Spiral Cucumber Christmas Trees (Printable)

Crisp cucumber ribbons shaped like trees with creamy cheese and fresh herbs for a festive starter.

# What You'll 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 onto a pretzel stick, folding it back and forth to form a zigzag pattern resembling a Christmas tree.
05 - Pipe or spoon a small dollop of the herbed cream cheese onto the base of each assembled tree.
06 - Top each tree with a cherry tomato half or a star-shaped yellow bell pepper slice for decoration.
07 - Sprinkle each tree with sesame seeds or poppy seeds if desired.
08 - Arrange the cucumber trees upright on a serving platter and serve immediately to preserve texture.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy and quick to prepare with no cooking required.
  • Light, fresh, and vegetarian-friendly—perfect for holiday parties.
  • Gluten-free option available with gluten-free pretzel sticks.
  • Visually stunning presentation that adds festive flair.
02 -
  • Use a mandoline slicer or a sharp peeler for uniform cucumber ribbons that fold easily.
  • Work gently when threading ribbons on pretzel sticks to prevent tearing.
  • Serve immediately to keep pretzel sticks crisp and prevent sogginess.
  • Optional toppings like sesame or poppy seeds add elegant texture and appearance.
Return