This Christmas, give your holiday party appetizers a little extra festive with these adorable Christmas charcuterie cups. They’re perfectly portable, completely customizable, and an easy way to please a crowd because everyone gets their own!

Christmas charcuterie cups - red paper cup filled with charcuterie ingredients: folded salami skewers, cheddar cheese stars, a gherkin, a grape, a cracker, and rosemary.

Instead of arranging a Christmas Tree charcuterie board, next to the reindeer cheese ball, and Knorr spinach dip, pack them into individual snack cups that are pre-proportioned with your favorite meats, cheeses, fruits, crackers, pickles, and seasonal garnishes like rosemary sprigs.

These easy charcuterie cups for Christmas are perfect for all kinds of holiday parties and for guests of all ages. Everyone gets their own mess-free, grab-and-go charcuterie cup, perfect for enjoying while mingling!

Why you’ll love this recipe

Handheld portions. Great for serving a mess-free appetizer.
Festive and fun. Everyone loves mini food, especially when it’s dressed up to match a theme!
Creative. Use my recipe as a starting point and add your favorite items.
Prepared foods. No-fuss, nothing made from scratch, everything ready to go!

Christmas Charcuterie Cups Ingredients

This section includes ingredient notes and substitution options. Get all measurements, ingredients, and instructions in the printable recipe card at the end of this post.

: Flat lay image showing labeled ingredients for charcuterie cups. Items include club crackers, rosemary sprigs, sliced salami on a plate, red grapes in a bowl, blackberries in a bowl, cheddar cheese slices in a bowl, and gherkins in a bowl. Red and green paper cups and decorative skewers are also visible.

Salami – Use any type you prefer. Spicy, mild, German, Genoa, etc.
Cheddar cheese – I like to cut stars out of the cheese.
Blackberries and grapes – Wash and pick them over to get rid of any soggy grapes or berries. Make sure they’re completely dry.
Rosemary sprigs – For festive foliage.
Club crackers – These add a bit of texture, and of course, something to eat with the cheese!
Gherkin pickles – A little crunchy, tangy element. Gherkins are the perfect size for these cups.

Equipment

Small star cookie cutter
24-30 small skewers and/or holiday cocktail picks
6 charcuterie cups – we used red and green but kraft paper cups are a great option and more affordable to order.

How to Make Charcuterie Cups

This section shows you how to make the recipe with step-by-step photos and instructions. For the full printable recipe, see the recipe card below.

4 photo collage showing steps to assemble charcuterie cups. Top left shows a star-shaped cutter on a square slice of cheddar cheese. Top right and bottom left show hands folding salami. Bottom right shows two skewers of folded salami arranged like trees, surrounded by cheddar cheese stars.

First, you’ll need to slice your cheese to 1/4″ thick. Then, use a star cookie cutter to cut stars out of the cheese, reserving any leftovers to snack on later. Set those aside for now.
Fold each salami slice in half twice and then thread about 4-5 pieces onto a skewer. Place one sprig of rosemary into the bottom of each cup followed by 1 skewer of salami.
Thread 1 cheese star onto a skewer topped with 2 blackberries. Add one of those skewers to each cup. Do the same with one gherkin on a stick per cup, then 3 grapes on a stick in each cup.
Tuck 1-2 crackers into the side of each mini charcuterie cup just before serving. Enjoy!

Christmas charcuterie cups with festive picks, showing items being added.

Pro Tip:

Hold off on adding the crackers until you’re ready to serve the cups; otherwise, they’ll get soggy.

Make Ahead and Storage

Prepare these cups in advance (without the crackers) and keep them stored in the fridge for up 12 hours before serving.

Keep any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. I suggest adding fresh crackers when you’re ready to eat it again.

Green charcuterie cup with holiday picks and snacks.

Recipe Tips

Prep items in advance. Cut the cheese stars, wash and dry the fruit and rosemary. Store everything separately, airtight in the fridge for up to 2 days for quick and easy assembly.
Double or triple the recipe as needed, depending on the number of guests.
Add some extra charm to the cups by adding a festive ribbon, perhaps name tags, or use Christmas themed cups.
Varied heights. To give the charcuterie some levels, make the grape skewers shorter so they sit lower in the cup.
Use firm cheese so that it holds its shape.

Additions and variations

Swap the cheddar. Use Gouda, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, or even white cheddar instead.
Add extra fillers. Nuts and pretzels are always a good choice. They also help keep the skewers in place.
Use a variety of meats. Try capicola, prosciutto, ham, turkey, etc.
Extra garnish. Add cranberries, olives, or even mini candy canes.

Red and green paper charcuterie cups are displayed together, each filled with folded salami skewers, cheddar cheese stars, grapes, gherkins, crackers, and rosemary.

More Holiday Appetizer Recipes

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Christmas Charcuterie Cups

Author: Jaclyn

Prep: 15

Total: 15

These festive Christmas charcuterie cups are a fun, no-fuss way to serve your favorite meats, cheeses, fruits, and more. The perfect appetizer for any holiday party!

Equipment

Ingredients

Instructions

Use a star cookie cutter to cut star shapes from the cheddar slices. Set aside the cheese stars and save the scraps for snacking on later.
6 slices cheddar cheese
Fold each salami slice in half, then fold in half again. Thread 4–5 folded pieces onto a skewer. Place one salami skewer into each cup.
30 slices salami
Add a rosemary sprig to each cup.
6 rosemary sprigs
Thread one cheese star onto a skewer, followed by 2 blackberries. Add one to each cup.
12 blackberries
Thread a gherkin onto a skewer and place it into each cup.
6 gherkin pickles
Thread 3 grapes onto a skewer. If desired, trim the bottom of the skewer so the grapes sit lower in the cup and help create varied heights for a more balanced look. Add to each cup.
18 grapes
Tuck 1–2 club crackers into the side of each cup before serving.
6-12 club crackers