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Learn to make this adorably festive and easy Christmas Antipasto Wreath with salami, mozzarella cheese, briny olives, and fresh sprigs of rosemary! This fun and tasty platter is as customizable as it gets and comes together in just minutes. The antipasto skewers are always a huge hit and the perfect way to keep your party guests satisfied before the main meal!
This is not so much a recipe, but instead, a how-to on assembling a spectacular antipasto Christmas wreath! You might recognize some similarities to my Christmas tree antipasto platter which is another holiday season favorite, however, the wreath is made with fewer ingredients.
If you love charcuterie boards and appetizer platters, this is a fun and festive twist on the presentation which is just as easy to make and perfect for holiday parties!
The literal translation of Italian antipasto means “before food” because in Italy it’s traditional to have cured meats, cheeses, and olives before a meal.
This antipasto wreath is a fresh, healthy, and beautiful way to serve these items for your next Christmas party!
If you’re looking for a quirky cheese platter, check out my easy snowman cheese ball!
Why you’ll love this Christmas Antipasto Wreath recipe
Easy appetizer recipe – Stick to a pattern and set things out in the shape of a wreath. It couldn’t be easier! It’s so delicious that it doesn’t stay on a wreath for long, but it sure is a showstopper for those first few minutes!
Everything is store-bought – The entire wreath is made with cured meat, fresh cheeses, briny olives, and decorative fresh herbs, which you can pick up from your local market!
Customizable – Get in touch with your creative side and customize it to your liking. Add nuts, jams, bread, crackers you name it! It really is a fun way to to be festive during the Christmas season.
Equipment you’ll need
Ingredients
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this recipe, why you need them, and possible substitutions. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with measurements.
- Mozzarella Balls – These balls are also known as bocconcini. They’re smaller than the traditional mozzarella balls but just as soft, fresh, and mild. Reserve the oil they come marinated in. You can also use ciliegine mozzarella balls which are even smaller than bocconcini.
- Cherry Tomatoes – Bright juicy red tomatoes add a pop of color and a refreshing acidic element that helps cut through the heavy meat and cheese.
- Salami Slices – Use whichever kind you like. Salami is a thinly sliced cured pork sausage that comes in a variety of flavors. Choose whichever is your favorite, and whether you want mild or spicy.
- Spanish Manzanilla Olives – Pitted green olives add the briny element we love on a charcuterie board. Make sure they’re pitted so people don’t have to worry about the pits when they’re eating.
- Rosemary Sprigs – A touch of Christmas added to our Antipasto Christmas wreath! The fresh rosemary sprigs add the look of foliage for decoration. Use fresh basil instead if you’d like.
How to make a Christmas Antipasto Wreath
This section shows you how to make this recipe, with process photos showing the steps to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Step One: Decide on the serving plate you want to use. Will you be using a wooden board? Plastic? China? Then think about the color. Solid colors work best so the design of the plate doesn’t take away from the design of the wreath. Solid white or solid wood are usually safe bets!
- Step Two: To your serving plate, add the mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, salami, olives, and rosemary, in that order in a ring (wreath) shape. There’s no need to skewer them because if you place them close enough together, they should hold themselves together, but skewers do make for easy serving.
- Step Three: If you’ve got leftovers, you can always serve them in a side dish or make mini platters with smaller wreaths for the kids!
- Step Four: Finally, use a pastry brush to baste the reserved mozzarella ball oil or balsamic vinegar onto the wreath. Keep it in the fridge until you’re ready to serve. Enjoy!
Hot Tip: If the ring is giving you any trouble, don’t stress! Scrap it and skewer everything in the same pattern on individual skewers. Then, assemble the skewers in a circle with the ends of each skewer meeting in the middle (like a bicycle spoke).
What to serve with a Christmas Antipasto Wreath
This type of party platter always goes well with a side of crackers, crusty bread, flat bread, or breadsticks. People love to enjoy slices of salami on crackers or cheese on bread.
For added presentation, you can add crackers or bread to the center of the wreath. So cute!
Tips & Suggestions
- Use fresh, quality ingredients. Go out and grab the best you can get. Small boutique cheese shops and delicatessens will usually carry everything you need in one place.
- Use fresh bocconcini or mozzarella in the oil, however, pat the cheese dry before adding it to the platter.
- You can use stuffed olives if you prefer. Garlic stuffed is great! So is blue cheese, so there are options. Just as long as there are no pits in there.
- You can also use black olives too. Kalamata olives are delicious! I just like the green because it’s so Christmassy, but you do you.
- This is a finger food, so don’t forget to serve it with napkins and toothpicks!
- Sprinkle the entire Christmas antipasto wreath with salt and pepper for a little seasoning.
How to store your Christmas Antipasto Wreath
How to store leftovers
This antipasto Christmas wreath can be kept out while serving, but no longer than 2 hours. The dairy and the meat need to be kept refrigerated. Cover the plate with plastic wrap or transfer everything to an airtight container.
How long will the antipasto wreath last in the fridge?
It’ll keep fresh for up to 3 days. Once the shape of the wreath has been destroyed and the party is over, feel free to use what’s left to make a salad!
FAQs
Oh, here’s where it gets even better! There are so many options! Brined artichoke hearts, pepperoncini, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, roasted red peppers, marinated mushrooms, sliced eggplant, and of course play around with various cheeses.
You can also swap, or include, prosciutto to your platter and finish the wreath off with a balsamic glaze instead of the oil.
It’s yours, you enjoy it how you want!
Make this ahead up to 3 days before. Don’t baste it until just before serving. It’s a good one to assemble on Christmas Eve and that way it’s ready for you the next day.
Alternatively, since it comes together quickly, in a matter of minutes, if you can wait to assemble it, I would.
This can be anything from slices of bread, crostini, and crackers to small bowls of mixed nuts or perhaps a fruit preserve or even fresh fruit. Pomegranate arils, fresh berries, prunes, dates, raisins, you get the idea.
Easy Antipasto Wreath
Need more fun and festive appetizer recipes? Try these:
Easter Bunny Dessert Cheese Ball
Click here for my entire collection of appetizer recipes.
Christmas Antipasto Wreath
Ingredients
- 12 ounces mozzarella balls reserve the oil
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 8 ounces salami
- 8 ounces Spanish manzanilla olives pitted
- 6 ounces rosemary
Instructions
- On a serving plate alternate the mozzarella balls, cherry tomatoes, salami, olives, and rosemary in a wreath shape.
- Any leftovers can go in a side dish when serving.
- Use a pastry brush to baste the mozzarella ball oil onto the wreath.
Notes
- Use fresh, quality ingredients.
- Use fresh bocconcini or mozzarella in the oil, however, pat the cheese dry before adding it to the platter.
- You can use stuffed olives if you prefer.
- You can also use black olives too.
- Sprinkle the entire Christmas antipasto wreath with salt and pepper for a little seasoning.
- Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
