Get in the spirit this Christmas season with a festive Christmas Tree Veggie Tray! Easy to assemble and fun to present, this holiday appetizer encourages guests to enjoy fresh vegetables.
Christmas Tree Vegetable Platter
Move over cookies — let vegetables have their moment. A well-arranged veggie tray is often the most appreciated party contribution: refreshing, colorful, and a welcome contrast to holiday sweets. This Christmas Tree Veggie Tray turns simple produce into a centerpiece that’s both playful and healthy.
The idea is straightforward: arrange a variety of green vegetables into a triangular tree shape, add bright vegetable “ornaments,” and finish with a cheese star and a carrot stump. It’s easy to customize based on your favorite produce or what’s in season.
Supplies
- Cutting board and knives for prep
- Large platter, board, or tray for serving — any flat surface works well, from a serving platter to a wooden cutting board.
Ingredients
Treat this more as a serving idea than a strict recipe — pick the vegetables you and your guests enjoy. Typical ingredients include:
- Broccoli florets
- Sugar snap peas
- Baby carrots
- English cucumber (cut into sticks)
- Red bell pepper (sliced into strips)
- Cauliflower florets
- Optional: a slice of yellow cheddar cheese to cut a star
Other green options for the tree: green bell pepper, celery, or blanched green beans. For colorful “ornaments,” try cherry tomatoes, yellow or orange bell peppers, or radishes.
Instructions
- Prep and cut all vegetables. Break broccoli and cauliflower into bite-size florets. Cut cucumber into batonnet-style sticks about 2 inches long (or simply slice if preferred). Slice red bell pepper into thin strips.
- If using cheese, carefully cut a star from a slice of yellow cheddar.
- Assemble the tree on your platter. Start by arranging green vegetables in a triangular tree shape, building from the base upward. Use a mix of broccoli, snap peas, cucumber sticks, and other greens to create texture and fullness.
- Form the trunk of the tree with baby carrots at the base and surround the trunk with cauliflower to resemble snow.
- Add red bell pepper strips and other colorful vegetables as ornaments across the tree. Top with the cheese star.
- Serve with your favorite dips such as a yogurt ranch or hummus for easy snacking.
Tips, Tricks and Questions
- Prep ahead: Cut and store vegetables up to 48 hours in advance in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.
- Assemble close to serving: Put the tray together a few hours before guests arrive. Once assembled, cover and keep chilled until serving.
- Leftovers: Dismantle the tray and store remaining vegetables separately to preserve freshness.
If you like this Christmas Tree Veggie Platter you might also like:
- How to Make a Sheet Pan Snack Platter
- Dried Beef Pickle Roll Ups
- Buffalo Chickpea Dip
- Fresh Restaurant-Style Salsa
- Greek Layer Dip
- Easy Tortellini Skewers
Christmas Tree Veggie Tray
Get in the spirit this Christmas season with a healthy vegetable platter shaped like a Christmas tree. It’s a fun, easy appetizer that gets everyone nibbling on veggies.
15 minutes
15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 head broccoli
- 15 oz bag sugar snap peas
- 1 cup baby carrots
- 1 English cucumber
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 head cauliflower
- 1 slice cheddar cheese (optional star)
- (plus your favorite dip for serving)
Instructions
- Prep and cut the veggies into bite-sized pieces. Cut cucumber into sticks and red pepper into strips. Cut a cheese star if desired.
- Arrange the green vegetables into a triangular tree shape, layering for fullness.
- Add baby carrots for the trunk, cauliflower around the base to mimic snow, and red pepper strips as decorations. Top with the cheese star and serve with dip.
Notes
This is a versatile idea, not a strict recipe — swap in any vegetables you prefer. For green layers try green bell pepper, celery, or green beans. For ornaments use cherry tomatoes or colorful peppers.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1/8 of the platter
Amount Per Serving:
- Calories: 81
- Total Fat: 2g
- Saturated Fat: 1g
- Cholesterol: 3mg
- Sodium: 66mg
- Carbohydrates: 13g
- Fiber: 5g
- Sugar: 6g
- Protein: 5g