A Christmas charcuterie board shouldn’t look like any other board with a sprig of rosemary on top. The ones that make people stop and say “oh, wow” are built in the grocery store, not on the counter, because the festive part comes from what you buy: red pomegranate and sugared cranberries, snowy white cheeses, green pistachios and rosemary, peppermint and gingerbread tucked into the corners.
So this isn’t a generic “3 cheeses + 3 meats + crackers” list. It’s a Christmas-specific shopping list, organized by color and category, with real grocery-store amounts for 6, 10, or 20 people. It’s the shopping companion to my 5 Ways to Elevate Your Charcuterie Boards for Christmas guide.
Screenshot the list for your group size and take it to the store.
Quick Answer: How Much to Buy for a Christmas Charcuterie Board
| Category | 6 people | 10 people | 20 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheese | 2–3 cheeses, about 16 oz | 3 cheeses, about 1.5 lbs | 4 cheeses, about 3 lbs |
| Cured meat | 2 meats, about 15 oz | 3 meats, about 1.5 lbs | 3 meats, about 3 lbs |
| Crackers & bread | 1 box + 1 baguette | 2 boxes + 1 baguette | 4 boxes + 2 baguettes |
| Fresh fruit | about 1 lb | about 2 lbs | about 4 lbs |
| Nuts | about 4 oz | about 8 oz | about 1 lb |
| Spreads | 1 jar + honey | 2 jars + honey | 3 jars + honey |
| Christmas sweets | 1 item | 2 items | 3 items |
| Board size | 14–16 inch | 18–20 inch | Two 18-inch boards or one 24-inch |
These numbers assume a holiday party where the board is a centerpiece and guests graze for a couple of hours. If your board is a light appetizer right before Christmas dinner, use the leaner amounts from my Thanksgiving Charcuterie Board Shopping List instead. For any other headcount, use the Charcuterie Board Portion Calculator.
The Red-White-Green Rule
Here’s the one rule that turns any shopping list into a Christmas shopping list: in every category, buy something red, something white, and something green.
- Cheese: a white brie, a red-rinded or cranberry cheese, a green herb-coated cheese
- Fruit: red pomegranate or raspberries, green grapes or pears
- Nuts: green pistachios alongside candied pecans
- Spreads: red pepper jelly with a little green pesto
- Garnish: green rosemary with red sugared cranberries
You don’t need all three colors in every category (cured meats are going to be red no matter what), but if you shop this way, the board will look like Christmas before you even start arranging it. The Red, White & Green Board in my Christmas ideas roundup shows what this looks like finished.
How much per person: For a Christmas party, plan on about 2–2.5 oz of cured meat, 2 oz of cheese, and 8–10 crackers or bread slices per person. Those numbers come straight from the casual-party column in my How Much Charcuterie per Person guide.
Christmas Charcuterie Shopping List for 6 People
Perfect for Christmas Eve at home, a cozy movie night, or a small cookie-exchange party.
Cheese (about 16 oz)
- White: 1 wheel brie (8 oz)
- Red: 1 small wedge cranberry Wensleydale or a red-wax gouda (about 5–7 oz)
- Optional green: a small herb-coated goat cheese log (4 oz)
Meat (about 15 oz)
- 1 package prosciutto (3–4 oz)
- 1 package Genoa salami or soppressata (8 oz)
- Optional: 1 small package sliced pepperoni (for salami roses or a bright red pop)
Crackers & bread
- 1 box rosemary or water crackers
- 1 baguette, sliced
Fruit
- Red: 1 pomegranate (or 1 cup arils) or 1 container raspberries
- Green: 1 small bunch green grapes or 1 green pear
- 2 clementines or satsumas
Nuts (about 4 oz)
- 1 small bag shelled pistachios
Spreads
- 1 jar red pepper jelly or cranberry jam
- Honey (from your pantry)
Christmas sweet (pick 1)
- Peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, or chocolate-covered pretzels
Garnish
- 1 package fresh rosemary
- Fresh cranberries (for sugared cranberries)
Christmas Charcuterie Shopping List for 10 People
The classic holiday party board, and a great size for the 3-3-3-3 Rule: three cheeses, three meats, three accompaniments, three crackers or breads.
