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Christmas Wreath Appetizer

My holiday appetizer wreath is the ultimate party starter! This epic cheese and charcuterie platter can be prepped ahead for stress-free entertaining.

Prep Time
1 hr
Total Time
1 hr
Servings: 12
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

fresh herbs
  • sprigs of rosemary, thyme, and sage
cheese
  • aged Swiss cheese, cut in long triangles
  • dill havarti cut in batons
  • mini cheese balls see recipe here
  • merlot cheddar cut in bite sized cubes
  • soft goat cheese slices
  • Brie or Camembert cut into small wedges
  • Tete de Moine cheese or other unusual variety
Meat
  • salami roses
  • rolled prosciutto
  • sliced hard sausage
Nuts
  • Marcona almonds or dark roasted almonds dark roasted almond recipe here.
  • pistachios
  • spiced pecans
Fruit
  • pears, sliced or left whole
  • seedless grapes
  • tangerines
  • kiwi, sliced
condiments
  • mustard
  • hot pepper jam
  • honey
  • fruit jam made for cheese plates such as fig, onion, or bacon.
crackers
  • choose three types of crackers with different shapes, texture, and/or color.

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Arrange a loose circle of herb sprigs around the perimeter of your board, to serve as a base for your food.
  2. Spoon condiments in small dishes and scatter around the edge of your board.
  3. Follow with the cheese and meats, placing them in groups. Slowly form a thick wreath shape with the center left empty. Follow my photos for guidance if needed.
  4. Add the fruit, and nuts. You can leave the nuts in piles, or put them in little bowls.
  5. Fit the crackers into any empty spaces. I like to place them in groups of 5-6.
  6. Tuck in extra herbs along the center circle to complete the wreath effect.

Notes

  • Prep cheeses and meats ahead of time and keep wrapped in the refrigerator for up to a day. You can assemble your appetizer wreath shortly before guests arrive. 
  • Use this diagram to get you started, but be sure to take it in your own direction.
  • aged Swiss cheese, cut in triangles
  • Marcona almonds with sea salt and rosemary
  • spiced toffee almonds
  • handmade mini cheeseballs
  • sliced soft goat cheese log, rolled in herbs
  • dilled havarti cheese, cut in thin batons
  • orange fig jam
  • whole grain Dijon mustard
  • Swiss tete de moines cheese (a ruffled cheese I've never seen before!) a sharp semi hard cheese sliced on a girolle, a tool that creates decorative ruffly rosettes
  • merlot laced cheddar cheese cut in cubes
  • Valencia orange jam
  • rolled prosciutto
  • salami rose
  • Camembert or Brie, cut in bite sized wedges
  • Peruvian hot pepper jam
  • pistachios in shell
  • hard sausage. sliced