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Budget-Friendly Christmas Eve Charcuterie Board: Easy Holiday Appetizer

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A budget-friendly Christmas Eve charcuterie board that feeds 8-10 people for under $40. Ready in 15 minutes, this easy holiday appetizer uses smart swaps and simple presentation to look fancy without the fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 package (8 oz) salami
  • 1 package (8 oz) pepperoni
  • 1 small package (4 oz) prosciutto or ham
  • 1 block (8 oz) sharp cheddar
  • 1 log (5-6 oz) goat cheese
  • 1 small wheel (4 oz) brie
  • 1 box (8-10 oz) crackers
  • 1 cup mixed olives
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 1 cup grapes or apple slices
  • 1/2 cup nuts (almonds or walnuts)
  • 1 small jar (6 oz) fig jam or apricot preserves
  • Fresh herbs (rosemary or thyme) for garnish (optional)
  • Dark chocolate squares (optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients (5 minutes). Take the cheeses out of the refrigerator about 15 minutes before you start. Wash grapes and let them dry. Slice cheddar into 1-inch cubes. Cut salami into thin rounds if not pre-sliced. Slice pepperoni into thin rounds. Pat olives dry.
  2. Position your bowls first (2 minutes). Place small bowls or ramekins on the board. Fill one with olives, one with honey, one with fig jam, and one with nuts. Space them out in each quadrant.
  3. Place the cheeses (3 minutes). Put the goat cheese log in one section, brie wheel in another, and scatter cheddar cubes near one of the bowls. Create clusters for visual contrast.
  4. Add the meats (3 minutes). Fold salami slices into ribbons and stand them on edge. Roll pepperoni slices into cylinders. Drape prosciutto loosely. Place meat clusters near cheese clusters.
  5. Fill in with crackers (2 minutes). Arrange crackers in small groups around the board, fanning them out slightly. Place near each cheese variety. Use about 20-30 crackers total.
  6. Add the fresh elements (2 minutes). Scatter grapes in small clusters in empty spaces. Tuck apple slices near cheddar. Add fresh herb sprigs under cheese or between meat piles for color.
  7. Drizzle and finish (1 minute). Drizzle honey over goat cheese. Break dark chocolate into small pieces and scatter. Step back and check for bare spots, adding more crackers or grapes as needed. Leave about 10% of the board visible.

Notes

Roll meats the night before to save time. Use the ‘rule of three’ for placement (group ingredients in clusters of three). Keep wet ingredients (olives, grapes) away from dry crackers to prevent sogginess. Set out small plates and napkins. Make extra of everything to refresh the board. Let cheese come to room temperature for at least 20 minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Keywords: charcuterie board, Christmas Eve appetizer, budget-friendly, holiday appetizer, easy appetizer, cheese board, salami, pepperoni, cheddar, goat cheese, brie, crackers, olives, honey, grapes, nuts, fig jam

Find it online: https://lolaspoon.com/budget-friendly-christmas-eve-charcuterie-board-easy-holiday-appetizer/