Cheese (about 1.5 lbs)
- White: 1 wheel brie (8 oz)
- White: 1 block sharp white cheddar (8 oz)
- Red: 1 cranberry goat cheese log or cranberry Wensleydale (4–8 oz)
- Optional green: sage derby, pesto gouda, or an herb-coated goat cheese
Meat (about 1.5 lbs)
- 2 packages prosciutto (3–4 oz each)
- 1 package Genoa salami (8 oz)
- 1 package soppressata or pepperoni (8 oz)
Crackers & bread
- 1 box rosemary crackers
- 1 box fig-and-olive or cranberry crisps
- 1 baguette, sliced
Fruit
- Red: 1 pomegranate (or 1 cup arils) and 1 container raspberries or strawberries
- Green: 1 lb green grapes and 1 green pear or apple
- 3–4 clementines or satsumas
- Optional: 1 bag dried cranberries or dried cherries
Veggies & briny bites
- Green: 1 jar Castelvetrano olives or 1 English cucumber
- Red: 1 pint cherry tomatoes or 1 red bell pepper
Nuts (about 8 oz)
- 1 bag shelled pistachios
- 1 small bag candied pecans or marcona almonds
Spreads
- 1 jar red pepper jelly
- 1 jar cranberry or raspberry jam
- Honey or honeycomb
Christmas sweets (pick 2)
- Peppermint bark
- Gingerbread or sugar cookies
- Chocolate-covered pretzels (white chocolate with sprinkles looks especially festive)
- Peppermint meringues
Garnish
- Fresh rosemary and thyme
- Fresh cranberries (for sugared cranberries)
- Optional: cinnamon sticks or star anise
Christmas Charcuterie Shopping List for 20 People
For a big holiday open house or office party, build two medium boards instead of one enormous one. They’re easier to arrange, easier to refill, and guests can get to them from more than one side of the room. Split everything below between the boards.
Cheese (about 3 lbs)
- White: 2 wheels brie (8 oz each)
- White: 1 lb sharp white cheddar
- Red: 2 cranberry goat cheese logs (4 oz each) or 8 oz cranberry Wensleydale
- Firm: 8 oz manchego or aged gouda
- Optional green: an herb-coated cheese for each board
Meat (about 3 lbs)
- 4 packages prosciutto (3–4 oz each)
- 2 packages Genoa salami (8 oz each)
- 2 packages soppressata or pepperoni (8 oz each)
Crackers & bread
- 2 boxes rosemary or water crackers
- 2 boxes fig-and-olive or cranberry crisps
- 2 baguettes, sliced
Fruit
- Red: 2 pomegranates (or 2 cups arils), 2 containers raspberries or strawberries
- Green: 2 lbs green grapes, 2 green pears or apples
- 1 bag clementines or satsumas
- 1–2 bags dried cranberries or cherries
Veggies & briny bites
- Green: 2 jars Castelvetrano olives, 1–2 English cucumbers
- Red: 2 pints cherry tomatoes
Nuts (about 1 lb)
- 2 bags shelled pistachios
- 1 bag candied pecans or marcona almonds
Spreads
- 1 jar red pepper jelly
- 1 jar cranberry jam
- 1 small container pesto (for a green pop next to the white cheeses)
- Honey or honeycomb
Christmas sweets (pick 3)
- Peppermint bark
- Gingerbread or sugar cookies
- Chocolate-covered pretzels
- Peppermint meringues
- Mini candy canes
Garnish
- Rosemary, thyme, and sage
- Fresh cranberries (for sugared cranberries)
- Dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise
The Christmas Board Ingredient Guide (by Category and Color)
Want to swap ingredients? Here’s what works on a Christmas board, sorted by category, with the color each one brings.
Cheese
- White: brie, camembert, sharp white cheddar, fresh mozzarella balls, havarti, plain goat cheese
- Red: cranberry goat cheese, cranberry Wensleydale, red-wax gouda, red-rinded wine-soaked cheeses
- Green: sage derby, pesto gouda, goat cheese rolled in chopped herbs or pistachios
Mix soft and firm textures, and keep one cheese mild for kids and picky eaters. For more options, see Good Cheese for Charcuterie Boards.
Meat
Prosciutto, Genoa salami, soppressata, and pepperoni all bring the deep reds a Christmas board needs. Pepperoni and small salami slices are perfect for salami roses, which look like little poinsettias on a holiday board. For more folds, see 5 Ways to Fold Salami.
Crackers & Bread
Rosemary crackers look and taste like Christmas. Pair them with a fruit-studded crisp (fig-and-olive or cranberry) and a sliced baguette for the brie. Browse more in Crackers for Charcuterie Boards.
Fruit
- Red: pomegranate arils, raspberries, strawberries, red grapes, fresh cranberries (sugared, for garnish), dried cranberries, dried cherries
- Green: green grapes, green pears, Granny Smith apples, kiwi
- Bonus: clementines and satsumas are peak season in December and add a cheerful pop of orange
Skip melons and stone fruit; they’re out of season and pricey in December. More ideas in Best Types of Dried Fruit for Charcuterie Boards.
Veggies & Briny Bites
Castelvetrano olives are the prettiest bright green on any board. Cucumber slices, snap peas, cherry tomatoes, and red bell pepper strips add color and give guests something lighter between bites of cheese.
Nuts
Pistachios are the Christmas nut: their green color fits the palette perfectly. Candied pecans and marcona almonds round it out. See 7 Best Nuts for Charcuterie Board Designs. For nut-free guests, swap in roasted pumpkin seeds or chocolate-covered pretzels and keep them in their own bowl.
Spreads
Red pepper jelly on brie is my Christmas must-buy. Cranberry jam and raspberry jam are sweet red alternatives, and a small bowl of pesto adds a surprising green next to white cheeses. Always serve spreads in small bowls so they don’t run across the board.
