Ingredients:

  • 8 oz (225 g) Creamy Brie
  • 6 oz (170 g) Sharp Cheddar, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
  • 4 oz (115 g) Plain Goat Cheese (log form), sliced
  • 4 oz (115 g) Hard Cheese (Manchego or Aged Gouda), sliced into triangles or diamonds
  • 4 oz (115 g) Hard Salami, thinly sliced
  • 4 oz (115 g) Prosciutto, thinly sliced
  • 2 oz (55 g) Pepperoni or Chorizo (small discs)
  • 1 cup (150 g) Green Grapes, seedless
  • 1 cup (150 g) Red Grapes, seedless
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) Pitted Green Olives
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) Cherry Tomatoes, halved
  • 1/4 cup (40 g) Pomegranate Seeds
  • 1 large bunch Fresh Rosemary Sprigs (approx. 10–12 sprigs)
  • 1 slice (1/4 inch thick) Cheese or Yellow Bell Pepper, cut into a star shape
  • 10-12 pieces Crackers or Pretzel Sticks (for the trunk)
  • 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Fig Jam or Cranberry Chutney
  • 2 Tbsp (30 ml) Honey or Hot Honey

Instructions:

  1. Prep Fruits and Veg: Wash and thoroughly dry all grapes, tomatoes, and herbs. Halve the cherry tomatoes.
  2. Cut Cheeses: Cube the Cheddar. Slice the Goat cheese. Cut the hard cheese (e.g., Gouda) into triangles or diamonds. Slice the Brie into wedges or leave whole.
  3. Prepare Meats: Roll or fold the Prosciutto lightly. Create Salami Roses by folding thin salami slices over the rim of a small glass and layering them until a flower shape forms. Invert the glass onto the board to release the rose (aim for 3-4 roses).
  4. Map the Shape: Place the large serving board flat. Imagine a large triangle running from near the top edge to the bottom center, defining the tree area.
  5. Define the Trunk and Border: Place the pretzel sticks or breadsticks horizontally at the bottom center of the board to form the 'trunk.' Lay the longest rosemary sprigs along the outer edges of the triangle to form the defined border of the tree.
  6. Place Foundation Cheese: Begin filling the triangle shape by placing the cubed Cheddar and sliced hard cheeses (Gouda/Manchego) in the center. These provide structural height.
  7. Introduce the Meats: Arrange the salami roses and folded Prosciutto sparingly within the tree structure, ensuring they are visible but do not dominate the green space.
  8. Add Soft Cheese Accents: Place small mounds of sliced Goat cheese or wedges of Brie throughout the tree, focusing on different levels to add dimension.
  9. Incorporate Green/Red Clusters: Arrange the grape clusters diagonally down the tree. Use the clusters to break up large sections of cheese/meat.
  10. Tuck in the 'Needles': Generously tuck shorter, bushy rosemary sprigs into the gaps between the cheeses and meats. This is essential to achieve a dense, pine-like appearance.
  11. Place the Ornaments: Distribute the cherry tomato halves, small discs of pepperoni/chorizo, and green olives evenly across the tree structure—these act as the brightly colored ornaments.
  12. Add the Sparkle: Place the fig jam/chutney and honey in small ramekins and nestle them near the lower branches. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds over the tree for a jewel-like effect.
  13. Crown the Tree: Place the cheese or pepper star firmly at the apex of the rosemary triangle. Review the board and fill any remaining sparse areas with small cheese cubes or rosemary tips.