Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board

Name: Christmas Wreath Charcuterie Board
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 8 ounces cheddar cheese (cubed); 8 ounces pepper jack cheese (cubed); 8 ounces Colby cheese (cubed); 8 ounces fresh mozzarella balls; 1 cup cherry tomatoes (halved); 1 cup black olives (cured and pitted); 1 cup green olives (cured and pitted); 8 ounces pepperoni (sliced); 8 ounces salami (sliced); 8 ounces green and/or purple seedless grapes (about 1 ½ cups); Fresh rosemary sprigs, washed and dried, for decorating; Crackers (for serving)

4.8

/5 –

Rate Recipe 6 Comments

Jump to Recipe

By: Diana Last updated on October 2, 2026

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

This Christmas charcuterie board combines creamy cheeses, salty meats, briny olives, and juicy grapes in a festive wreath. Made with familiar grocery store ingredients, it takes about 35 minutes to prepare and assemble, with no cooking needed. Add fresh rosemary around the edges and serve with crackers for an easy Christmas party appetizer.

Christmas charcuterie board shaped like a wreath with cheese cubes, mozzarella balls, olives, grapes, cherry tomatoes and pepperoni roses on a round wooden board

My Tip for Building the Wreath

Start with the cheese! Four piles spaced around a circle give you a shape to follow, and they help hold the folded meat in place as you fill in the gaps. You don’t need to pack everything tightly or make every slice into a rose. Keep the center open and the bites easy to pick up so guests can help themselves.

A note about the greenery in the photos: The original photos show eucalyptus, which I no longer recommend using on a charcuterie board. Use fresh rosemary from the grocery store’s herb section instead. It gives the wreath a festive green border and is safe to eat.

Making boards for other holidays? Try my Valentine’s charcuterie board too.

Charcuterie Board Ingredients

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

Cheese: Cheddar, pepper jack, Colby, and fresh mozzarella give you a mix of creamy, mild, and slightly spicy bites. Cut the firm cheeses into similar bite sized cubes, and drain the mozzarella balls well. You can use Monterey Jack instead of pepper jack for a milder board, or Colby Jack instead of Colby.
Meat: Thinly sliced salami and pepperoni are easy to fold and tuck into the wreath. Choose flexible slices if you plan to make roses, since thick slices are harder to shape.
Olives: Use pitted black and green olives so guests can eat them easily. Drain them well before adding them to the board.
Tomatoes and Grapes: Cherry tomatoes add red to the wreath, while seedless grapes give you something sweet alongside the salty cheese and meat. Wash and dry both thoroughly, and cut the tomatoes in half.
Greenery: Use fresh rosemary sprigs to frame the wreath. Curly kale or green leaf lettuce also works. Wash and dry the greenery before arranging it around the food.
Crackers: Serve your favorite crackers in a separate bowl or basket. This keeps them away from the moist ingredients and leaves more room for the wreath.

How Much Does This Board Serve?

This recipe makes 8 generous appetizer servings, or enough for 8 to 10 people when served with other party food. It includes 2 pounds of cheese and 1 pound of meat, plus the olives, tomatoes, and grapes.

For 8 people, that works out to about 4 ounces of cheese and 2 ounces of meat each. These are the portions provided by this recipe, so you may not need as much if you are serving several other substantial appetizers.

For a larger gathering, double the ingredients and make two wreaths, or keep some of the ingredients refrigerated to replenish the board.

How to Make a Christmas Cheese Board

Use a large, flat serving board or platter. A round one (I like this large round wooden board) makes the shape easy to follow, but a rectangular board works too. The wreath pictured is about 14 inches (36 cm) across, so choose a surface with room for the wreath and its greenery.

Four photos showing a charcuterie wreath being built on a round wooden board, from the first piles of cheese and meat to the finished wreath with greenery

Start with the cheese. Arrange the four cheeses in separate piles spaced evenly around a circle. Leave the center empty to create the wreath shape.
Add the olives, tomatoes, and grapes. Place them in clusters between the cheeses, spreading the colors around the circle. Leave a few spaces for the meat.
Tuck in the meat. Fold the salami and pepperoni slices in half, then in half again. Nestle them between the other ingredients so the surrounding piles help hold them upright.
Finish with greenery. Tuck rosemary sprigs around the inside and outside edges of the wreath. Keep the center open and the food easy to reach.

You do not need to pack every gap tightly. Once the circular shape is clear and the ingredients are easy to pick up, the board is ready. Set out crackers, small plates, and serving picks or small tongs alongside it.

Close up of mozzarella balls, black olives, cherry tomatoes and cheese cubes on the charcuterie wreath

How to Make a Salami Rose

Salami roses are optional, but they are a pretty addition if you want a little more decoration. Use a clean wine glass for larger salami slices or a champagne flute for smaller pepperoni slices.

Three photos showing how to make a pepperoni rose by layering slices around the rim of a glass

Fold a slice over the rim of the glass so part of it hangs inside and part hangs outside. Continue adding overlapping slices around the rim, building layers until the center opening is small and the rose holds its shape. Turn the glass upside down onto the board, then gently lift it away to leave the rose behind.

The number of slices depends on their size and the width of the glass. If a rose starts to open up, tuck it between the cheese piles for support.

Making It Ahead and Serving

You can assemble the board up to 1 day ahead. Wrap it well and refrigerate it flat, then add the crackers just before serving. Check that your board fits in the refrigerator before you start arranging it.

If space is tight, prepare the ingredients ahead and refrigerate them in separate covered containers. Drain any liquid that collects around the mozzarella, olives, or tomatoes before assembling the wreath.

Keep the board refrigerated until shortly before serving. Limit the total time the perishable ingredients spend at room temperature to 2 hours, including preparation and serving, or 1 hour if the temperature is above 90°F (32°C).

Refrigerate leftovers promptly within that limit, storing the meat and cheese separately from the moist ingredients. Discard perishable food that has been out longer, even if it still looks and smells fine.

What to Serve with a Christmas Themed Charcuterie Board

Crackers or sliced baguette are all you need alongside this board. For a larger appetizer spread, add a warm crab dip or sausage stuffed mushrooms. Shrimp cocktail is another option you can prepare ahead. Add a Christmas tree cheese ball for another festive bite, and Christmas crack for something sweet afterward.

Planning a bigger spread? Here are more holiday appetizers that always go first.

Overhead view of the Christmas charcuterie wreath with a pepperoni rose, cheese cubes, olives, grapes and tomatoes

Overhead shot of roasted vegetables served on a plate

Air Fryer Vegetables

Overhead shot of green bean casserole in an oval dish, topped with golden crispy onions

Creamy Green Bean Casserole

Leave a Review! Cancel reply