Tutorial: Holiday Wreath Charcuterie Board

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Blue Diamond®. The opinions and text are all mine.

You better watch out, you better not cry. You better not pout, I’m telling you why. The relatives are coming to town! Oh yeah, ‘tis the season for judgmental holiday guests. They will criticize your every hosting move, while handing out back-handed compliments as generously as Santa hands out presents. So, this year, pull out all the stops with the most fabulous, undeniably magical entertaining trick to have ever existed… a Holiday Wreath Charcuterie Board! Even your mother-in-law will be hard pressed to find a flaw with this beauty. Best of all? With the help of my friends at Blue Diamond® (and their delicious line of Blue Diamond® Gourmet Almonds and Blue Diamond® Almond Nut-Thins®), the wreath is ridiculously easy to put together. No time to waste, let’s jump straight into the tutorial…

Step 1:  Meat

On a large cheese board or Lazy Susan, lay out salami slices in a circle. I like to mix in a variety of flavors, so my charcuterie wreath includes Calabrese, Genoa, and Soppressata salami. Please note: I found all the wreath ingredients, including the Blue Diamond Gourmet Almonds, easily at my local Walmart!

Step 2:  Herbs

It’s a wreath, so you’re going to need some greens! I suggest adding sprigs of fresh dill, rosemary, and basil to the mix. Not only will it give the board a heavenly aroma, but the herbs will also be a lovely accompaniment to the flavors.

Step 3: Dried Fruit

With so many savory items, it is important to add a bit of balance to the charcuterie board. Dried fruit is a fantastic and mess-free way to go about this. My wreath features slices of dried, spiced pears, but you can honestly use any fruit that strikes your fancy.

Step 4:  Cheese

Cheese is to a charcuterie board what jam is to a PB&J sandwich. You got to have it! Now, depending on the pickiness level of your holiday guests, you may need to be careful in your choice of cheese. Too stinky or sharp and no one will touch the board! We don’t want that. I suggest Gruyere, pepper jack, Colby, and cheddar. You simply can’t go wrong with that quartet.

Step 5:  Olives & Pearl Onions

Don’t forget the olives and pearl onions! Olives add a lovely, strong flavor to a charcuterie board without overpowering everything on the plate. As for the pearl onions, they look like literal glittering pearls on this wreath, so it’s a whimsical touch.

Step 6: The Edible Bow

A proper holiday wreath has to have a bow! Using 4 slices of prosciutto, lay out a ribbon design at the base of the wreath. Then top it off with a molded spreadable cheese. I used a pepper-encrusted bacon cheddar cheese as the centerpiece here.

Step 7: Nuts & Crackers

A charcuterie board is simply not a charcuterie board without nuts! Lucky for us, Blue Diamond has just released a line of 10oz. bags of gourmet almonds at Walmart that are holiday perfection. I chose to add Blue Diamond® Gourmet Garlic, Herb and Olive Oil Almonds on the wreath. They add just the right amount of irresistible flavorful and decadence to the board. Plus, I found them easily at my local Walmart, so it wasn’t a feat to find all the ingredients.

You can’t forget the crackers! Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins are perfect for spreading all this charcuterie goodness on top of. They will go perfectly with all the wreath flavors and they’re guilt-free. Best of all, the Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins are made from rice flour and almonds, so your gluten-free guests are covered!

Step 8:  Eat!

It’ll only take about 10 to 15 minutes to put together this charcuterie beauty, so then sit back and let the compliments roll in. I’d also suggest placing out a few bowls of the Blue Diamond Gourmet Rosemary and Sea Salt Almonds and the Blue Diamond Pink Himalayan Salt Almonds. The flavors are both irresistibly delicious and make for perfect munching.

Bonus Tip: Cracker Crazy!

If you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can add a second layer to the wreath presentation. Do this by making a halo of Blue Diamond Almond Nut-Thins along the edge of the wreath. This is a great tip if you are limited in table space and want to consolidate the charcuterie board.

There it is in all its glory, my friends! Have this Holiday Wreath Charcuterie Board at your next party, and you will be crowned festive royalty!

Blue Diamond products can be found in the salty snacks and cracker aisle at Walmart, along with all the rest of the charcuterie board ingredients. So what do you think? Are you making a Holiday Wreath Charcuterie Board for this year’s festivities?