How to Make a 3D Christmas Charcuterie Tree Cone in 40 minutes

Get ready to sleigh your holiday hosting game after we show you how to make a Christmas Charcuterie Tree cone in just 40 minutes! This fun and festive appetizer makes a dazzling centerpiece that is guaranteed to impress your guests. With a few tooth picks and your favorite meats and cheeses, you can put this charcuterTREE together in no time.

In the season of Christmas cookies and other sweet treats, it's nice to balance out the sugar with a touch of savory every now and then. This fun christmas cheese board is made with the perfect combination of cubed cheese, cured meats, olives, and mozzarella balls for a variety of savory flavors.

Now don't get me wrong, I love these Christmas wreath cookies and these frosted ginger cookies, but an easy Christmas charcuterie board hits the spot before the sweet tooth kicks in! Wash everything down with a holiday cranberry mocktail for the ultimate christmas meal.

Whether you need a simple appetizer for your next holiday party or you're setting up for a cozy date night, this festive christmas charcuterie board is the recipe for you. Easy enough to put together with ease, but impressive enough for any Christmas party. 

Why you'll love this recipe

• With its interactive fun, guests can pick and choose their favorite bites.
• You can customize the ingredients with your favorite meats, cheeses, fruits, and more.
• Although this cheese tree is a show stopper, it's surprisingly easy to put together, perfect for holiday parties.
• You can get the kids involved in the assembly process.
• Although this appetizer is delicious, it doubles as an eye catching centerpiece.

The ingredients

• Cheese - A combination of cubed cheese and mozzarella balls adds depth as well as a variety of flavors and textures. Use whatever type of cheese cubes you like.
• Cured meats - I like to use salami and pepperoni because the pieces are normally larger and they have a darker, more emphasized color.
• Olives - Using both green and black olives adds a touch of color.
• Cranberries - A fun and fresh burst of flavor.
• Fresh mint leaves - Adds a visually appealing and fragrant touch.

How to make a Charcuterie Christmas Tree

Step 1: Cheese

Starting at the the top, pierce the cone with a toothpick and add your cubed cheese. Keep adding cheese, spiraling down the tree, until you've reached the bottom.

Step 2: Meat

Keeping the same pattern and technique in mind, fold the salami slices into 4ths and stick onto the cone.

Step 3: Olives

Repeat this process for the olives, alternating between black and green olives.

Step 4: Final touches

Fill in the gaps with fresh cranberries and mint leaves.

Pro tip: The top of the tree is going to fill in quicker than the bottom, so you'll need to choose something to add even after the top is full.

Can I make this charcuterTREE ahead of time?

Yes you can make this charcuterie tree ahead of time. Make 4-5 hours in advance, wrap in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge until you're ready to serve. Do note that letting the tree sit at room temperature before serving yields is best for serving as the cheese has time to soften.

Variations

• Mix and match your favorite cheeses. Cheddar cheese, Colby jack, parmesan, or another soft cheese are all great options. 
• Different deli meats like prosciutto, chorizo, ham, etc. will all work. 
• If you don't have mint leaves, you can use another kind of fresh herbs. Sprigs of rosemary or basil leaves will do.
• Nuts, dried fruit, fresh fruit, or even cherry tomatoes make great additions

What goes well with a charcuterie tree?

I think it's best to serve this tree with a plate of crackers, pretzels, or pretzel sticks. Since most charcuterie boards have crackers on them themselves, your guests will want to pair the meat and cheeses with something crunchy.

You can also serve with fun drinks like this cranberry mocktail or this festive hot cocoa. If you have a sweet tooth, I recommend serving a charcuterie board with a bowl of easy Christmas popcorn or Christmas Oreo truffles.

Tips for making the best Christmas charcuterie tree

• A smaller cone with a larger base will ensure your tree doesn't fall down. With everyone picking at the tree, you want to make sure it's not going to fall over.
• Color coordinate the ingredients by placing white cheeses next to red meats, alternating green olives with black olives, etc. The more depth you can add to the board the better it will look.
• Serve your tree with small bowls of dip, jam, jelly, or honey. There's nothing better than a soft, savory cheese paired with some hot honey or jelly.
• For an extra touch, cut one of the cheeses into a star shape and stick on the top of the tree. 

Storage

Storing - Since this board doesn't have crackers, you can wrap the tree in plastic wrap and store in the fridge. It will stay good up to a day, depending on how well you've wrapped it.

Freezing - I do not recommend freezing a charcuterie tree as the taste and texture will significantly change.

More recipes you'll love 

• Themed charcuterie boards like this Thanksgiving turkey charcuterie board are perfect for the holiday season. 
• This snowman cheeseball is made with all of your favorite ingredients and makes a great appetizer 
• The best part about holiday gatherings is the sweets and this white chocolate Christmas crack does not disappoint.