17 Christmas Fruit Charcuterie Board Ideas

A Christmas fruit charcuterie board is a big board of fresh fruit in red and green, set out so everyone can graze: strawberries, raspberries, grapes, kiwi and pomegranate, often with a holiday fruit dip in the middle. It's a bright, fresh change from all the cookies and cheese.

Here are 17 Christmas fruit charcuterie board ideas, from a classic red and green board to fruit trays shaped like a pineapple Christmas tree, a candy cane and Santa, plus Grinch fruit kabobs and three holiday fruit dips. Every board lists exactly what's on it, with amounts and how many it serves.

Christmas fruit charcuterie board ideas

1. Red and Green Christmas Fruit Board

Strawberries, raspberries, red and green grapes, kiwi, green apples and pomegranate around a bowl of strawberry cream cheese dip. Serves 12.

What's on the board

• 1 very large board, about 18 x 30 inches
• 1 tub (13 oz) strawberry cream cheese fruit dip
• 1 lb strawberries
• 6 oz raspberries
• 1 lb red grapes
• 1 lb green grapes
• 4 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 2 green apples, sliced
• seeds from 1 pomegranate

How to make it

1. Spoon the fruit dip into a bowl and set it near one end of the board.
2. Lay the grapes down first in big bunches, red next to green.
3. Fill in with strawberries, raspberries and a row of kiwi slices.
4. Slice the apples last and fan them out in a row.
5. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds into one small pile.

2. Christmas Fruit and Cheese Board

Red and green fruit with white cheddar cubes, cranberry white cheddar and Ritz crackers, so there's something salty with all the sweet. Serves 10.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 8 oz white cheddar, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 7 oz cranberry white cheddar (like Wensleydale with cranberries), sliced
• 1 lb strawberries
• 1 lb red grapes
• 1 lb green grapes
• 3 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 30 Ritz crackers

How to make it

1. Lay the grapes on the board in four bunches.
2. Stack the cheddar cubes and shingle the cranberry cheddar slices between them.
3. Fill the gaps with strawberries, kiwi slices and rows of crackers.

3. Snowy Sugared Grape Board

Green and red grapes rolled in sugar so they look frosted with snow, with strawberries and raspberries. Serves 8.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 1 lb green grapes
• 1 lb red grapes
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 lb strawberries
• 6 oz raspberries

How to make it

1. Pull the grapes off the stems, rinse them and leave them a little damp.
2. Roll the damp grapes in the sugar until they're coated.
3. Spread them on a tray and let the sugar dry before you move them.
4. Pile the sugared grapes on the board with the strawberries and raspberries between them.

4. Star Fruit and Berry Board

Slices of star fruit look like little yellow Christmas stars next to strawberries, raspberries, green grapes and kiwi. Serves 8.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 3 star fruit, sliced into stars
• 1 lb strawberries
• 6 oz raspberries
• 1 lb green grapes
• 3 kiwis, peeled and sliced

How to make it

1. Slice the star fruit crosswise into stars about 1/4 inch thick.
2. Lay the stars in two curving rows across the board.
3. Fill around them with strawberries, raspberries, green grapes and kiwi.

Christmas fruit tray ideas: trees, candy canes, Santa and more

5. Pineapple Christmas Tree Board

A flat Christmas tree of pineapple chunks with a raspberry and blueberry garland, a star cut from a pineapple slice and a trunk of banana coins. Serves 10.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 1 large pineapple, peeled and cut into 1-inch chunks (one round slice saved for the star)
• 6 oz raspberries
• 6 oz blueberries
• 1 banana
• 1 star-shaped cookie cutter (about 3 inches)

How to make it

1. Lay the pineapple chunks in a big triangle, wide at the bottom and pointed at the top.
2. Run a diagonal line of raspberries and a line of blueberries across the tree like garland.
3. Cut a star from the saved pineapple slice and set it at the top.
4. Slice the banana right before serving and stack the coins under the tree for the trunk.

6. Strawberry and Banana Candy Cane Board

Strawberry halves and banana coins in alternating stripes, laid out in the shape of a big candy cane. Serves 6.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 12 oz strawberries (about 12), hulled and cut in half
• 2 bananas

How to make it

1. Lay a stripe of strawberry halves, cut side down, in a long hook shape.
2. Slice the bananas right before serving.
3. Add a stripe of banana coins next to it, then keep alternating red and white stripes until the candy cane is full.

