Build a stunning Holiday Charcuterie Board with items from Trader Joe’s, fresh berries, cookies, and cheeses that are perfect for this season. It’s easy to put together, festive, and crowd-pleasing.
This Holiday Charcuterie board is filled with our favorite snacks.
Now that it’s officially “it’s too cold to go out season”, let’s bring on the snacks + chill!
We’re pairing our Christmas board with one of our favorite seasonal drinks, Canada Dry’s Ginger Ale Cranberry soda.
Have you tried it? If not, we highly recommend it.
Well, the holiday season is finally here! Tis the season for all things cozy, which includes grazing boards while you watch all of your favorite Christmas movies.
A good charcuterie board is always a fun holiday, happy hour with friends, or the pre-nibble snack before the holiday dinner.
Regardless of the reason you want to make and keep in mind, you need no reason at all —this board is all my favorite things!
Okay, let’s dig into this board!
Make our Spiced Cranberry Ginger Ale Punch
Why This Holiday Board Works:
- Salty
- Sweet
- Creamy
- Crunchy
- Pops of red and green for the festive season
What’s On Our Holiday Charcuterie Board:
Serving Size: 4-6 people
Most of the items used are from Trader Joe’s, unless noted.
Cheese
- English White Cheddar (Costco)
- Cranberry Stilton Cheese
Cured Meats (from Meijer, Frederik’s brand)
- Uncured Salchichón Salame
- Jamón Serrano
- Uncured Chorizo
Crackers & Crunch
- Original Seasoned Pretzels
- Green Olive Flat Italian Lingue Crackers
- Fig & Olive Crisps
Sweet Bites
- Vanilla Meringues
- European Biscuits Raspberry-Filled Cookies
- Dark Chocolate Dipped French Butter Cookies
- Walker’s Shortbread Fingers
- Tiniest Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Chocolate Santas
- Candied Orange Slices
Fruit
- Erandy Blackberries (North Bay Produce)
- Strawberries (North Bay Produce)
- Apple Slices
Nuts
- Olive & Herbs Mixed Nuts
- Praline Pecans
- Sea Salt Dry Roasted Pistachios (any grocery store)
Equipment
- Medium-Large board or platter (Board Size: 14–18″)
- Cheese knives, small tongs, cocktail picks
- Parchment or a food-safe liner
Tip: Keep a small stash to refresh once, as this keeps the board looking abundant without overloading it at the start.
How Much Cheese Per Person?
Plan about 3 ounces per person when cheese is part of a larger spread; 4 ounces if it’s the main event.
How Far In Advance Can I Assemble?
Lay out crackers and sweets up to 2-3 hours ahead. Add meats, cheeses, and fruit 30–45 minutes before serving.
Do I Need Fancy Cheese Knives?
Nice to have, not required.
One sharp chef’s knife, a butter knife, and small tongs get it done.
Make-Ahead, Storage & Safety
- Pre-slice hard cheeses, wash/dry berries, and portion nuts/cookies into containers.
- Assemble 30–45 minutes before guests arrive. Cover and refrigerate if holding more than 30 minutes.
- Keep meats/cheeses under 2 hours at room temp; refresh from a backup tray for longer parties.
- Chop into a next-day salad, grilled cheese + jam situation, or a “sgirl dinner” board.
Additional tips + ideas:
To keep apples from browning: Toss apple slices in 1 cup cold water + 1 Tbsp lemon juice; pat dry.
For your gluten-free guests: Add TJ’s gluten-free crispbreads or seed crackers; mark with a pick.
If you want to skip the nuts: Substitute more pretzels, popcorn, or plain crostini; keep nuts confined to a bowl.
To make this more kid-friendly, add extra tiny chocolate chip cookies, cheddar cubes, and turkey pepperoni.
Budget-friendly tip: Costco cheddar + one “special” cheese (cranberry Stilton), then go heavy on seasonal fruit and pretzels.
Beverage Pairing Options:
- Cheers: Cava, Prosecco, or a light Pinot Noir.
- Zero-Proof: Spiced cranberry spritz (cranberry juice, ginger beer, orange slice).
- Cozy: Mulled Sangria Mocktail or hot cocoa bar near the sweets cluster.
Now that you’ve got our tips & tricks, make your shopping list for everything you need to get to put this festive board together.
Happy Holidays!
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