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Dazzle friends and family this holiday season with a fabulous Cheese Board Christmas Tree that everyone will love. Featuring puff pastry, three different cheeses, and fruit, itโ€™s a fun and delicious way to be festive.

A Christmas tree-shaped pastry topped with cubes of cheese and surrounded by kiwi slices, displayed on a round wooden board.
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Serve the tree as an appetizer at a Christmas party or as an after-dinner treat on the big day. You can even make a smaller version to share with a loved one as a snack.ย 

A cheese board is arranged decoratively with sliced kiwi, cubed white cheese, braided puff pastry, and a star-shaped cheese piece on top.

Recipe Tip

Feel free to customize the cheese and fruit. You can even add cured meats and nuts (check out my tree charcuterie board for more ideas). Enjoy!

Cheese Board Tree Ingredients

Please be sure to scroll down to the recipe card below for the complete details!ย 

Assorted ingredients on a gray surface: mango, four kiwis, heavy cream, diced cheddar, diced comte, diced manchego, and a roll of puff pastry. Labels identify each item.
  • Cheese: I use Manchego, Cheddar, and Comte.
  • Puff pastry: You will need a rectangular sheet for this recipe. Keep the pastry cool until you are ready to prepare it.
  • Kiwi: Use firm kiwis. They are delicious paired with the bold cheese.
  • Mango: For the best mango, it should be firm with a slight give at the top.ย 
  • Rosemary: To garnish (not pictured).

How to Make a Christmas Tree Cheese Board

Three uncooked dough strips are laid out parallel on a round wooden cheese board, with a hand reaching toward them from the left side of the image.
  1. Cut the pastry into long strips.
Two hands braid three strips of dough on a round wooden cutting board.
  1. Braid three strips together.
Two braided strips of dough are on parchment paper; a personโ€™s hands are shaping one of the strips into a tree.
  1. Arrange the puff pastry braids in a tree-shape on a lined baking sheet.
A hand uses a pastry brush to apply heavy cream to braided dough shaped like a Cheese Board Christmas Tree on parchment paper.
  1. Brush with heavy cream and bake til golden.
A braided pastry shaped like a Christmas tree sits on a round wooden cheese board; ceramic houses and a green tree decoration are nearby.
  1. Assemble: Place the baked pastry tree on a serving platter. Fill the tree with the cubed cheese and sliced kiwi. Cut a piece of mango into a star and place at the top.

Tips and Tricks

  • Keep the puff pastry cold before preparing. This makes it easier to work with.ย 
  • Dice the cheese into similar-sized cubes.
  • Serve the tree on a large cutting board or a platter.

Serving Suggestion

A tree-shaped platter would be perfect for this dish.

Possible Variations

  • Cheese: Use your favorite cheeses such as a sharp Cheddar,ย goat cheese, pepper jack,ย Monterey jack,ย blue cheese, orย gouda.
  • Kiwi: Grapes, apples, celery, strawberries, blueberries, fresh cranberries will all make great alternatives, or use a selection of fruits to add variety and use different colors.
  • Mango: Yellow pepper would work, or use a star-shaped bowl and top it with honey.ย 
  • Pastry: Try storebought crescent dough, pizza dough, or shape the tree from a variety of crackers.
  • Add-ons:ย Deli meats,ย walnuts,ย almonds, pistachios,ย pretzel sticks,ย or olives.
  • Make it a dessert: Sprinkle the puff pastry tree with powdered sugar and swap the cheese for your favorite festive treats.
  • Double up: This board serves 8-10 people, but feel free to make a larger tree if serving a crowd.

How to Store Leftovers

Cover leftovers withย plastic wrapย or airtight container and store in the fridge. Enjoy within 1-2 days.

FAQs

Can I make the puff pastry tree ahead of time?ย 

Yes, bake it a few hours before serving and let it cool completely.

What can I use leftovers for?ย 

Add the cheese to your next salad, and top the kiwi onto a yogurt bowl, or freeze it to add to your next smoothie. The puff pastry makes a tasty snack (try it with peanut butter and jam ).

I donโ€™t know how to braid, is there another way to make the tree?

Yes! You can take two strips of pastry and twist them together.

More Festive Boards

If you make this recipe or any other recipe on Foodbites, then I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to leave a comment and rating below.

A Christmas tree-shaped pastry braid topped with cheese cubes and surrounded by kiwi slices on a wooden board, with decorative ceramic houses in the background.
Servings: 8 people

Cheese Board Christmas Tree

By Sine Siemkowicz
Braided puff pastry Christmas tree filled with kiwi, cheddar, Comte, and manchego.
Prep: 30 minutes
Cook: 15 minutes
Total: 45 minutes
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Equipment

Ingredientsย 

  • 140 grams puff pastry
  • 100 grams Comte
  • 100 grams cheddar, mature
  • 60 grams Manchego
  • 3 tablespoons heavy cream, or egg wash
  • 4 kiwis, peeled
  • 1/2 mango
  • 8 sprigs rosemary, small

Instructionsย 

  • Preheat the oven to 200ยฐC (392โ„‰).
  • Roll out your puff pastry and cut into 1/3 inch strips.
  • Press three strips of pastry together at one end, and braid all the way down.
  • Fold the ends underneath the braid.
  • Repeat until you have four braids.
  • Assemble the braids into a Christmas tree shape.
  • Brush with heavy cream.
  • Bake the tree for 15-20 minutes until golden.
  • Allow to cool.
  • Slice the mango, and cut out the star with the cookie cutter.
  • Cube the cheese into similar sized pieces.
  • Slice the peeled kiwi, then halve each slice.
  • Arrange the cheese and kiwi inside the tree.
  • Place the kiwi halves around the outer edge of the tree.
  • Top with the rosemary sprigs and serve.

Video

Notes

You can freeze any remaining puff pastry, or use it to make cinnamon squares: roll out your pastry and brush with egg wash or heavy cream. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar, cut into 1 inch rectangles, and bake for 10-12 minutes until golden.

Nutrition

Calories: 285kcal, Carbohydrates: 17g, Protein: 11g, Fat: 20g, Saturated Fat: 10g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Cholesterol: 41mg, Sodium: 264mg, Potassium: 148mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 547IU, Vitamin C: 39mg, Calcium: 318mg, Iron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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