Christmas Wreath Charcuterie

This Christmas wreath charcuterie board is the perfect festive touch to any holiday party! It’s stunning and delicious! Plus, it’s super easy to make and all of your guests will be so impressed!

If you are looking for more holiday appetizers to make this Christmas season then try out these Christmas Cornflake Wreaths, this AMAZING Cranberry Salsa, and these delicious homemade Madeleines!

Christmas Wreath Charcuterie

This wreath isn’t meant to be hung on your door… it’s meant to be eaten! Which is the best kind of wreath in my opinion! I LOVE a good charcuterie (shar-koo-tuh-ree) board! They are SO delicious and you can literally make them for any occasion. I love how fancy they look and how you can put whatever you want on them to make them just what your party needs! This board is no exception! Filled with Christmas colors and delicious cheeses, fruits, and meat… It’s going to catch the attention of each and every one of your guests!

The best part about this is that it’s SO simple to make but it looks like a million bucks! I have included the step-by-step instructions to take you through exactly what you need to do to make this on your own at home. Once you are done, you will want to make a charcuterie board for everything! And you can! I love to make them with kid-friendly snacks for my kids to eat after school. They think it’s so fancy and they love it! There is no right way to make this so get creative and go crazy!

Cheese to Use for a Christmas Wreath Charcuterie

I like to start out building up a charcuterie board with my cheeses. As I said, feel free to use whatever items that you want on your board! Here are the cheeses that I used on this board:

• Garlic Herb Brie
• English Cheddar Cheese
• Cranberry Cheese
• Cranberry Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Cheese

If you love cheese and want to add in some more or these cheeses aren’t available then you could also try manchego, provolone, and pepper jack! You can’t go wrong with using more cheese!

Meats To Use on a Christmas Wreath Charcuterie

I didn’t load up this board with too many meats! But the beauty of these boards is that you can do that and use only exactly what you want! I used one specifically because I knew that I could form it into a gorgeous flower! For this board I used:

• Italian Dry Salami

If you want to add in more meats and less cheese and fruits then I suggest using some pepperoni, prosciutto, Spanish chorizo, or capocollo!

Next Comes the Fruit!

The key to making a Christmas charcuterie wreath turn out so festive are the colors that you put on it! And the most color that you will get will be from the fruits that you pick! I picked some bold colors so that they would really pop on my board. Here are the fruits that I used:

• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Pomegranate
• Cranberries
• Blueberries

I especially like to add fruit to a charcuterie board not only because it’s a classic ingredient but because of the great taste and texture. It’s nice to have some juicy, fresh taste to complement all of the savory meats and cheeses!

Don’t Forget the Nuts, Crackers and Sweets!

The final ingredients that you add to this board really take it to the next level in taste and texture! Adding in the nuts, crackers, and chocolates will be what set your board apart, and finish it off before you are ready to garnish! Here are the nuts, crackers, and sweets that I used:

• Pistachios
• Candied pecans
• Baked crackers
• Ghiradelli peppermint bark squares

This part of the board is a big mixture of salty and sweet which is so important! Using both makes it so that they will go with everything else on the board! If you would like to add more of these things then you can try using some chocolate whoppers, wheat thins, walnuts, almonds, and macadamia nuts!

Let’s Put it All Together!

Now that you’ve gathered all of the ingredients for this board, it’s time for the fun part! To put it together and make this Christmas wreath charcuterie board! It’s so pretty and delicious! It will definitely be the star of the party!

1. Add cheese: In a circular shape, start assembling your board by adding the cheeses.
2. Arrange the meat: Then, you want to add the meats. I used a small cup and arranged the salami like a flower.
3. Place the fruit: Add in your fruits
4. Add in the rest of the ingredients: Fill the board in with chocolate, nuts and crackers.
5. Garnish: Add the rosemary in the center and outline the wreath. Then, add some sprigs in the outside edges.

Make it Your Own!

Like I said before, the best part about a Christmas wreath charcuterie is that you can do whatever you want to make it your own! Here are some more ideas that you could use to make it festive and just perfect for your get-together!

