Create a festive Santa Charcuterie Board with our Blanta Black Santa twist.
This fun holiday appetizer is perfect for Christmas parties, Christmas Eve, and easy holiday entertaining.
We’re showing you how to make Santa’s face for a charcuterie board, as well as how you can customize it!
Santa Charcuterie Board – Blanta Charcuterie
The holiday season is in full swing, and if you’re hosting a Christmas party or want a fun Christmas Eve or Christmas Day appetizer to make, a charcuterie board is always a good idea.
But let’s switch it up and really get into the season with a themed board.
I’ve seen this idea floating around social media, but wanted to put a twist on it by making a Blanta (a Black Santa) instead.
You can make Santa whatever color you want.
But I want to share how we made this Blanta, just in case you want to try it for Christmas.
More Santa Ideas:
Secret Santa Message free printable
Santa’s Elves Free Activity Packet
How To Make Santa’s Face for a Charcuterie Board
You can use Brie or Camembert (Camembert is delicious but has a more pungent smell).
What You’ll Need for the Face
- 1 wheel Brie or Camembert
- Sliced olives (for eyes)
- Red currant (for nose)
- Rind pieces from the Brie (for mustache, beard, hat trim)
- Salami (for the hat)
1. Prepare the Brie: Slice off the rind of the Brie.
2. Make the Face: For the eyes, use sliced olives (originally, I used grapes but switched to olives for better contrast).
Use a red currant for the nose. You can see why I switched to olives in the photo above. Using grapes makes Santa look like an evil Santa.
3. Coat the Brie: In a food processor, finely crush the chocolate, honey, and graham crackers. Spread the crumbs evenly onto a plate.
Press the top of the Brie firmly into the crumbs to create a smooth surface for decorating.
Tip: You can skip this step by using black or brown cheese.
4. Assemble the Blanta: Place the Brie on a board and add its face (Use the rind pieces to create the mustache, beard, and hat rim.)
For the eyes, use sliced olives (originally, I used grapes, but switched to olives for better contrast).
Use a red currant for the nose.
Add the hat made from salami, then arrange the remaining ingredients to complete the look.
Why a Santa Charcuterie Board?
Because the holidays are the perfect time to play with your food, in the classy, hosting-like-a-pro kind of way.
A themed board:
- Sets the tone for your party
- Doubles as décor
- Gets guests talking
- And saves you from cooking five different appetizers
- Tell it like it is: one board, a bunch of options, and everybody’s happy.
Items featured on our Black Santa Charcuterie board:
Once Blanta is in place, it’s time to surround him with all the good stuff. Think balance: sweet, salty, crunchy, creamy.
This board serves about 6 people, perfect for a small holiday gathering or as part of a larger spread.
We picked up most of these items from Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods, because holiday hosting doesn’t mean driving all over town.
Crackers & Crunch
- Raincoast Crisps – gingerbread & spiced pear
- Cheddar & Parmesan Cheese Snackers (TJ’s)
- Everything bagel chips
- Peppermint Pretzel Slims
Cheese:
- Manchego
- English White Cheddar
- Kaasaggo Original
- Brie or Camembert (for Santa)
- Tête de Moine cheese rosettes
Meats:
- Italian-style uncured pepper salami
- Uncured hot capocollo
- Uncured hot Calabrese
- Pepper-coated dry salami
Sweets:
- Mini dark chocolate mint stars (TJ’s)
- Dark chocolate-covered peppermint creme (TTJ’s
- Dark chocolate sea salt caramels (TJ’s)
- Mini festive shortbread stars
- Macarons
- Holiday gingersnaps (World Market)
Fruit & Extras:
- Grapes
- Red currants
- Fig spread
How To Arrange the Board
- Start with Blanta in the center or slightly off-center.
- Then, place larger items first (cheese wedges, meat piles, bowls of fig spread).
- Fan out the meats around Santa’s hat and beard for a cohesive look.
- Fill gaps with crackers, sweets, and fruit.
- Keep colors balanced: reds, browns, whites, and pops of green make it feel extra festive.
No need to overthink it. If it looks full and inviting, you nailed it.
Hosting Tip: Make It Ahead
- You can prep most of this board a few hours in advance.
- Cut cheeses and wrap tightly.
- Prep meats and store covered.
- Make Santa’s face and keep chilled.
- Assemble everything about 30 minutes before guests arrive so the cheese isn’t ice-cold—flavor matters.
Make It Your Own
That’s the beauty of charcuterie. You can swap cheeses based on what you love. Add nuts, olives, or seasonal fruit.
Go heavier on sweets for dessert vibes. Or keep it savory for cocktail hour.
Can I make this Santa charcuterie board ahead of time?
To stay organized, prep most ingredients a few hours ahead by slicing cheeses, preparing meats, and building Blanta’s face, then cover tightly and refrigerate.
Assemble the full board about 30 minutes before serving to ensure the cheese isn’t too cold, helping you stay on schedule and keep the presentation fresh.
Do I have to coat the Brie to make the Santa darker?
Nope. The crushed chocolate and graham cracker coating adds color and texture, but you can skip it if you prefer a naturally darker cheese or want to make a white Santa face, giving you more customization options.
What can I use if I can’t find red currants?
A raspberry, pomegranate aril, or even a small strawberry slice works perfectly for Santa’s nose.
How many people does this board serve?
This board comfortably serves about 6 people as an appetizer. For larger groups, double the ingredients or add a second board.
Can I make this board kid-friendly?
Absolutely. Add more cookies, chocolates, and mild cheeses. Kids love the Santa face just as much as the sweets.
What size board should I use?
A large rectangular or round board (about 16–18 inches) works best to give Santa room and still leave space for all the snacks.
What if I don’t eat pork?
Swap the salami and cured meats for turkey, chicken sausage, or even rolled fruit leathers for a sweet version.
How long can this sit out?
For food safety, avoid leaving the board out at room temperature for more than 2 hours. If it’s warm, aim to serve within 1 hour to keep everything fresh and safe for guests.
This Blanta Santa Charcuterie Board isn’t just an appetizer; it’s a conversation piece.
It brings smiles, laughter, and that little spark of holiday magic we’re all craving this time of year.
So if you’re hosting this Christmas, give it a try. Have fun with it.
If you make your own Blanta board, I’d love to see it.
Tag us on Instagram or Facebook (@thiswortheylife) and share the holiday cheer.
Happy Holidays!
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