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The Grape Pickle 17 oz jar by [PICKLES], the holiday pickle for a Christmas charcuterie board

By Atlanta Pickles Team

Christmas Charcuterie Board: The Pickle Jars That Make the Holiday Spread

The Christmas grazing board is the first thing guests crowd around and the last thing anyone wants to cook. The good news: the part that makes a board look and taste festive is not the cheese. It is the color, the crunch and the tang between bites. That is exactly what a few jars of [PICKLES] bring. Here is the Christmas charcuterie board lineup we would put on our own table, with the cheese pairings, the jar count for your guest list and the gift boxes that make it a one-click job.

The Grape Pickle 17 oz jar by [PICKLES], the holiday pickle for a Christmas charcuterie board
The Grape Pickle: our November-to-December holiday jar
The short version: go red and green with The Red Beets, The Heat and Sweet and The Green Tomatoes, add a sweet holiday corner with The Grape Pickle, and anchor it with The Kosher Dill Spears. Every jar is $16.95, and US shipping is free on 2+ jars.

Why pickles make the Christmas board

  • They cut through the rich stuff. Holiday boards are heavy on brie, cheddar, salami and ham. A sharp, crunchy pickle resets the palate so the next bite of cheese tastes like the first.
  • They bring the colors. Deep red beets and red jalapenos next to green tomatoes and dill spears turn a beige board into a Christmas one, no garnish kit needed.
  • They are made with care. Every [PICKLES] jar is handcrafted in small batches in our Atlanta kitchen with Georgia-grown cucumbers, and our pickles have won a Good Food Award and Flavor of Georgia.
  • They work for the whole table. Every jar is gluten-free and vegan with no dyes, and our pickles have 79% less sodium, so the friend skipping the cured meat still has plenty to graze on.
  • Zero cooking. Open, drain, arrange. Unopened jars are shelf-stable, so you can order now and keep them in the pantry until the party.

The red and green lineup

Red: The Red Beets

The Red Beets are crisp and tangy with garlic and dill, and they are the deepest red on the board. Slice them into coins and fan them beside goat cheese or a soft white cheese for the most festive corner of the platter.

Red with a little warmth: The Heat and Sweet

The Heat and Sweet is made with red jalapenos, never green, for a spicy-sweet bite that sits at a mild 2 out of 5. It balances mild cheeses like Monterey Jack or Havarti. The story of why we use red peppers is in Sweet Heat Pickles.

Green: The Green Tomatoes

The Green Tomatoes bring banana peppers, garlic and a classic spice blend. They are a Southern favorite on crostini with whipped feta, and they are the twin of our award-winning Banana Pickle. More in our pickled green tomatoes guide.

Green and classic: The Kosher Dill Spears

The Kosher Dill Spears are robust and garlicky with black peppercorns. Spears stand up on a board, they are easy to grab with fingers, and they pair perfectly with smoked sausage and aged gouda.

The sweet holiday corner

The Grape Pickle: the jar that tastes like the season

The Grape Pickle is our November-to-December holiday pickle: sweet and tangy, with one clove and cinnamon pickling spice. Put it next to sharp cheddar and candied nuts and it tastes like Christmas. Read more in Pickled Grapes: Sweet, Savory & How to Eat Them.

The Grape Cocktail: the dessert end of the board

The Grape Cocktail pairs grapes with maraschino cherries and tastes like cherries: very sweet and playful. Spoon it over creamy brie, set it beside the cookies, or drop a few into a glass of sparkling wine.

The Bread and Butter: the crowd-pleaser

The Bread and Butter is sweet and mild, made with brown and white sugar and a warm cinnamon pickling spice, and no clove (that is the tell between it and The Grape Pickle). It is the jar the kids and the "I do not really like pickles" guests empty first. Try it with creamy cheeses and candied pecans.

Board tip: set out a small bowl and a pair of tiny tongs for each jar. Guests graze faster, the board stays tidy, and you can top up from the jar instead of rebuilding the platter.

The bold corner (for the guests who like a kick)

  • The Power Sour is the most sour jar we make. Extra tangy next to sharp cheeses and spicy cured meats. See the full sour scale.
  • The Horse Pickle brings tangy horseradish heat with crisp cucumbers. It loves roast beef, grilled meats and a Bloody Mary.
  • The Ghost Pickle is a 4 out of 5 and the only jar we make that stings. Label it, and watch the dares start. Our heat scale explains the rest.

Christmas board pairing cheat sheet

Jar What it tastes like Put it next to
The Grape Pickle Sweet, tangy, one clove and cinnamon Sharp cheddar, candied nuts, ham
The Grape Cocktail Very sweet, like cherries Brie, cookies, sparkling wine
The Bread and Butter Sweet and mild, no clove Creamy cheeses, candied pecans, turkey
The Red Beets Crisp, garlic and dill Goat cheese, soft white cheeses
The Heat and Sweet Spicy-sweet red jalapenos, 2 out of 5 Monterey Jack, Havarti
The Green Tomatoes Banana peppers, garlic, Southern spice Whipped feta crostini
The Kosher Dill Spears Robust, garlicky, black peppercorns Smoked sausage, aged gouda
The Power Sour Our most sour Sharp cheeses, spicy salami
The Banana Pickle Garlic dill, not spicy Turkey, ham, grilled chicken

How many jars do you need?

Gift boxes that build the board for you

The Sweet Box ($65)

The Sweet Box brings The Bread and Butter, The Heat and Sweet and Bananas (Pepper!): your sweet corner and your red corner in one box.

The Dill Box ($65)

The Dill Box covers the classics with The Dill Chips, The Vintage and The Power Sour: our whole sour scale, least to most.

The Peppers Box ($65)

The Peppers Box holds Sweet Jalapenos, red Jalapenos and Bananas (Pepper!). Sweet heat for the cheese end of the board.

The Bloody Mary Box ($65), for Christmas morning

Hosting brunch the next morning? The Bloody Mary Box has Zesty Okra, Spicy Green Beans and Spicy Okra for the garnish skewers, and The Pickle Brine is our tomato-kissed brine made for Bloody Marys.

Going to someone else's party?

Bring the board in a box. A gift-ready box ships with no prices on the packing slip, and it beats another bottle of wine. Our holiday hostess gift guide has the picks, and the full gift box collection and Christmas gifts are one click away. Add the Christmas Pickle Ornament ($16) and tell the story of the Christmas pickle tradition while everyone grazes.

Keep the board stocked all year: the [PICKLES] CLUB sends six curated jars every month, with new flavors and members-only early drops. A 12-month membership is 15% off every box, and it makes a great Christmas gift too. See what comes in each box.

Christmas charcuterie board FAQ

Which pickles go best on a Christmas charcuterie board?

Mix colors and flavors: a red jar (The Red Beets or The Heat and Sweet), a green jar (The Green Tomatoes or The Kosher Dill Spears), and a sweet holiday jar (The Grape Pickle). Add The Power Sour if your crowd likes it sharp.

How far ahead can I buy the jars?

Unopened jars keep for up to two years, so you can order well before the holidays. Refrigerate after opening.

Are your pickles gluten-free and vegan?

Yes. Every jar is gluten-free and vegan, with no dyes and no harmful preservatives.

Are they low in sodium?

Our pickles have 79% less sodium. More in our low-sodium pickles guide.

Is shipping free?

US shipping is free on 2+ jars. Shop all pickles, bestsellers or sweet and fruity jars.

Planning Thanksgiving first? See the Thanksgiving pickle board and our Friendsgiving pickle tray. And for the gifts under the tree, our Christmas gift guide.

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Customers rate us 4.9/5 based on 282 reviews.