Christmas Platters and Trays: What to Buy, What to Skip, and How to Use Them

A Christmas platter is one of those purchases that seems simple and isn’t. You need something to serve the cookies, the cheese, or the turkey, and you want it to look festive. The problem is that most Christmas platters are designed for one day a year. They have Santa on them, or they say “Merry Christmas” in a font that only works in December, and they sit in a cabinet for 11 months. A good platter is different. It’s beautiful enough for Christmas and simple enough for the rest of the year. It’s the kind of piece you reach for every time you have people over, not just on December 25th.

Christmas platters and trays are serving pieces designed for holiday entertaining, including large serving platters, cheese boards, appetizer trays, and cake stands. The best platters are versatile, well-made, and usable year-round. The worst are Christmas-specific, poorly made, and too themed to use past December.

The right Christmas platter is one that works for the holiday and for every other dinner party. Here’s what to look for, what to skip, and how to choose.

Types of Platters and Trays

Large Serving Platters

Large serving platters are the workhorses of holiday entertaining. They hold the turkey, the roast, the ham, or a large assortment of cookies.

What to look for:

• A size that fits your largest dish (at least 16 inches for a turkey platter)
• A material that’s oven-safe and dishwasher-safe (porcelain, stoneware, or ceramic)
• A rim that’s high enough to contain juices but low enough to serve from
• A design that’s simple and neutral (white, cream, or a subtle pattern)
• A surface that’s smooth and easy to clean

What to skip:

• Platters with Christmas-specific designs (Santa, reindeer, “Merry Christmas”)
• Platters that are too small for a main dish
• Platters that aren’t oven-safe (you can’t keep food warm on them)
• Platters with rough surfaces that trap food

Best for: Serving the main dish, large assortments of cookies, or a cheese spread.

Cheese Boards

Cheese boards are the entertaining essential that gets used year-round. They’re the piece that makes a casual gathering feel intentional.

What to look for:

• A material that’s food-safe and durable (wood, slate, or marble)
• A size that’s large enough for a spread (at least 12 x 16 inches)
• A surface that’s easy to clean and doesn’t absorb odors
• A design that includes a handle or a way to carry it
• Optional: a set that includes cheese knives

What to skip:

• Boards that are too small (they can’t hold enough cheese for a party)
• Boards with rough surfaces that trap food
• Boards that aren’t food-safe (some decorative boards have finishes that aren’t food-safe)
• Boards that absorb odors (some woods do)

Best for: Cheese, charcuterie, appetizers, and fruit. The most versatile piece in the collection.

Appetizer Trays

Appetizer trays are smaller serving pieces for individual courses or snacks.

What to look for:

• A set of matching small trays or a divided tray
• A material that’s food-safe and easy to clean
• A size that’s appropriate for appetizers (8 to 12 inches)
• A design that’s simple and neutral

What to skip:

• Trays that are too small to be useful
• Trays with Christmas-specific designs
• Trays that aren’t dishwasher-safe

Best for: Appetizers, dips, nuts, and small bites.

Cake Stands

Cake stands are the display piece that elevates a dessert from a plate to a centerpiece.

What to look for:

• A material that’s food-safe and beautiful (glass, ceramic, or marble)
• A size that fits a standard cake (10 to 12 inches)
• A dome that covers the cake (optional but useful)
• A design that’s simple and elegant

What to skip:

• Cake stands that are too small for a standard cake
• Cake stands with Christmas-specific designs
• Cake stands that aren’t food-safe

Best for: Cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and desserts. A display piece that works year-round.

Tiered Trays

Tiered trays are the vertical serving piece that saves table space and adds height to a display.

What to look for:

• A material that’s food-safe and sturdy (metal, wood, or ceramic)
• Two to three tiers with enough space between them for food
• A design that’s simple and neutral
• A base that’s stable (it won’t tip when loaded)

What to skip:

• Tiered trays that are too tall (they tip easily)
• Tiered trays with Christmas-specific designs
• Tiered trays that aren’t food-safe

Best for: Cookies, cupcakes, appetizers, and small items. A display piece that saves space.

Materials: What Lasts and What Doesn’t

The material of a platter determines how long it lasts and how it looks.

Porcelain is the premium option. It’s elegant, it’s durable, and it’s food-safe. It’s also the most expensive. Porcelain platters are white or cream, which means they work with any decor and any season. $30 to $100.

Stoneware is the rustic option. It’s heavier than porcelain, it’s durable, and it has a natural, earthy look. Stoneware is often glazed in neutral colors (cream, gray, or brown). $20 to $60.