7. Santa Face Fruit Board

A big Santa face: a strawberry hat with a banana trim, a peach-colored cantaloupe face and a fluffy beard of mini marshmallows. Serves 8.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 1 1/2 lb strawberries, hulled and cut in half
• 2 bananas
• 1/2 cantaloupe, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 3 oz mini marshmallows
• 2 blueberries
• 1 raspberry

How to make it

1. Lay the strawberry halves in a big triangle at the top of the board for the hat.
2. Lay the cantaloupe cubes in a round patch under it for the face.
3. Slice the bananas and line them along the bottom of the hat for the trim.
4. Pile the marshmallows around the bottom of the face for the beard.
5. Add two blueberry eyes and a raspberry nose.

8. Christmas Ornament Fruit Board

Nine round "ornaments" of fruit, each with a pretzel stick hanger: strawberries, green grapes, raspberries, blueberries, kiwi, red grapes, clementines, blackberries and pomegranate seeds. Serves 12.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 1 lb strawberries, hulled and cut in half
• 1 lb green grapes
• 6 oz raspberries
• 6 oz blueberries
• 3 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 1 lb red grapes
• 3 clementines, peeled and pulled into segments
• 6 oz blackberries
• seeds from 1 pomegranate
• 18 pretzel sticks

How to make it

1. Lay each fruit in its own round patch, about 5 inches across, so you have nine circles in three rows.
2. Set two pretzel sticks above each circle in a small upside-down V for the hanger.

9. Grinch Fruit Kabob Board

Little Grinch hats on toothpicks: a green grape, a banana coin, a strawberry and a mini marshmallow on top. Makes 25.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 25 green grapes
• 2 bananas
• 13 strawberries, hulled and cut in half
• 25 mini marshmallows
• 25 toothpicks

How to make it

1. Slice the bananas into thick coins right before serving.
2. On each toothpick, slide a green grape, a banana coin, a strawberry half (wide side down) and a mini marshmallow.
3. Lay the kabobs in neat rows on the board.

10. Fruit Skewer Wreath Board

Short fruit skewers laid in a ring like a wreath, alternating red skewers of strawberries and raspberries and green skewers of grapes and kiwi, with a big pile of loose berries and grapes in the middle. Serves 12.

What's on the board

• 1 large round board, about 18 inches across
• 24 bamboo skewers, about 6 inches long
• 2 lb strawberries
• 12 oz raspberries
• 2 lb green grapes
• 4 kiwis, peeled and cut into chunks

How to make it

1. Thread 12 skewers with strawberries and raspberries.
2. Thread 12 skewers with green grapes and kiwi chunks.
3. Lay the skewers in a ring around the board, pointing out like the rays of a star, red and green next to each other.
4. Pile the rest of the strawberries, raspberries and grapes in the middle of the ring.

Christmas fruit boards with dips

11. Peppermint Fruit Dip Board

A pink peppermint cream cheese dip with crushed candy canes, with strawberries, green apples, green grapes and mini pretzels for dipping. Serves 10.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tub (8 oz) whipped topping, thawed
• 4 candy canes, crushed
• 1 lb strawberries
• 2 green apples, sliced
• 1 lb green grapes
• 2 1/2 oz mini pretzel twists

How to make it

1. Beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth.
2. Fold in the whipped topping and most of the crushed candy canes.
3. Spoon the dip into a bowl and sprinkle the rest of the candy canes on top.
4. Set the bowl on the board and fill around it with the fruit and pretzels, slicing the apples last.

12. Gingerbread Fruit Dip Board

A spiced cream cheese dip that tastes like gingerbread, with apples, pears, red grapes and gingersnaps. Serves 10.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tbsp molasses
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 2 red apples, sliced
• 2 green apples, sliced
• 2 pears, sliced
• 1 lb red grapes
• 24 gingersnaps

How to make it

1. Beat the cream cheese, brown sugar, molasses, cinnamon and ginger until smooth.
2. Spoon it into a bowl and set it on the board.
3. Slice the apples and pears right before serving and fan them out around the dip.
4. Add the grapes and a row of gingersnaps.

13. Cookie Butter Fruit Board

Creamy cookie butter spread straight from the jar, with apples, pears, bananas, strawberries and Biscoff cookies to dip. Serves 8.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 1 jar (14 oz) cookie butter spread
• 2 red apples, sliced
• 2 pears, sliced
• 2 bananas
• 1 lb strawberries
• 1 package (8.8 oz) Biscoff cookies

How to make it

1. Spoon the cookie butter into a bowl and set it on the board.
2. Slice the apples, pears and bananas right before serving.
3. Fan the fruit around the bowl and add the strawberries and a row of cookies.

