Santa's Beard Hat Board (Printable)

A festive board with white cheeses as beard and cured meats as hat, perfect for holiday parties.

# What You Need:

→ Beard

01 - 7 oz brie cheese, sliced
02 - 7 oz goat cheese, crumbled
03 - 5 oz white cheddar, 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

# How-To Steps:

01 - On a large wooden board or platter, create a triangle shape at the top for the hat and a rounded shape below for the beard.
02 - Fill the bottom rounded area with white cheeses: layer brie slices, goat cheese crumbles, cubed cheddar, and halved mozzarella balls to simulate a fluffy beard; tuck cream cheese balls intermittently to add texture.
03 - Place assorted white crackers along the base and sides of the beard section.
04 - Layer Genoa salami and pepperoni slices within the triangular hat section, overlapping for a rich red appearance; add rolled prosciutto and roasted red pepper strips for variety and color.
05 - Position cherry tomatoes or mini red peppers at the tip and scattered along the hat to enhance brightness.
06 - Outline both the hat and beard sections with fresh rosemary sprigs for a festive accent.
07 - Set a black olive at the tip of the hat to represent Santa’s pom-pom.
08 - Present the board promptly and replenish ingredients as needed throughout your gathering.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It's a showstopper that takes just 20 minutes to assemble, leaving you with time to actually enjoy your gathering instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • Everyone gravitates toward it because it's interactive and fun—there's something magical about eating from Santa's face that makes people smile
  • You can customize it endlessly with your favorite cheeses, meats, and vegetables, so it works for any crowd or dietary preference
02 -
  • Don't assemble this more than 2 hours before serving—the cheeses begin to warm and lose their definition, and the crackers can absorb moisture from the board. Timing is everything for maintaining that picture-perfect appearance.
  • Keep everything cold until the last moment, and even consider setting your board on a bed of ice under the platter. I learned this the hard way when my brie started looking more like a puddle than a beard halfway through a party.
  • The black olive truly makes the concept complete—don't skip it. It's the punctuation mark that says 'this is Santa,' and guests always notice when someone tries to leave it off.
03 -
  • Keep your board chilled right up until the moment you bring it out—even placing it on a bed of ice under the platter makes a noticeable difference in how long everything stays fresh and beautiful throughout the evening.
  • The secret to Santa looking like Santa is commitment to the color story: pristine whites for the beard, deep reds for the hat, with green accents. Don't get tempted to add purple grapes or yellow cheese—stick to the palette and the magic stays intact.
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