Ceramic is the everyday option. It’s durable, it’s food-safe, and it comes in a wide range of colors and patterns. Ceramic platters are the most versatile and the most affordable. $15 to $40.

Wood is the natural option. It’s warm, it’s beautiful, and it’s best for cheese boards and appetizer trays. Wood requires oiling to prevent cracking, and it’s not dishwasher-safe. $20 to $80.

Slate is the modern option. It’s dark, it’s food-safe, and it’s best for cheese boards. Slate can be written on with chalk, which is a nice touch for labeling cheeses. $20 to $40.

Marble is the luxury option. It’s beautiful, it’s cool to the touch (good for cheese), and it’s heavy. Marble requires sealing to prevent staining. $30 to $80.

Glass is the affordable option. It’s clear, it’s food-safe, and it’s best for cake stands and serving bowls. Glass is the most versatile and the easiest to clean. $15 to $40.

Christmas-Themed vs. Year-Round

The biggest decision with a Christmas platter is whether to buy one that’s overtly Christmas-themed or one that’s simply beautiful.

Christmas-themed platters have holiday designs (Santa, reindeer, snowflakes, “Merry Christmas”). They’re fun for Christmas dinner and they photograph well. The drawback: they can’t be used past December. If you’re buying a platter for one day a year, a themed platter is appropriate. If you’re buying a platter for year-round use, choose a neutral one.

Year-round platters are simple, neutral, and beautiful. A white porcelain platter, a wooden cheese board, or a marble cake stand works for Christmas and for every other dinner party. They’re the better choice if you want the platter to be a daily piece, not a seasonal one.

The compromise: Buy one Christmas-themed platter for the main dish (it’s the centerpiece of the table and it’s only used once a year) and year-round pieces for everything else (cheese boards, appetizer trays, cake stands).

What to Skip Entirely

Platters with Christmas-specific designs that can’t be used year-round. Unless you’re buying a platter for one day a year, choose a neutral design.

Platters that aren’t food-safe. Some decorative platters have finishes that aren’t food-safe. Check the label before buying.

Platters that aren’t dishwasher-safe. A platter that needs hand-washing is a chore. Choose dishwasher-safe pieces for everyday use.

Platters that are too small for the dish. A turkey on a too-small platter is a mess. Measure your largest dish before buying.

Platters with rough surfaces. They trap food and they’re hard to clean. Choose smooth surfaces.

FAQ

What are the best Christmas platters and trays? The best platters are versatile, well-made, and usable year-round: a large white porcelain serving platter, a wooden cheese board, a set of ceramic appetizer trays, and a glass cake stand. Choose neutral designs that work for Christmas and every other dinner party.

Should I buy a Christmas-themed platter or a neutral one? If the platter is for Christmas dinner only, a themed platter is appropriate. If you want the platter for year-round use, choose a neutral design. The compromise: buy one themed platter for the main dish and neutral pieces for everything else.

What material is best for a serving platter? Porcelain is the most elegant and durable. Stoneware is the rustic option. Ceramic is the everyday option. Wood is best for cheese boards. Slate and marble are best for cheese. Glass is best for cake stands. Choose based on how you’ll use the piece.

What size platter do I need for a turkey? At least 16 inches for a standard turkey. Measure your largest dish before buying. A platter that’s too small for the main dish is a mess.

Are cheese boards worth buying for Christmas? Yes. A cheese board is the most versatile serving piece. It works for Christmas, for dinner parties, for casual gatherings, and for everyday use. A wooden or slate cheese board in a simple design is a piece you’ll use year-round.

How do I care for wooden platters and cheese boards? Hand-wash with warm water and mild soap. Don’t soak or put in the dishwasher. Oil with food-grade mineral oil every few months to prevent cracking. Don’t use cooking oils, which can go rancid.

What should I avoid when buying Christmas platters? Avoid platters with Christmas-specific designs that can’t be used year-round, platters that aren’t food-safe, platters that aren’t dishwasher-safe, platters that are too small for the dish, and platters with rough surfaces. Choose versatile, food-safe, easy-to-clean pieces.

References

• Good Housekeeping. “Best Serving Platters.” https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/cooking-tools/best-serving-platters/
• The Spruce. “Best Serving Platters.” https://www.thespruce.com/best-serving-platters-4150125
• NY Magazine The Strategist. “Best Cheese Boards.” https://nymag.com/strategist/tag/cheese-boards/