Spiral Cucumber Christmas Trees (Printable)

Festive cucumber ribbons twisted into tree shapes with creamy cheese and herbs for a refreshing starter.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 2 large English cucumbers
02 - 6 cherry tomatoes

→ Dairy

03 - 3.5 ounces cream cheese, softened

→ Herbs & Seasonings

04 - 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
06 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Garnishes & Assembly

07 - 12 small pretzel sticks
08 - 12 star-shaped yellow bell pepper slices (optional)
09 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds or poppy seeds (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - Wash cucumbers thoroughly. Using a mandoline slicer or vegetable peeler, slice cucumbers lengthwise into long, thin ribbons.
02 - In a small bowl, combine softened cream cheese with chopped dill, chives, salt, and pepper until smooth.
03 - Cut each cherry tomato in half.
04 - Thread one cucumber ribbon gently onto a pretzel stick, folding it back and forth to form a zigzag resembling a Christmas tree.
05 - Spoon or pipe a small dollop of the herbed cream cheese onto the base of each assembled cucumber tree.
06 - Top each tree with a half cherry tomato or optional star-shaped bell pepper slice.
07 - Sprinkle sesame or poppy seeds over the trees if desired.
08 - Arrange the trees upright on a serving platter and serve immediately to maintain crispness.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy and quick to prepare with no cooking required.
  • Light, fresh, and visually festive for holiday celebrations.
  • Vegetarian and gluten-free with customizable options.
  • Perfect bite-sized portions for parties and gatherings.
02 -
  • Use a mandoline slicer for consistent, thin cucumber ribbons.
  • Gently fold the cucumber ribbons without tearing to maintain structure.
  • Prepare the cream cheese mixture ahead for quicker assembly.
  • Serve immediately to prevent pretzel sticks from becoming soft.
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