Christmas Tree Appetizer

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This Christmas tree appetizer made from fruit, cheese, and salami is the easiest and cutest holiday recipe!

It's perfect for a party or festive family dinner. It's ready in minutes, so it's a perfect snacking plate to set out while you finish dinner.

It's also great to take to a holiday potluck as it travels well. This easy appetizer shaped like a tree is incredibly cute and festive!

Why You'll Love this Holiday Appetizer

This holiday platter could not be any easier. You only need a few ingredients to make this cute antipasto tree for the holiday season!

If you have additional fruit, cheese, and salami on hand, you can refill it as people snack on it. Everyone loves a little snacking plate, and this delicious appetizer in the shape of a Christmas tree will be a hit wherever you serve it.

Ingredients

You can substitute any of these ingredients, but here's what we used for this Christmas tree shape appetizer.

• Cheese - You'll need a mix of cheese cubes - these can be cheddar cheese cubes, Colby jack cheese cubes, or any other favorite cheese you'd like. To save time, buy them pre-cubed in the deli section of your grocery store.
• Salami - You'll need a small log of salami or some pre-cut rounds. Try to get one that has a smaller diameter, they look cuter!
• Grapes - You'll need both green and red grapes.
• Olives - Try to find a mix of olives. There is usually one mix that contains Kalamata, Castelvetrano (bright green), and Cerignola (light green) olives that work well for this recipe.
• Piquanté Peppers - You might also know these as Peppadew peppers. These are usually sold in a jar or at the olive bar in the deli area of your grocery store. They're sweet and a little spicy. These will sit near the top of the tree.
• Pretzels - You'll need a few pretzel sticks to form the tree trunk.
• Rosemary - This is optional but adds a little more flair.

Optional - serve with your favorite crackers or some toast slices.

See the printable recipe card for quantities.

Servings Recommendations

To serve this dish, you'll need a large serving platter or cutting board. I recommend something at least 15 inches in length and 10 inches in width.

Tips for Making this Recipe

Storing Tips - This recipe can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator or saved after serving for up to 3 days in an airtight container or covered in plastic wrap. Please note that the cheese or meat should be discarded if it sits out for longer than 4 hours.

Diet/Allergy Alternatives - You can quickly leave the salami off this platter if you want it to be vegetarian. Replace it with some fruit like kiwi, mandarin orange slices, or another layer of cheese.

Substitutions

• Cheese - If you'd like goat cheese or a softer cheese, you can also use cheese balls instead of cheese cubes.
• Vegetables - you can sub in or add artichoke hearts, sliced bell peppers, chopped broccoli, celery sticks, or sliced cucumber.
• Fruit - you can add sliced kiwi, raspberries, mandarin oranges, or strawberries.

More Fun Festive Recipes to Try

Try some of our other favorite holiday recipes and Christmas appetizers for parties and celebrations with family and friends!

• Antipasto Christmas Wreath - a beautiful wreath made from skewers of mozzarella, olive, salami, and cherry tomatoes.
• Christmas Fruit Wreath - this beautiful and healthy Christmas appetizer is made with grapes, kiwi, and raspberries. If you like easy recipes, this is the one for you!
• How to Make Decorated Focaccia Bread - Focaccia with a festive design.
• Christmas Charcuterie Board - this festive recipe is a fun snack board that's great to serve at a holiday party.

If you try this savory treat recipe, let us know! Connect with us on Instagram and share your photos, or leave us a rating.