Christmas fruit platters for parties, brunch and two

14. Christmas Morning Fruit Board

Peeled clementines, berries, bananas and green grapes with mini muffins, for opening presents in your pajamas. Serves 6.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 6 clementines, peeled
• 1 lb strawberries
• 6 oz blueberries
• 6 oz raspberries
• 2 bananas
• 1 lb green grapes
• 13 mini blueberry muffins

How to make it

1. Peel the clementines and set them in a row.
2. Pile the berries and grapes in clusters around them.
3. Add the muffins in a group, and slice the bananas right before serving.

15. Big Christmas Party Fruit Platter

One very large board of red and green fruit for a crowd: strawberries, grapes, kiwi, honeydew, raspberries and pomegranate around two bowls of fruit dip. Serves 25.

What's on the board

• 1 very large board, about 18 x 30 inches
• 25 small paper plates
• 2 tubs (13 oz each) cream cheese fruit dip
• 2 lb strawberries
• 2 lb red grapes
• 2 lb green grapes
• 6 kiwis, peeled and sliced
• 1 honeydew melon, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 12 oz raspberries
• seeds from 1 pomegranate

How to make it

1. Spoon the dip into two bowls and set them at each end of the board.
2. Lay the grapes in big bunches, red next to green.
3. Fill in with honeydew cubes, strawberries, raspberries and rows of kiwi.
4. Sprinkle the pomegranate seeds in small piles.
5. Set a stack of small plates on a corner of the board so guests can help themselves.

16. Budget Christmas Fruit Tray

Red and green apples, bananas, clementines and grapes: the cheapest fruit in the store in December, laid out in Christmas colors. Serves 10.

What's on the board

• 1 large board, about 14 x 20 inches
• 3 red apples, sliced
• 3 green apples, sliced
• 3 bananas
• 8 clementines, peeled
• 1 lb red grapes
• 1 lb green grapes

How to make it

1. Lay the grapes and peeled clementines on the board first.
2. Slice the apples and bananas right before serving and fan them out in rows, red next to green.

17. Christmas Fruit Board for Two

A little board for a cozy night in: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, kiwi, a sliced pear, green and red grapes, a clementine, pomegranate seeds, almonds and squares of dark chocolate. Serves 2.

What's on the board

• 1 board, about 12 x 16 inches
• 7 strawberries
• 3 oz raspberries
• 3 oz blackberries
• 1 kiwi, peeled and sliced
• 1 pear, sliced
• 1 small bunch green grapes
• 1 small bunch red grapes
• 1 clementine, peeled
• 2 tbsp pomegranate seeds
• 1 oz whole almonds (about 20)
• 5 squares dark chocolate

How to make it

1. Lay the grapes and strawberries on the board.
2. Slice the pear and fan it out next to them.
3. Add the raspberries, blackberries, kiwi slices, red grapes, the peeled clementine, a little pile of pomegranate seeds, the almonds and the chocolate.

How to make a Christmas fruit charcuterie board

1. Pick red and green fruit. Strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and pomegranate for red; green grapes, kiwi and green apples for green.
2. Start with the dip. Set the bowl down first, then build the fruit around it in clusters.
3. Cut soft fruit last. Slice apples, pears and bananas right before serving so they stay fresh-looking.
4. Make it ahead. Wash and dry the berries and grapes the night before, and keep them covered in the fridge.
5. Watch the clock. Cut fruit and dips shouldn't sit out more than 2 hours (USDA FSIS).

Want meat and cheese too? See our Christmas charcuterie board ideas. For fruit boards any time of year, try these fruit charcuterie board ideas.

Christmas fruit charcuterie board FAQ

What fruit goes on a Christmas fruit board?

Pick red and green fruit: strawberries, raspberries, red grapes and pomegranate seeds for red, and green grapes, kiwi, green apples and honeydew for green. Clementines and pears are in season in December, too.

How do you keep apples and bananas from turning brown?

Slice them right before you set the board out, and put them on the board last.

Can you make a Christmas fruit board ahead of time?

Wash and dry the berries and grapes the night before and keep them covered in the fridge. Build the board close to serving time, and cut apples, pears and bananas last.

How long can a fruit board sit out?

Cut fruit and dips shouldn't sit out more than 2 hours (USDA FSIS). Put out half and keep the rest in the fridge to refill.

What dip goes with a Christmas fruit board?

A sweet cream cheese fruit dip is the classic. For Christmas, try a peppermint dip with crushed candy canes, a gingerbread dip or cookie butter straight from the jar.

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