Looking for something to brighten up your Holiday entertaining? These fun tall Charcuterie Christmas Trees make a great appetizer or are perfect for a Christmas Charcuterie Board. These stand up trees canape style appetizers are made with a few ingredients and offer a showstopping holiday appetizer. You can also switch out the savory ingredients for something sweet and make these a dessert board.
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Hi, I’m Gretchen - creator of Amazing Charcuterie Boards. I help home hosts and beginners create beautiful, stress-free charcuterie boards with simple rules, realistic portions, and easy styling techniques.
If you’re planning your next board, you may also find these helpful:
→ Charcuterie Board Portion Calculator
→ How to Design a Charcuterie Board (simple rules & layouts)
→ The Best Charcuterie Board Pairings
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Why you Should Make these Charcuterie Christmas Trees
These Christmas tree canapes are fun and delicious to make. So what even is a canapé ?
A canapé is a small, bite-sized appetizer that’s meant to be eaten in one or two bites, no fork required. Traditionally, canapés are built in layers: a base (like toast points, crackers, cucumber slices, or pastry), a spread (such as cheese, hummus, or flavored butter), and a topping (think smoked salmon, herbs, roasted vegetables, or cured meats). They’re designed to be both beautiful and flavorful, making them a staple at cocktail parties and elegant gatherings.
Canapés are especially great for the holidays because they’re easy to serve, endlessly customizable, and perfect for mingling. Guests can grab one as they arrive, which keeps the mood relaxed while still feeling festive and elevated. They’re also ideal for accommodating different tastes and dietary needs—gluten-free, vegetarian, or dairy-free options can be made right alongside classic favorites.
These canapes are a bit of a stretch since they can’t be eaten in two bites – so in many ways they are more like stacked Christmas trees.
Ingredients for Christmas Tree Canapes
You can easily customize these Charcuterie Christmas Trees in many ways with the selection of ingredients. You can even make these trees with sweet ingredients for a dessert board. I’ve also seen some standing mini trees that have pickles and other savory ingredients. Here is exactly what I used to make these Charcuterie Christmas Trees.
Ingredients:
- Cured Meat (salami, proscuitto)
- Cheese (brie, cheddar, gouda, etc)
- Cucumbers
- Rapsberrier
- Grapes
- Puffed Pastry Dough
How to Assemble these Christmas Tree Canapes
The first step in making these is to cook the Christmas tree squares. Roll out your puff pastry dough and cut it into pieces (make 3 different sizes depending on how big you are making the trees. Coat the top of the pastry with melted butter or a egg wash and sprinkle on herbs, salt or sesame seeds. You can also layer some cheese or other spread into the squares. Bake according to the package directions.
Next cut your cucumbers. You need to cut a cucumber round and then use a cookie cutter to make a star. You can also cut a star out of cheese.
Using a long toothpick or a small skewer, build the Christmas tree stacks by alternating ingredients between the puff pastry squares. Top your Charcuterie Christmas trees with a piece of fruit and a star.
Tips for Serving Christmas Tree Canapes
These Charcuterie Christmas Trees are meant to be fun, festive, and eye-catching, so a little planning goes a long way when it comes to serving them.
- Serve on a sturdy board or platter. Because these are tall, stacked canapes, a flat, stable surface helps keep them upright. A wooden charcuterie board, marble slab, or large platter works best.
- Assemble close to serving time. While many of the components can be prepped ahead (baked pastry, sliced cheese, washed fruit), assembling the trees shortly before serving helps keep everything fresh and prevents sogginess.
- Vary the heights. Make trees in a few different sizes for a more playful, “forest-like” look on your board. This also makes the display feel more intentional and visually interesting.
- Use extras as fillers. Scatter extra grapes, raspberries, herbs, or cheese cubes around the base of the trees to fill in the board and tie everything together.
- Offer small plates or napkins. Since these are more “stacked” than traditional two-bite canapés, having small plates nearby makes them easier (and less messy) for guests to enjoy.
- Label sweet vs. savory. If you’re serving both versions on the same board, a small label or visual separation helps guests know what to expect.
