Description
Create a stunning and festive Christmas Charcuterie Wreath that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. This visually impressive appetizer features a circular wreath made of fragrant rosemary sprigs, adorned with salami roses, colorful grapes, assorted cheeses, olives, nuts, and fresh fruits arranged artfully to delight your guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Base and Garnish
- 20 inch round wood board (or equivalent counter space)
- 20 rosemary sprigs (divided)
- 1 ounce raspberries or dried fruits
Meats
- 30 pieces hard salami (for roses)
Cheeses
- 8 ounces cubed cheese (white cheddar, pepper jack, or any hard cheese)
- 6 ounces cranberry coated goat cheese (sliced)
- 8 small mozzarella balls
Fruits and Nuts
- 4 small bunches grapes (any color)
- 5 ounces marcona almonds
Vegetables and Olives
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 8 green olives
- 8 black olives or kalamata olives
- 8 stuffed olives
Tools
- 16 toothpicks (for skewers)
Instructions
- Form the Wreath Base: Lay approximately 15 rosemary sprigs in a circular shape about 20 inches in diameter on your wood board or flat surface, creating the foundation of the wreath.
- Make Salami Roses: Craft 5 to 6 salami roses by folding and rolling slices of hard salami. Arrange these roses evenly around the rosemary wreath, placing them so they touch the rosemary sprigs.
- Arrange Grapes: Place the small bunches of grapes in the gaps between the salami roses, filling in the wreath with natural color and texture.
- Assemble Tomato Skewers: Thread one cherry tomato and one mozzarella ball onto each toothpick. Position these tomato skewers next to the salami roses on the wreath.
- Assemble Olive Skewers: On each toothpick, place three different colored olives (green olives, black or Kalamata olives, and stuffed olives) to make eye-catching antipasto skewers. Place these adjacent to the tomato skewers.
- Add Cubed Cheese: Make 4 to 5 small piles of cubed hard cheese and place them in the available spaces on the wreath.
- Add Goat Cheese Slices: Form 4 to 5 small piles of cranberry coated goat cheese slices and arrange them in remaining open spots around the wreath.
- Scatter Almonds: Distribute several small piles of Marcona almonds in any leftover available spaces to add crunch and richness.
- Decorate with Berries or Dried Fruit: Garnish the wreath by studding raspberries or dried fruits evenly across the arrangement for color contrast and festivity.
- Final Greenery Touch: Halve the remaining rosemary sprigs and tuck these smaller sprigs underneath the salami roses to add a fresh, green accent to the wreath’s interior.
Notes
- Use a 20-inch round board or large flat surface to shape the wreath for an impressive display.
- Salami roses can be made by folding salami slices in overlapping layers to mimic petals.
- Feel free to substitute cheeses and fruits to suit your tastes or dietary needs.
- To keep the wreath fresh, prepare it just before serving or cover tightly and refrigerate briefly.
- This charcuterie wreath is best served at room temperature for optimal flavor.
