Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe

If you’re looking for a fun, festive way to wow your guests this holiday season, you’re going to absolutely adore this Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe. I first made it for a family gathering, and honestly, my crew couldn’t stop talking about how charming and delicious it was. The way the brie turns into Santa’s face with crafty details from olives and bell peppers just brings smiles all around. Plus, it’s a total breeze to put together, so let’s dive in—I promise you’ll have a party centerpiece that’s as tasty as it is adorable.

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Ingredients You’ll Need

For this Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe, I chose flavors and textures that balance beautifully—creamy brie and mozzarella, salty salami, sweet apricots and grapes, plus crunchy nuts and crackers. If you’re shopping, try to pick fresh, quality ingredients so the charm and flavor really shine.

• Salami: Choose a good quality, thinly sliced salami for those perfect ‘curls’ on Santa’s hat.
• Halloumi cheese: This firm cheese is great for cutting snowflake shapes; it holds its texture well.
• Mozzarella balls: Their mildness and soft texture balance the saltier components.
• Brie cheese: Soft and creamy, brie makes an excellent canvas for Santa’s face.
• Mixed Nuts: Go with whatever you love or have on hand—almonds, pecans, or walnuts all work great.
• Green olives: Whether classic or stuffed, they add a savory punch — candied jalapeños are fun for a spicy kick.
• Crackers: A mix of textures and shapes keeps things interesting; I like to have a few types on hand.
• Apricots (dried or fresh): Their sweetness pairs perfectly with salty meats and cheeses.
• Grapes: Choose red, green, or both for color contrast and juicy bursts.
• Red bell pepper: Just a small sliver adds color and makes great facial features for Santa.
• Black olive: Just one for detail on the eyes.
• Fresh herbs: I use rosemary or thyme to add a festive aroma and fresh green touch.

Variations

This Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe is as adaptable as it is joyful. I love mixing up the nuts or swapping out fruit based on the season or what I have on hand. Don’t hesitate to make it your own—it’s meant to bring joy, and a little personalization only adds to the fun.

• Vegetarian Version: Skip the salami and include more cheeses, nuts, and roasted veggies for a hearty board your veggie friends will adore.
• Seasonal Fruits: In winter, try cranberries or pomegranate seeds; summer calls for fresh berries or stone fruits.
• Spicy Kick: Add candied jalapeños or a drizzle of spicy honey for extra zest—I discovered this gives a perfect balance to the creamy cheeses.
• Nut-Free Option: Simply omit nuts or replace them with crunchy seed blends to keep texture and flavor.

How to Make Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe

Step 1: Create Santa’s Snowflakes and Cut the Halloumi

Using a medium-sized snowflake cookie cutter, I love cutting out a few adorable snowflakes from the halloumi cheese—it adds a playful winter vibe on the board. The rest of the halloumi can be cubed and scattered around to fill in space and add texture. Tip: Make sure your halloumi is slightly chilled before cutting for clean shapes.

Step 2: Craft Santa’s Face with Brie and Veggies

Remove the brie from its package and slice off about the top third of the circumference—that becomes Santa’s face. I cut out tiny triangles from this slice to form his mustache, which adds such an authentic detail. Then, arrange the brie on your board covered with a napkin (keeps it tidy and pretty). Use olive halves for eyes and a bell pepper sliver for the mouth, then take a strip of brie to create the iconic Santa cap.

Step 3: Arrange Salami to Shape the Hat

Cut your salami slices in half for flexible shaping. Lay them in whimsical curls to mimic Santa’s hat brim and body, letting slices lean on each other for a lively, almost three-dimensional effect—a trick I picked up that really brings this board to life. Don’t forget to place the halloumi snowflake at the tip of the hat as the pom-pom!

Step 4: Fill in the Board with Crackers, Fruits, Nuts, and Herbs

Put your crackers in the corners for easy grabbing, then tuck in little bowls or piles of olives, apricots, and other dippers in opposite corners. Scatter nuts and fresh herbs like rosemary to add color and aroma, along with grape clusters and mozzarella balls to fill any empty spots. The idea is to make the board look lush and inviting with minimal white space.

Step 5: Serve Immediately and Enjoy

This board is best served immediately to keep cheese fresh and crackers crisp. It’s a visual treat and tastes even better when everyone digs in together.

How to Serve Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe

Garnishes

I love to finish off this Santa Cheese Board with some fresh rosemary sprigs and a few bright cranberries or pomegranate seeds in winter for that festive jewel effect. Sometimes a sprinkle of edible glitter or a dusting of powdered sugar on the ‘snowflakes’ takes the presentation from cute to magical—your guests will be enchanted.

Side Dishes

While the board is a stellar snack on its own, I often pair it with a crisp green salad tossed with balsamic vinaigrette or some crusty French bread to round out the meal. A glass of light red wine or sparkling cider really complements the flavors too.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I try serving the Santa Cheese Board on wooden slabs or festive trays lined with holiday-themed napkins. Adding tiny fairy lights around the board or placing it atop a bed of pine branches amps up the festive vibe. Last year, I wrapped mini candy canes around some cracker bundles—such a simple touch that guests adored!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you happen to have leftovers (lucky you!), wrap the cheeses tightly in parchment paper or plastic wrap and store in an airtight container in the fridge. Keep crackers separate in a dry container to prevent sogginess. Salami keeps well for a few days refrigerated, but fresh fruits are best eaten quickly.

Freezing

Honestly, I don’t recommend freezing this board assembled because fresh fruits and crackers don’t freeze well without losing texture. However, you can freeze salami slices and halloumi cubes separately if you want to prep ingredients in advance.

Reheating

This is a cold board so reheating isn’t necessary. If you want warm cheese, you might try melting a little brie separately and serving it on the side as a dip—just a fun twist I tried once that went over really well!

FAQs

Final Thoughts

You know, this Santa Cheese Board with Charcuterie and Fruits Recipe has become my go-to way to bring holiday cheer with a bit of whimsy and a lot of flavor. It’s always a hit, whether it’s a casual family night or an elegant party. I hope you have as much fun assembling it as we do eating it—that’s the best kind of holiday tradition, isn’t it? So go ahead, gather your ingredients, put on some festive tunes, and get creative with this cheerful crowd-pleaser. I can’t wait to hear how your board turns out!

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