• Use shapes: I love using cookie cutters to make different shakes out of the cheeses! For this board, I cut out the cheese in the shape of a star and then filled it with pomegranate seeds. It really made them stand out! You can do this or even cut up smaller pieces in the shapes of stars of Christmas trees! Then you can really make it your own!
• Change up your crackers: A good way to bring in some more flavor and texture is to add in more crackers. I like to use Trader Joe’s Savory Thin crackers, Wheat Thins, or Triscits.
• Make it seasonal: Depending on what season you are making this for you can totally change it up! In fact, try this Halloween one or this fall one for next year! You can even make these for smaller occasions like mix together some goldfish, fruit snacks, fruit and veggies for your kids for an after school snack. These are SO fun to make!

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Christmas Wreath Charcuterie

This Christmas wreath charcuterie board is the perfect festive touch to any holiday party! It's stunning and delicious!

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Keyword Christmas charcuterie

Prep Time 20 minutes

Total Time 20 minutes

Servings 6 people

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

Meat

• Italian Dry Salami

Cheese

• Garlic Herb Brie
• English Cheddar Cheese
• Cranberry Cheese
• Cranberry Cinnamon Goat’s Milk Cheese

Fruit

• Strawberries
• Grapes
• Pomegranate
• Cranberries
• Blueberries

Nuts

• Pistachios
• Candied pecans

Chocolate

• Ghiradelli Peppermint Bark Squares

Crackers:

• Baked crackers (any kind)

Garnish

• Rosemary sprigs

Instructions

• In a circular shape charcuterie board, start assembling your board by adding the cheeses.
• Next, add the meats. I used a small cup and arranged the salami like a flower.
• Add in your fruits.
• Fill the board in with nuts, chocolate, and crackers.
• Add the rosemary in the center and outline the wreath. Add some sprigs to the outside edges.

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Cranberry Salsa (The Best Holiday Appetizer!)

Cranberry salsa is a fresh cranberry mixture of sweet and savory that is laid over the top of cream cheese. This makes for the BEST holiday appetizer!

If you love holiday appetizers as much as I do then for your next holiday party you must try these Bacon Wrapped Brussels Sprouts, these Cranberry Pecan Brie Bites, or this Jalapeno Bacon Cheese Ball!

Cranberry Salsa

Ok, I know that there are a million and one holiday appetizers out there for you to try. But believe me when I tell you that this one is seriously the best! I have never had so many people ask me for a recipe more! It’s the perfect combo of sweet and savory and on top of that… It’s SO simple to make! I bring it to every holiday party that I can and if I’m being honest… I make this long after Christmastime is over. It’s THAT good!

It’s so easy to make and is blended together in minutes.. Simply blend all the ingredients together leaving out the cream cheese. Once it is blended then lay your cream cheese flat on a plate and add your cranberry salsa over top for dipping. Your friends and family will be so impressed by the flavor this cranberry salsa recipe has to offer. It is filled with fresh and flavorful ingredients in every bite. Add some chips, sliced bread or crackers for dipping and make this one AMAZING holiday appetizer!

Ingredients in Cranberry Salsa

Bring this cranberry salsa to your next holiday party. Try it out and then you will see how simple this cranberry salsa is to make this holiday season! See the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

• Fresh cranberries: Using fresh cranberries is perfect for this season. Fresh and tart really add to this dish!
• Granny Smith apple: This adds a great crunch to the texture.
• Green onions, cilantro and jalepeno: This is where the savory flavor comes in! They add a beautiful color as well as a little kick with the jalepeno.
• Sugar: This adds some sweetness to counter the tanginess of the cream cheese.
• Apple cider vinegar: I like that this adds a different taste to mix it all with.
• Juice of one lime: A little citrus is used to cool down the jalapeño.
• Cream cheese: This will be in it’s brick form with the salsa added over top of the cream cheese.

Let’s Make Some Salsa!

This cranberry salsa is going to blow you away with how good it is! It’s going to be a hit at any holiday party! Go ahead and try it, everyone is going to love it!

1. Blend ingredients together: In a food processor add the cranberries, apple, green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and juice of one lime. Then, pulse until coarsely chopped.
2. Top and serve: Serve over softened cream cheese.

Tips and Tricks to Making Cranberry Salsa

This holiday season be sure to make this cranberry salsa with fresh ingredients and know that it will be gone in minutes with everyone raving about it. Here are a few tips that will help make this cranberry salsa even better!

