6 ounces turkey pepperoni or beef summer sausage, sliced
1 cup fresh blackberries or raspberries
1 cup salted almonds or walnuts
1 box assortment of crackers
1 bunch fresh rosemary sprigs
1 thick slice of provolone cheese, cut into a star shape
1/2 cup dried cranberries
Pretzel sticks for the tree trunk
Instructions
Step 1: Select and Clean the Board. Start with a large wooden cutting board or a flat slate platter. Ensure the surface is clean and dry. To help guide your tree shape, you can lightly mark a large triangle on the board using a few pieces of rosemary as an outline.
Step 2: Create the Foundation. Place a row of cubed sharp cheddar cheese at the very bottom of your triangle to form the widest part of the tree. Directly below the center of this row, place a small bundle of pretzel sticks to serve as the tree trunk.
Step 3: Layer the Fruits and Meats. Moving upward, add a layer of green grapes followed by a layer of turkey pepperoni slices. Fold the pepperoni in half or fourths to give the board more volume and texture. Continue building the triangle by adding a layer of pepper jack cheese cubes and then a layer of red grapes.
Step 4: Fill in the Gaps. Use blackberries, almonds, and dried cranberries to fill in any small gaps between the larger rows. These smaller items act like ornaments on the tree. As you move toward the top, each row should get slightly narrower to maintain the conical evergreen shape.
Step 5: Add the Star and Garnish. Place your star-shaped cheese cutout at the very peak of the triangle. To finish the look, tuck fresh rosemary sprigs along the sides and tucked into the rows. The rosemary mimics the look of pine needles and adds a wonderful aromatic element to the board.
