Jingle Bell Cheese Board

Featured in: Cozy Everyday Meals

This festive board features a vibrant array of cheeses including brie, aged cheddar, blue, and goat cheese paired with savory charcuterie hand-selected for taste and visual appeal. Fresh grapes, pomegranate seeds, apple, and pear slices add juicy bursts with nutty accents from candied pecans and dried cranberries. Marinated olives, honey, and fig jam complement the flavors, while fresh rosemary and thyme provide aromatic garnish. Bread and crackers complete the arrangement for a perfect holiday centerpiece that serves eight.

Updated on Tue, 09 Dec 2025 00:19:48 GMT
Jingle Bell Cheese Board—a beautiful, festive spread with cheeses, fruits, and charcuterie, ready to serve. Save
Jingle Bell Cheese Board—a beautiful, festive spread with cheeses, fruits, and charcuterie, ready to serve. | ivorycrumb.com

The Jingle Bell Cheese Board is a festive and colorful celebration of flavors and textures, perfect for brightening any holiday gathering. Featuring a carefully curated selection of cheeses, charcuterie, fresh fruits, and delightful accompaniments, this appetizer invites sharing and joy. Its vibrant clusters of grapes, bold slices of aged cheddar, creamy brie, and pops of pomegranate arils come together like a musical harmony, creating a board that's both beautiful and delicious.

Jingle Bell Cheese Board—a beautiful, festive spread with cheeses, fruits, and charcuterie, ready to serve. Save
Jingle Bell Cheese Board—a beautiful, festive spread with cheeses, fruits, and charcuterie, ready to serve. | ivorycrumb.com

This cheese board embraces the spirit of the holiday season by combining classic festive elements with fresh ingredients. The inclusion of rosemary and thyme sprigs not only adds a charming aroma but also a visual holiday touch. Whether you’re hosting a casual get-together or a more formal celebration, this arrangement easily adapts to your style and taste preferences.

Ingredients

  • Cheeses
    • 150 g Brie cheese, whole wheel or wedge
    • 150 g aged Cheddar, sliced
    • 100 g blue cheese, crumbled or sliced
    • 120 g goat cheese, log or rounds
  • Charcuterie (optional for non-vegetarians)
    • 100 g prosciutto
    • 100 g salami, sliced
  • Fruits
    • 1 cup red grapes, washed
    • 1 cup green grapes, washed
    • 1 pomegranate, seeded
    • 1 apple, sliced
    • 1 pear, sliced
  • Nuts & Extras
    • ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
    • ½ cup dried cranberries
    • ½ cup marinated olives
    • ¼ cup honey
    • ¼ cup fig jam
  • Crackers & Bread
    • 1 baguette, sliced
    • 150 g assorted crackers
  • Garnishes
    • Fresh rosemary sprigs
    • Fresh thyme sprigs

Instructions

1. Arrange the cheeses on a large board or platter, spacing them out to allow room for other ingredients.
2. Lay out the charcuterie around the cheeses, folding the slices for visual appeal.
3. Add the fresh fruits, arranging them in clusters for color and contrast.
4. Fill in gaps with nuts, dried cranberries, and marinated olives.
5. Place honey and fig jam in small bowls and add them to the board.
6. Add bread slices and crackers in stacks or fanned out.
7. Garnish with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs for a festive touch.
8. Serve immediately, ensuring small cheese knives and spreaders are available.

Zusatztipps für die Zubereitung

To keep the apple and pear slices fresh and prevent browning, toss them lightly with lemon juice before arranging on the board. Using star-shaped cookie cutters on cheese slices adds an extra festive flair to the presentation. The layering and clustering technique keeps the board attractive and balanced.

Varianten und Anpassungen

Swap out cheeses or charcuterie as preferred to accommodate dietary needs or flavor preferences. For a vegetarian board, omit the meats and increase the variety of nuts, fruits, and cheeses. This board can easily be customized with different jams, olives, or crackers depending on what you have available.

Serviervorschläge

Pair the cheese board with sparkling wine, Prosecco, or a festive cocktail to elevate your holiday entertaining. Serve with small cheese knives and spreaders for easy sharing, and place some spoons or forks nearby for olives and preserves. This board works beautifully as an appetizer or alongside other holiday dishes.

