with your design and arrange the rest of the ingredients in the way you see fit. Involve your kids to make this a family-friendly activity and let them go wild with their arrangement.
8. Arrange blueberries around the hat and the top of the face to give a good contrast to Santa hat. Grapes can go to the left side of Santa.
10. Then make a row of chili olives at the very top of the board.
11. Create a ham rose and place it at the bottom of the board. Arrange the remaining slices of meat next to it.
12. Add nuts and dried fruits to the remaining space on the board for additional texture and flavor.
Once your Christmas snack board is assembled, it’s ready to be served and enjoyed by your guests.
Serving Suggestions
This Santa-themed charcuterie board is perfect for various occasions during the holiday season:
- Holiday Parties: Impress your guests with this festive and delicious centerpiece at your holiday gatherings. Pair with other appetizers, such as cheese and spinach tartlets and spicy cauliflower bites.
- Work Parties: Bring some Christmas cheer to your workplace by sharing this delightful snack board with colleagues.
- Christmas Eve: Make it a part of your Christmas Eve traditions as you celebrate with family and friends.
Variations
Feel free to get creative and customize your Santa charcuterie board based on your preferences and available ingredients:
- Cheese Selection: Experiment with an assortment of your favorite cheeses to cater to different tastes.
- Substitutes: Use strips of red bell peppers or pomegranate seeds instead of strawberries, substitute mozzarella balls with marshmallows.
- Additional Elements: Include other elements like club crackers, breadsticks, or slices of your favorite bread to complement the flavors.
- Dessert Board: For a sweeter twist, add cookies, and sliced fresh fruit with classic fruit dip to satisfy those sweet cravings.
- Festive Display: Complement your super cute Santa face charcuterie board with equally festive Caprese Christmas tree salad and chocolate blossom cookies for a stunning holiday party display.
How to Store
If you happen to have leftovers from your Santa charcuterie board, follow these tips for storage:
- Refrigeration: Store any perishable items, such as cheeses and meats, in the refrigerator to maintain freshness.
- Covering: Cover the board with plastic wrap or foil to prevent drying out and to preserve the flavors.
- Room Temperature Items: Items like nuts and dried fruits can be stored at room temperature in airtight containers.
One Last Thing
Give this easy-to-assemble Santa charcuterie board recipe a try and I’m sure it’ll become your family’s favorite holiday meal. It’s not just a delightful snack but a festive work of art that adds a touch of Christmas magic to your holiday celebrations.
Whether you’re hosting a family-style gathering or bringing it to a work party, this Santa-themed charcuterie board is the perfect way to spread Christmas cheer.
May your holiday season be filled with delicious moments and beautiful boards!
Your Turn
If you make this super cute Santa charcuterie board, please take a moment to let me know how you liked it by leaving a rating and a comment below on the recipe card.
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Santa Charcuterie Board: Easy & Cute Christmas Snack Board
Ingredients
- 1 round cheese round brie cheese would work too
- 6-7 pieces cheese pigtail or make thing stripes from mozzarella string cheese
- 1 cup mozzarella balls
- 1 cup blueberries
- 8-10 slices cured meat ham, beef, turkey, or pepperoni slice
- 1-2 cherry tomatoes
- 1/4 cup honey or your favorite charcuterie dip
- 1 cup olives with chili or large black olives
- 1 cup strawberries
- 1/2 cup dates optional
- 1/4 cups almonds
- 1/4 cups pistachios
- 1 tbsp sliced black olives
- 1 cup grapes
Instructions
- Cut a little from the bottom of the cheese circle to create a semicircle, forming Santa’s face. Place it on a clean round wooden board or bamboo board with the cut corner down. I used a large woven placemat.1 round cheese
- Add mozzarella balls to the bottom of the circle cheese to create Santa’s beard. Use pigtail cheese for the mustache and hair.6-7 pieces cheese pigtail, 1 cup mozzarella balls
- Place a halved cherry tomato in the center of the pigtail cheese to serve as Santa’s nose.1-2 cherry tomatoes
- And halved slices of black olives will be Santa’s eyes.1 tbsp sliced black olives
- Line up strawberries on top of Santa’s head to form his hat. Cut a small circle of cheese to serve as the ball of Santa’s hat.1 cup strawberries
- Place a small bowl with honey for dipping next to Santa’s face.1/4 cup honey
- Arrange blueberries around the hat and the top of the face to give a good contrast to Santa hat. Grapes can go to the left side of Santa.1 cup blueberries
- Then make a row of chili olives at the very top of the board.1 cup olives with chili
- Create a ham rose and place it at the bottom of the board. Arrange the remaining slices of meat next to it.8-10 slices cured meat
- Add nuts and dried fruits to the remaining space on the board for additional texture and flavor.1/2 cup dates, 1/4 cups almonds, 1/4 cups pistachios, 1 cup grapes
- Once your Christmas snack board is assembled, it’s ready to be served and enjoyed by your guests.
Notes
Nutrition
Tamara Tsaturyan is the owner and writer of Thriving In Parenting, a website focused on providing simple tips for busy parents — easy and healthy recipes, home decor and organization ideas and all things P A R E N T I N G.
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