Ingredients:

  • 8 oz salami or sopressata, thinly sliced
  • 1 bunch fresh rosemary sprigs
  • 4 oz manchego cheese, cubed or star-cut
  • 4 oz sharp cheddar, cubed
  • 4 oz brie or camembert, sliced into wedges
  • 1/2 cup green olives
  • 1/2 cup castelvetrano olives
  • 1/2 cup dried apricots or dried cranberries
  • 1 cup mixed raw almonds or candied pecans
  • 1 cup fresh red grapes
  • 2 tbsp honey or fig jam

Instructions:

  1. Place a small bowl of honey or jam at the bottom center of the board to serve as the tree trunk.
  2. Lightly lay out a few rosemary sprigs in a triangular silhouette to act as a visual guide for meat and cheese placement.
  3. Layer the salami slices in overlapping rows, starting from the bottom (widest part) and narrowing toward the top.
  4. Create Salami Roses by folding slices in half, overlapping them tightly in a circle, and rolling from the end; place these at the corners of the tree.
  5. Tuck the cheese cubes and wedges into the salami layers.
  6. Place bowls of olives and nuts strategically within the triangle to create anchor points.
  7. Fill the remaining gaps with grapes and dried fruits until no part of the board surface is visible.
  8. Top the peak of the tree with a star-shaped piece of manchego cheese and tuck fresh rosemary sprigs around the edges.