Colorful Jingle Bell Cheese Board arrangement: Brie, cheddar, grapes, and nuts, perfect for holiday entertaining. Save
Colorful Jingle Bell Cheese Board arrangement: Brie, cheddar, grapes, and nuts, perfect for holiday entertaining. | ivorycrumb.com

This Jingle Bell Cheese Board is sure to be the centerpiece of your holiday celebration, offering a joyful mix of flavors, textures, and colors that invite everyone to gather, savor, and share. Its effortless assembly and festive charm make it an entertaining staple season after season.

Recipe FAQs

What cheeses are best for this board?

Brie, aged cheddar, blue cheese, and goat cheese are chosen for a balance of creamy, sharp, and tangy flavors.

Can the charcuterie be omitted?

Yes, charcuterie is optional and the board can be made entirely vegetarian with just cheeses and accompaniments.

How can I keep fruit slices fresh?

Toss apple and pear slices lightly with lemon juice to prevent browning before arranging.

What garnishes add a festive touch?

Fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs provide aromatic and seasonal decoration for the board.

What pairs well as beverages with this board?

Sparkling wine, Prosecco, or festive cocktails complement the flavors and enhance the holiday experience.

How to arrange ingredients for best presentation?

Space cheeses evenly, fold charcuterie slices for visual interest, place fruits in colorful clusters, and fill gaps with nuts and olives.

Jingle Bell Cheese Board

Colorful cheese, charcuterie, fruits, and nuts arranged for festive holiday gatherings.

Prep time
25 min
0
Total duration
25 min
Created by Nora Ellington


Skill level Easy

Cuisine type International

Makes 8 Serves

Diet details Meat-free

What You'll Need

Cheeses

01 5.3 oz Brie cheese, whole wheel or wedge
02 5.3 oz aged Cheddar, sliced
03 3.5 oz blue cheese, crumbled or sliced
04 4.2 oz goat cheese, log or rounds

Charcuterie (optional)

01 3.5 oz prosciutto
02 3.5 oz salami, sliced

Fruits

01 1 cup red grapes, washed
02 1 cup green grapes, washed
03 1 pomegranate, seeded
04 1 apple, sliced
05 1 pear, sliced

Nuts & Extras

01 ½ cup candied pecans or walnuts
02 ½ cup dried cranberries
03 ½ cup marinated olives
04 ¼ cup honey
05 ¼ cup fig jam

Crackers & Bread

01 1 baguette, sliced
02 5.3 oz assorted crackers

Garnishes

01 Fresh rosemary sprigs
02 Fresh thyme sprigs

Directions

Step 01

Arrange Cheeses: Place the assortment of cheeses on a spacious serving board or platter, spacing them evenly to allow room for other components.

Step 02

Add Charcuterie: Position the sliced prosciutto and salami around the cheeses, folding slices for an attractive presentation.

Step 03

Incorporate Fresh Fruits: Cluster the washed grapes, seeded pomegranate, and sliced apple and pear among the cheeses and meats for vibrant color contrast.

Step 04

Fill Gaps with Extras: Scatter candied nuts, dried cranberries, and marinated olives into the remaining spaces to add texture and flavor variety.

Step 05

Add Honey and Fig Jam: Spoon honey and fig jam into small bowls and place them on the board for easy serving.

Step 06

Arrange Crackers and Bread: Stack or fan baguette slices and assorted crackers in accessible areas of the board.

Step 07

Garnish: Decorate the board with fresh rosemary and thyme sprigs to impart a festive aroma and appearance.

Step 08

Serve: Present immediately with small cheese knives and spreaders available for guest use.

Tools needed

  • Large serving board or platter
  • Small bowls for jams and honey
  • Cheese knives and spreaders
  • Spoons or forks for accompaniments

Allergen details

Be sure to review the ingredients for possible allergens and speak to a healthcare provider when uncertain.
  • Contains milk from cheeses, nuts, and gluten from bread and crackers.
  • Charcuterie products may contain soy or preservatives; verify labels as needed.

Nutrition info per dish

Details here are just for reference. They don't replace health or nutrition advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Fats: 18 g
  • Carbohydrates: 28 g
  • Proteins: 14 g