How to Make A Christmas Charcuterie Board
The holiday season is all about indulgence, and what better way to wow your guests than with a stunning Christmas charcuterie board (sometimes called a snack board. This is a fun twist on the traditional charcuterie. You can keep it savory or you can swap meats and cheeses for cookies, candies, chocolates, and festive treats! It’s easy to assemble, customizable, and perfect for parties, cookie exchanges, or leaving out for Santa.
You may choose a round wooden board overflowing with holiday-themed sweets like snowman cookies, star-shaped treats, peppermint candies, Ghirardelli chocolates, caramels, sprinkles, popcorn, and colorful M&Ms—all arranged in a vibrant, symmetrical display with pops of red, green, and white.
Photo by Deane Bayas
Why Make a Christmas Dessert Board?
- It’s low-effort but looks impressive—no need to bake everything from scratch!
- Mix store-bought and homemade for variety.
- Appeals to all ages with different textures, flavors, and colors.
- Fully customizable to your theme (e.g., red/green, snowmen, or candy-focused).
What You’ll Need
- A large board: Wooden round or rectangular (18-24 inches works well). Avoid one too big—you want it overflowing, not sparse.
- Small bowls or ramekins: For loose items like candies, sprinkles, or dips.
- Festive touches: Rosemary sprigs, mini candy canes, or holiday ornaments for garnish.
Photo by Amar Preciado
Step-by-Step Guide to Assembling Your Board
Start with bowls: Place 4-6 small bowls around the board for dips, sprinkles, or messy items (e.g., peppermint candies, M&Ms, caramel cubes). This creates structure.
Add larger items: Arrange bigger treats first, like stacks of Ghirardelli squares, snowman cookies, or star-shaped cookies. Group similar items together for symmetry.
Fill in with variety: Layer in cookies (gingerbread, sugar cookies, shortbread), chocolates, pretzels, and popcorn. Use height—stack or fan items for visual interest.
Add color and texture: Scatter red/green candies, sprinkles, marshmallows, and fruits (like strawberries or raspberries for freshness).
Garnish and fill gaps: Tuck in candy canes, chocolate-dipped pretzels, or fresh herbs. Keep adding until the board is full and no wood shows!
Serve immediately: Assemble right before guests arrive to keep everything fresh
Suggested Items for Your Christmas Dessert Board
Aim for a mix of flavors (chocolate, peppermint, caramel) and textures (crunchy, chewy, soft). Stick to red, green, white, and gold for that holiday vibe.
Cookies: Snowman, snowflake, star, tree, or gingerbread shapes; chocolate-dipped shortbread; sugar cookies with sprinkles.
Chocolates & Candies: Ghirardelli peppermint squares, red/green M&Ms, peppermint bark, candy canes, chocolate-covered pretzels, caramels.
Loose sweets: Mini peppermint candies, holiday sprinkles, marshmallows, colorful gummy candies.
Crunchy extras: Caramel popcorn, chocolate-dipped wafer rolls, candied nuts.
Fresh elements: Strawberries, raspberries, or apple slices for balance.
Optional dips: Chocolate sauce, caramel, or cream cheese frosting in bowls.
Make it easy: Buy most items store-bought and add a few homemade touches like decorated sugar cookies.
Tips for Success
- Theme it up: Go all-peppermint, snowman-focused, or Grinch-green for fun.
- Make ahead: Prep items days in advance (bake/freeze cookies), but assemble last-minute.
- Scale it: For a crowd, use multiple boards or a huge one.
- Pairings: Serve with hot cocoa, coffee, or mulled wine.
- This board is guaranteed to be the star of your holiday spread—festive, delicious, and effortlessly elegant. Happy holidays, and enjoy grazing! 🎄🍪
Candy and Cookie Christmas Charcuterie
Image: Pinterest
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Image: Pinterest
Chocolate Raindeer Dip
Image: Pinterest
Christmas Tree Cookies and Chocolate Dip Sweet Charcuterie
Photo: Pinterest
Photo: Pinterest
A Christmas charcuterie board is more than just a spread — it’s an easy way to bring people together and make your holiday hosting feel extra special without the stress. With a mix of festive colours, seasonal flavours, and a few thoughtful details, you can create a board that feels both impressive and effortless. Whether you go classic, sweet, savoury, or a little bit of everything, the beauty of a Christmas charcuterie board is that it’s completely custom to your style and your guests. Set it out, let everyone graze, and enjoy a holiday moment that’s as cozy as it is delicious. 🎄✨
