Cheese and charcuterie boards are hot right now, and for good reason: they’re easy and fun to assemble, and easy and fun to eat! This holiday season, why not try assembling your favorite meats, cheeses and accoutrements into a festive wreath that will wow your family and guests?

For this wreath I uses a large round wooden board, but you could use a round silver platter or even a round plastic tray from the Dollar Store. Keep in mind that the larger the tray, the more items you will need to fill in the wreath. 

Assemble the following items for your edible wreath, swapping in any favorites or anything you have on hand:

• Greens for the base and filler (curly kale, fresh rosemary and sage leaves)
• Red seedless grapes
• Green pitted olives (I used castelvetrano)
• Sliced salami (4 oz should make 2 roses)
• Sliced ham or prosciutto
• 2-3 mini goat cheese rounds
• Small whole brie or camembert (I used Cowgirl Creamery’s Mt Tam) 
• Piece of gorgonzola, sliced into 2 triangles
• Cubed cheese of choice (aged white cheddar, pepper jack, mini mozzarella balls)
• Walnut and/or pecan halves 
• Red fruit jam or hot pepper jelly
• Honey or honeycomb 
• Small/mini apples
• Assorted crackers (I used water crackers and French shortbread cookies)

• Start by arranging kale leaves around the edge of the board to form the base.
• Place olives, cheese cubes, red jam/jelly and honey (if using) into small bowls or ramekins and arrange around the wreath board, balancing colors so there is red/pink, green and white evenly throughout.
• Arrange cheese triangles and whole cheeses around the board.
• Make 2-3 salami roses and place on board. (See below for how-to.)
• Fold ham slices into quarters, or bunch prosciutto slices into ruffles.
• Fill in around cheeses and meats with grape clusters, mini apples, sage and rosemary sprigs, nuts and crackers.

Be sure to have near your wreath:

• Toothpicks or decorative picks
• Additional baguette slices and crackers
• Cocktail plates and napkins

Salami Roses:

To make salami roses you will need a narrow glass, such as a shot glass or champagne flute. Start by placing a slice halfway over the rim of the glass and pressing it down on both sides. Overlap halfway with another slice and continue all the way around several times. Invert the glass directly onto board and lift to reveal salami rose.

Voilà!

What are your favorite things to include or find on a charcuterie board?

Happy Holidays!

XO,

Subee