• Food processor: If you do not have a food processor then a blender will work just as well to chop and blend all the ingredients together. Watch over your blender making sure you do not completely blend it all together. You will still want the cranberry salsa to be coarse, almost a chunky cranberry salsa.
• Cranberries: Fresh is best and not canned for this cranberry salsa recipe. Cranberries are a little tart but with the sugar and juices it all blends together nicely.
• Preparing cranberries: be sure to wash the cranberries and remove any cranberry that is squishy or too soft.
• Jalapeños: Cut the ends off the jalapeños then slice in half and remove the seeds from them. The seeds hold in most of the heat. Add as little to no seeds to the food processor or blender depending on how hot you like your cranberry salsa. Then, finish chopping your jalapeño.
• Honey: If you would like another sweetener then add honey or substitute it for the sugar. This will give you a glaze look on your cranberry salsa and still have the sweet taste.
• Limes: Fresh limes are great or using lime juice from a bottle will work well too.

What to Serve it With

This cranberry salsa makes for the best holiday appetizer and is sure to please a crowd. Enjoy it with these fun ways of spreading and dipping it into the salsa this holiday season!

• Crackers: Ritz crackers are soft but they still have the salty texture and great for spreading. Wheat thins, Triscuits or a whole wheat cracker are great for a sweet and salty blend.
• Pretzels: The thick, flatter pretzels that are a little bigger in size are the best for dipping in this cranberry salsa.
• Chips: Colored chips or a plain corn chip is delicious to dip in this!
• Bread: Slice up some Sourdough Bread, a Crostini or this French Baguette. Then, either spread this on or dip it in!

How to Store Leftovers (Or Make it Ahead of Time!)

With simple ingredients and with quick and easy instructions, this cranberry salsa comes together beautifully for your next holiday appetizer! Here are some great ways to store it.

• Can you make cranberry salsa recipe ahead of time? Yes! This cranberry salsa will last in the refrigerator for up to 7 days when sealed in an airtight container. When ready to serve it then simply take it out and add it over cream cheese and crackers.
• Can you freeze cranberry salsa? It is best fresh but if needed you can freeze this up to 1 month. When ready to serve it then let thaw in the refrigerator. Before serving, drain all of the extra juices from the cranberry salsa leaving it with only the chunks rather than with the juice.

More Delicious Holiday Appetizers

I love going to holiday parties because they are filled with family, friends and FOOD! And if I can contribute to that goodness then I will! Here are a few of my favorite holiday appetizers that are amazing to bring to any party. Your friends and family will love them! They are all so different that there is something for everyone! Enjoy!

Appetizers

Jalapeño Poppers Recipe with Bacon

Appetizers

Sausage Stuffed Mushrooms

Appetizers

Shrimp Cocktail

Dressings, Sauces, and Dips

Insanely Delicious Hot Crab Dip

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Cranberry Salsa (The Best Holiday Appetizer!)

Cranberry salsa is a fresh cranberry mixture of sweet and savory that is laid over the top of cream cheese. This makes for the BEST holiday appetizer!

Course Appetizer, Snack

Cuisine American

Keyword cranberry

Prep Time 10 minutes

Total Time 10 minutes

Servings 12 people

Calories 127kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 12 ounces fresh cranberries
• 1 small Granny Smith apple cubed
• 1/4 green onions chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro
• 1 jalapeño seeded and diced
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 Tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• juice of one lime
• 1 8 ounce cream cheese softened

Instructions

• In a food processor add the cranberries, apple, green onions, cilantro, jalapeño, sugar, apple cider vinegar, and juice of one lime. Pulse until coarsely chopped.
• Serve over softened cream cheese.

Notes

Updated on November 29, 2021

Originally Posted on December 11, 2019

Nutrition

Calories: 127kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 69mg | Potassium: 70mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 346IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 24mg | Iron: 1mg

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Italian Christmas Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies are soft, buttery, fluffy and melt in your mouth delicious. Flavored with a hint of vanilla and a sweet glaze, these tasty treats are a perfect holiday treat. Take them to your next cookie exchange, party or just for fun occasion!

These will be perfect on a plate along with some Christmas Gooey Butter Cookies, Christmas Crack  and Snow Kiss Cookies for a festive dessert platter. Everyone will love these, and you’ll love how easy they are to make!

Easy Italian Christmas Cookies

These Italian cookies are often made with anise, which is a licorice flavor. Not everyone loves that flavor so I swapped it out for vanilla and topped it with an amazing almond glaze. They are fluffy and decadent and very festive. They are a great cookie for kids to help with.

This recipe makes quite a big batch, which is perfect for gift giving and having enough to eat too. You can double the recipe if you need more and you can half the recipe if you’d like less. Perfect!

