This 10 minute Christmas Tree Veggie Platter it’s what you need for festive vibes.
I can’t wait to tell you about my go-to holiday appetizer that always wows guests!
The art of arranging vibrant broccoli “branches” and cherry tomato “ornaments” into a tree creates something both beautiful and delicious.
Even veggie-skeptical friends will be reaching for seconds.
Ready to discover how this simple centerpiece can transform your holiday spread?
Ingredients
Recommended Tools
Creating a Christmas Tree Veggie Platter doesn’t require fancy equipment, but having these kitchen tools on hand will make the process quick, easy and stress-free.
With just a few basic items, you can transform ordinary vegetables into a festive holiday centerpiece that will impress your guests.
- Large Serving Platter:
Provides ample space to arrange your broccoli florets and other vegetables in the Christmas tree shape.
- Chef’s Knife:
Essential for slicing bell peppers, cucumbers and carrots into the right shapes for your festive display.
- Cutting Board:
Gives you a stable surface for prepping all the colorful vegetables before arranging them.
- Vegetable Peeler:
Makes quick work of preparing carrot sticks for the tree trunk portion of your platter.
- Small Pot:
Perfect for blanching broccoli florets to improve their texture and brighten their color.
- Small Dip Bowls:
Allows you to serve your favorite dips alongside the veggie platter for guests to enjoy.
Instructions for Minute christmas tree veggie platter
Ready to wow your holiday guests with a festive veggie platter that’s as fun to make as it’s to eat? Let’s turn those veggies into a Christmas masterpiece in just 10 minutes!
Start by grabbing about 3 cups of broccoli florets and arranging them in a triangle shape on your platter – this creates the foundation of your Christmas tree. If you want your broccoli to have that perfect crunch, try blanching it quickly in boiling water for 30 seconds, then dunking it in ice water. Your guests will thank you!
Next, place 1 cup of cherry tomatoes strategically throughout the broccoli “tree” like festive ornaments. Add a few at the top to create a tree topper – how cute is that?
Now for the colorful part! Arrange 2 cups of sliced bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, and green) in rows below the broccoli to form vibrant tree branches. Mix and match the colors to create that twinkling Christmas light effect!
Fill in the next row with 1 cup of cucumber slices and 1 cup of snap peas. These green veggies add texture and dimension to your edible masterpiece!
For the tree trunk, position ½ cup of carrot sticks at the bottom of your creation. Want to take it up a notch? Top your tree with a slice of starfruit for a dazzling star, and arrange some pretzel sticks at the base of the trunk for extra crunch and style!
Don’t forget to serve your veggie tree with your favorite dip on the side. Ranch, hummus, or a creamy herb dip all make perfect companions!
Pro tip: Prep all your veggies ahead of time and store them in the fridge, then assemble your tree just before serving. This keeps everything fresh and crisp for your holiday gathering!
Pro Tips
Briefly blanch the broccoli florets for 30 seconds in boiling water, then immediately plunge into ice water to set their vibrant green color and improve texture while maintaining a fresh crunch for your Christmas tree platter.
Substitutions & Variations
While this Christmas tree veggie platter is already festive and nutritious, you can customize it with alternative ingredients that maintain the holiday spirit but reflect your personal taste.
- Mediterranean Style: Swap broccoli for green olives and add feta cheese cubes as ornaments with cherry tomatoes and thin slices of red pepper for a Mediterranean twist.
- All Red & Green: Use only red and green vegetables for a traditional Christmas color scheme with red bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers and broccoli arranged in alternating rows.
- Fruit Tree Alternative: Transform the concept into a sweet version using green grapes for the tree shape, strawberry slices as ornaments and pineapple chunks for variety.
- Low-Carb Friendly: Replace any starchy vegetables with cauliflower florets, zucchini rounds and asparagus tips while keeping the tree formation intact.
- Spicy Holiday Tree: Add jalapeño slices between vegetable rows and serve with a spicy sriracha dip for guests who enjoy heat.
- Rainbow Tree: Arrange vegetables in rainbow order from top to bottom using purple cabbage, blue potatoes, green broccoli, yellow peppers, orange carrots and red tomatoes for a colorful display.
Leftovers & Storage Tips
Even though your Christmas tree veggie platter might be the star of your holiday gathering, you’ll occasionally have leftovers that are too good to waste.
Store any uneaten veggies in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. I like separating items to maintain crispness!
For a quick lunch the next day, toss leftover veggies into salads or omelets – they’re still perfectly nutritious!
Holiday Serving Board Ready
10-Minute <strong>Christmas Tree Veggie Platter</strong>
A festive and healthy vegetable platter arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree for holiday entertaining.
- Broccoli florets (about 3 cups)
- Cherry tomatoes (1 cup)
- Assorted bell peppers (red, yellow, orange, green), sliced (2 cups total)
- Cucumber slices (1 cup)
- Snap peas (1 cup)
- Carrot sticks (½ cup)
- Optional: starfruit slice (1) and pretzel sticks (a handful) for decoration
- Arrange broccoli florets in a Christmas tree shape on a platter.
- Place cherry tomatoes at the top to resemble ornaments or a star.
- Add rows of bell pepper slices below the broccoli to form branches.
- Fill in with cucumber slices and snap peas in the next row.
- Use carrot sticks for the tree trunk at the bottom.
- Optionally, top with a starfruit slice and arrange pretzel sticks as the trunk base.
- Serve with your favorite dip.
