Festive Holiday Reindeer Charcuterie Board
Create a delightful reindeer-themed charcuterie board perfect for holiday entertaining. This festive spread features a Brie wheel reindeer head, pretzel antlers, and a variety of cheeses, meats, fruits, and snacks arranged artfully for a stunning presentation.
Equipment
- Large cutting board
- Serving platter
- Ramekin
Ingredients
For the Reindeer Head & Nose
- 1 large round Brie wheel (or cranberry goat cheese log, or a savory dip in a ramekin)
- large red bell pepper slice (or cherry tomato, or cranberry) for the nose
For the Antlers
- Pretzel twists (both regular and chocolate-covered for variety)
- Thinly sliced cured meats (salami, prosciutto, pepperoni)
For the Eyes
- 2 small black olives (or blueberries, or chocolate-covered raisins)
- 2 small cheese slices (or mini crackers) for the whites of the eyes
Festive Fillers & Cheery Nibbles (choose 8 of your favorites!)
- Cubed cheddar
- Monterey Jack
- Assorted crackers
- mini toasts
- Red and green grapes
- apple slices
- dried cranberries
- Cucumber slices
- carrot sticks
- Fig jam
- Candied pecans
- Small holiday cookies
Instructions
Prepare Your Board
- Select a large cutting board, serving platter, or baking sheet as the base for your charcuterie board.
Place the Reindeer Head
- Position the large round Brie wheel near the top center of the board to form the reindeer's head.
Add the Nose
- Place a red bell pepper slice just below the center of the Brie wheel to create the bright red reindeer nose.
Form the Antlers
- Arrange pretzel twists above and to the sides of the Brie wheel to form the antlers, then drape thin slices of cured meats around them for added texture.
Create the Eyes
- Place two small cheese slices above the nose for the whites of the eyes, and then add a black olive on each for the pupils.
Fill with Festive Foods
- Artfully arrange your chosen festive foods around the reindeer face, including clusters of grapes, candied pecans, and assorted crackers.
- Fold cured meats into rosettes or ribbons and tuck them into gaps, arranging apple slices, cucumber, and carrot sticks in appealing patterns.
- Include a small bowl for fig jam among the other items.
Garnish and Perfect
- Fill any remaining empty spaces with dried cranberries or small sprigs of fresh rosemary for color and ensure all items are easily accessible for guests.
Notes
For extra festive flair, use a star-shaped cookie cutter for some of the cheese slices. Experiment with different types of small holiday cookies or candies to add more variety to your board. Ensure all ingredients are at room temperature before serving for the best flavor.