Christmas Cookie Ingredients

Ricotta cheese is the secret ingredient for moist tender cookies

• Butter: Soften the butter but don’t melt it.
• Sugar White sugar not brown.
• Flour: All purpose flour or unbleached flour all work
• Baking Soda and Baking Powder: Raising agents for fluffiness
• Ricotta cheese Look for ricotta cheese with other italian cheeses in the refrigerated section
• Eggs: Binder for the cookies
• Vanilla: Delicate flavor

Whipping Up Italian Christmas Cookies

These are quite easy to make, have to love that!

1. Beat: Place the butter and sugar in a bowl of a stand mixer and beat till fluffy, can also use a hand mixer
2. Add: Add in the ricotta and eggs and mix till incorporated.
3. Separate: In another bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda and powder. Slowly add to the wet ingredients and beat till combined
4. Scoop: Scoop the dough by teaspoon size and roll into a ball. Drop on a parchment lined baking sheet.
5. Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes in a 350 degree oven till just set.

Almond Glaze Ingredients 

• Powdered Sugar: Base of the glaze
• Milk: Add slowly so not to make the glaze too runny.
• Almond Extract: Gives it the almond taste
• Sprinkles: Pick the color and style you desire

How to Glaze the Cookies

In a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, milk and almond extract till you get the desired consistency. Frost and sprinkle the cookies once cooled.

Tips and Variations

These are sure to please any crowd and with these tips and variations they’re a winner!

• Glaze: Add a tablespoon of milk one at a time to get the desired consistency instead of all at once. You can make it thick or thin, it’s up to you.
• Sprinkles:  Change the color of the sprinkles for the holiday, or occasion. Example Black and orange for Halloween or pink or blue for a baby shower. You can serve these cookies anytime of the year despite their title!
• Flavoring: These are very flexible cookies. Change out the vanilla extract for peppermint, almond, coconut, or any other flavoring and add a complimentary flavoring in the icing, orange, cocoa, etc.
• Don’t Overbake: These shouldn’t be brown on top. If you over bake them, they’ll be dry.
• Frost: If you glaze the cookies while slightly warm, the glaze can seep into the cookie, yum. Always decorate with your sprinkles right after you glaze so that they’ll stick.
• Scoop:  If you have one use a cookie scoop so they are the same size, they’ll cook easier that way.

Storing Italian Cookies

You probably won’t be able to keep these around for too long, they’re just too fun to eat!

• Storing:  Let the cookies set for up to 24 hours before transferring to an airtight container to keep for up to a week. Letting them set up will keep the glaze from becoming wet and slimy.
• Freezing: You can freeze these unglazed once they’ve completely cooled or freeze them glazed. They’ll keep for up to 2 months in a freezer safe container or bag. Just remember freezing the cookies glazed could create the sprinkles to dissolve and the glaze to become melty when thawed. Glaze frozen cookies once thawed.

More Christmas Cookie Recipes to Taste

• Perfect Gingerbread Cookies
• Grinch Cookies
• Chocolate Crinkle Cookies
• Homemade Danish Butter Cookies 
• Best Ever Molasses Cookies

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Italian Christmas Cookies

Italian Christmas Cookies are soft, buttery, fluffy and melt in your mouth delicious. Flavored with a hint of vanilla and a sweet glaze, these tasty treats are a perfect holiday treat. Take them to your next cookie exchange, party or just for fun occasion! 

Course Dessert

Cuisine Italian, Italian American

Keyword italian christmas cookies, italian cookies

Servings 24 Cookies

Calories 164kcal

Author Alyssa Rivers

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 15 ounce container ricotta cheese
• 2 eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Almond Glaze:

• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 2-4 tablespoons milk
• 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
• Christmas sprinkles for topping

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer and beat until fluffy with the paddle attachment. Add in the ricotta cheese and eggs and mix until incorporated.
• In a medium sized bowl whisk together the flour, baking soda, and powder. Slowly add to the wet ingredients and beat together until combined.
• Scoop the dough into teaspoons and roll into a ball. Drop on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 8-10 minutes or until just set. Remove onto a wire rack to let cool.

To make the glaze:

• In a small bowl whisk together the powdered sugar, milk and almond extract until you get the desired consistency. I like to dip the top of the cookies in the glaze and let them set on parchment paper. Sprinkle with Christmas sprinkles immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 164kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 79mg | Potassium: 46mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 222IU | Calcium: 49mg | Iron: 1mg

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