Candy Cane Zigzag Board (Printable View)

A colorful holiday board with cheeses, meats, fresh fruits, and vibrant garnishes arranged in a candy cane shape.

# What You'll Need:

→ Cheeses

01 - 7 oz mozzarella cheese, sliced or bocconcini
02 - 3.5 oz goat cheese, optional, sliced or crumbled

→ Meats

03 - 7 oz dry-cured salami, sliced
04 - 3.5 oz prosciutto, optional, rolled

→ Accompaniments

05 - 3.5 oz cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced into strips
07 - 1.75 oz pomegranate seeds for garnish
08 - 3.5 oz green or red grapes
09 - Fresh basil or rosemary sprigs for garnish

→ Crackers & Breads

10 - 5.3 oz assorted crackers or gluten-free crackers
11 - 1 small baguette, sliced, optional

→ Dips & Spreads

12 - 1 small bowl whole-grain mustard or honey
13 - 1 small bowl cranberry chutney or fig jam

# How To Make It:

01 - On a large rectangular or oval serving board, alternately arrange sliced salami and mozzarella in overlapping layers to form a bold, curving S-shape resembling a candy cane, starting at one corner and curving toward the center before extending to the opposite side.
02 - Fill the curve with additional cheese such as goat cheese if using, and add rolled prosciutto for enhanced color and texture.
03 - Position halved cherry tomatoes and red bell pepper strips alongside the red sections of the arrangement to enhance the festive color palette.
04 - Scatter grapes, pomegranate seeds, and sprigs of fresh basil or rosemary around the board to add visual interest and freshness.
05 - Place crackers and baguette slices along the edges of the board or in a separate serving basket.
06 - Serve whole-grain mustard or honey, and cranberry chutney or fig jam in small bowls positioned on or near the board.
07 - Tuck additional basil or rosemary sprigs throughout the board for a festive finishing touch. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks like you spent hours in the kitchen, but it's genuinely a 20-minute project that makes you look like a hosting genius
  • There's something about the red and white arrangement that just screams holiday without feeling overdone or trying too hard
  • Everyone at the table eats with their hands, laughs more, and somehow the conversation flows easier when food is this beautiful and inviting
02 -
  • Arrange your board no more than 30 minutes before serving if you want everything to look its absolute best. Cheese dries out, herbs start to wilt, and the whole thing loses its luminosity if it sits too long.
  • The real secret is overlapping your sliced items generously. Under-overlap and the pattern looks sparse and sad. Overlap generously and it looks abundant, intentional, and designed.
03 -
  • Use a wooden board that's actually large and rectangular—it gives you more room to work and makes the pattern clearer. A small round board forces everything to crowd together and loses the impact.
  • The salami and mozzarella should be roughly the same thickness so they sit evenly and create a satisfying visual rhythm. Ask your deli counter to slice them just right.
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