Santa's Beard Hat Board (Printable)

A festive board combining creamy white cheeses and bright cured meats for holiday parties.

# Ingredient List:

→ Beard

01 - 7 oz brie cheese, sliced
02 - 7 oz goat cheese, crumbled
03 - 5 oz white cheddar cheese, cubed
04 - 5 oz mozzarella balls (bocconcini), halved
05 - 3.5 oz cream cheese, shaped into small balls (optional)
06 - 7 oz assorted white crackers (rice crackers, water crackers, etc.)

→ Hat

07 - 5 oz sliced Genoa salami
08 - 3.5 oz prosciutto, rolled
09 - 3.5 oz pepperoni slices
10 - 2 large roasted red bell peppers, sliced into strips
11 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes or mini red peppers

→ Garnishes

12 - Fresh rosemary sprigs for decoration
13 - 1 black olive for Santa’s pom-pom

# Steps:

01 - On a large wooden board or platter, outline a triangle at the top for the hat and a rounded bottom section for the beard.
02 - Fill the bottom half generously with white cheeses: arrange brie slices, goat cheese crumbles, cheddar cubes, and mozzarella halves to mimic a fluffy beard. Tuck cream cheese balls throughout for added texture.
03 - Place rows of assorted white crackers at the base and along the sides of the beard section.
04 - Layer slices of salami and pepperoni in the triangular hat area with slight overlap for a rich red effect. Add rolled prosciutto and strips of roasted red bell pepper for color and variety.
05 - Place cherry tomatoes or mini red peppers at the tip and along the hat to add vibrant brightness.
06 - Use fresh rosemary sprigs to outline the hat and beard sections for a festive touch.
07 - Place the black olive at the tip of the hat to represent Santa’s pom-pom.
08 - Serve immediately, replenishing components as needed during the event.

# Tips from the Pros:

01 -
  • It's an absolute showstopper that requires zero cooking—just beautiful assembly and arrangement that guests mistake for culinary genius
  • Everyone finds something they love, from creamy brie to salty prosciutto, making it naturally crowd-pleasing across all ages and tastes
  • The festive presentation transforms a simple charcuterie into a conversation starter and Instagram-worthy centerpiece
02 -
  • Arrange everything just before serving—once those cheeses sit out, they can get a bit weepy, and the whole design loses its visual impact within an hour or so
  • Remove your cheeses from the refrigerator about 15 minutes before assembly so they're creamy and pliable, especially that brie; cold brie cracks when you try to arrange it
03 -
  • Let your brie sit out for 30 seconds under a warm knife before slicing—it cuts like butter and arranges perfectly instead of cracking
  • Arrange your board no more than 30 minutes before serving; beyond that, the visual impact diminishes as cheeses soften and colors start to blur together
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