Christmas Sweets
This is where a Christmas board stands apart from every other board: peppermint bark, gingerbread cookies, sugar cookies, chocolate-covered pretzels, peppermint meringues, and mini candy canes. Keep sweets to one corner (or one small section) so they accent the board rather than take it over. If you want sweets to be the star, try my Christmas Hot Chocolate Board instead.
Garnish
Rosemary is the secret to a Christmas board: tucked in sprigs, it looks like evergreen boughs. Add sugared cranberries for a frosted, snowy look, plus thyme, dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, or star anise for a finished, festive feel.
Christmas Board Supplies Worth Buying
The food is only half the shopping list. A few supplies make a Christmas board easier to build and noticeably prettier, and most of them get used every single holiday season.
A statement board or tray. A long wooden board, a marble slab, or a tree- or wreath-shaped board makes the whole spread feel special. Longer boards are easier for guests to reach from both sides. Shop for a long board.
Cheese knives. A set with a soft-cheese knife, a hard-cheese knife, and a spreader covers everything on this list.
Small bowls. You’ll want at least three for spreads, olives, and pomegranate arils. Bowls keep wet ingredients contained and give the board visual anchor points.
Holiday cocktail picks. Gold, star, or candy-cane picks are a small detail that makes the board look catered, and they’re more sanitary for a big party.
Cheese markers. When you’re serving cranberry goat cheese next to sage derby, labels save you from answering “what’s this one?” all night.
Christmas-shaped cutters. Small star, tree, and snowflake cutters turn slices of white cheddar or brie into instant decorations. Cut stars out of cheese slices and scatter them across the board.
You can also browse my favorite boards here.
What NOT to Buy
- A dozen kinds of candy. One to three Christmas sweets is plenty. More than that and your charcuterie board becomes a dessert board.
- Soft chocolate that melts. Chocolate placed next to brie that has come to room temperature will soften. Choose bark, coated pretzels, or cookies that hold up.
- Peppermint next to the cheese. Strong mint flavors can transfer. Keep peppermint sweets in their own corner or bowl.
- Out-of-season fruit. Melon, peaches, and blueberries are expensive in December and don’t fit the palette. Pomegranate, grapes, pears, and clementines are cheaper and prettier.
- Pre-made “holiday” kits. They’re usually more expensive per ounce than buying the cheese and meat separately, and they rarely give you the red-white-green colors you want.
When to Shop
- Up to a week ahead: crackers, nuts, jams, honey, peppermint bark, cookies, dried fruit, and sealed packages of cured meat and hard cheese (check the dates).
- 2–3 days ahead: brie, goat cheese, grapes, pears, pomegranates, and clementines.
- 1–2 days ahead: berries, fresh herbs, fresh cranberries, and the baguette.
December is a marathon of gatherings, so if you have more than one party, buy your shelf-stable items once and pick up the fresh items before each event. Leftover crackers, nuts, and jam carry right over to the next board, including a Small New Year’s Eve Board.
If you’re bringing your board to someone else’s house, read How to Transport a Charcuterie Board first.
More Christmas Board Help
- 5 Ways to Elevate Your Charcuterie Boards for Christmas
- 21 Charcuterie Board Ideas for Christmas
- 10 Creative Christmas Charcuterie Board Ideas
- 25 Epic Christmas Board Ideas for Entertaining
- How to Make a Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
- How to Make a Christmas Butter Board Wreath
- Candy Cane Board
- How to Make a Super Easy Burrata Snowman Board
- 11 Awesome Holiday Charcuterie Boards
- Charcuterie Board Portion Calculator
FAQ
What do you put on a Christmas charcuterie board? Start with brie, white cheddar, and a cranberry cheese, plus prosciutto and salami. Add red and green fruit (pomegranate, raspberries, green grapes, pears), pistachios, red pepper jelly, rosemary crackers, one or two Christmas sweets like peppermint bark or gingerbread cookies, and fresh rosemary and sugared cranberries to garnish.
How much charcuterie do I need for a Christmas party of 10? For a party where guests graze for a couple of hours, plan on about 1.5 lbs of cured meat (three varieties), about 1.5 lbs of cheese (three varieties), two boxes of crackers, a baguette, and about 2 lbs of fresh fruit.
How do I make a charcuterie board look festive? Use the Red-White-Green Rule: in every category, buy something red, something white, and something green. Then finish with rosemary sprigs (they look like evergreen) and sugared cranberries for a frosted look.
What are the best cheeses for a Christmas charcuterie board? Brie is the classic anchor, especially with red pepper jelly. Add a sharp white cheddar, plus a festive cheese like cranberry goat cheese or cranberry Wensleydale. Sage derby or an herb-coated goat cheese adds a pop of green.
What Christmas candy goes on a charcuterie board? Peppermint bark, chocolate-covered pretzels, gingerbread cookies, peppermint meringues, and mini candy canes all hold up well at room temperature. Keep them in one section so they don’t overpower the cheese.
How far ahead can I buy Christmas charcuterie ingredients? Crackers, nuts, jams, cookies, and sealed cured meats can be bought up to a week ahead. Buy soft cheeses and sturdy fruit two to three days before, and berries, herbs, and bread one to two days before.
