Are you looking for a quick, festive appetizer for the holidays? These Christmas Cheese Trees take minutes to assemble and look charming on any holiday spread. Made with just a few simple ingredients, they’re the perfect tree-shaped bite for Christmas parties.
The holiday season is hectic, so it’s smart to have a couple of no-bake appetizers ready to go. These cheese trees are one of my favorites because they’re fast, festive, and require almost no prep. They’re also low-carb and use ingredients you can easily find at any grocery store.
Christmas Cheese Trees
Just a few ingredients
- Cheese Wedges
- Pretzel Sticks
- Herbs & Seasonings
What’s the Best Cheese to Use?
If you want the fastest option, Laughing Cow cheese wedges are ideal—they’re already the right size and shape and come in many flavors. Other good choices include:
- Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges (low in calories and convenient)
- Brie
- Camembert
- White cheeses like provolone, Swiss, or mozzarella cut into triangular wedges
Cheese Trees Seasoning Blend
Use any seasonings you like. A favorite blend is chopped fresh herbs (rosemary, basil, dill), herbs de Provence, crushed red pepper, and a light dusting of smoked paprika. If you want an extra festive touch, cut a tiny star from a yellow bell pepper to top each tree.
How to Make Christmas Cheese Trees
These are incredibly easy. The full printable recipe is available below, but here’s a quick overview:
- Place your seasoning blend in a shallow plate.
- Unwrap the cheese wedges (or cut your chosen cheese into triangular wedges).
- Press one side of each cheese wedge into the herbs so it becomes coated.
- Flip the wedge and insert a pretzel stick (cut to a short length) into the bottom to act as the trunk.
- Arrange the finished trees on a platter and serve.
Tip: If the pretzel splits the cheese or won’t insert cleanly, let the cheese come to room temperature first. You can also use a toothpick or wooden skewer to make a small pilot hole, then replace it with the pretzel stick.
Serve these on a holiday platter or add them to a larger charcuterie board. Their tree shape makes them a charming and festive addition to any appetizer spread.
FAQ
Can you make cheese trees in advance?
Yes. Prep everything except the pretzel sticks, then wrap the herbed cheese wedges in plastic wrap or place in an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve. Insert the pretzel sticks right before serving.
How do you make spicy cheese trees?
Add more crushed red pepper or a pinch of cayenne to your seasoning blend for extra heat.
Give these Christmas Cheese Trees a try for your next holiday gathering—they’re festive, simple, and always popular with guests.
More Christmas Appetizers
- Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board
- Christmas Deviled Eggs
- Christmas Cheese Ball Wreath
Christmas Cheese Trees
Ingredients
- 8 Cheese Wedges (like Laughing Cow)
- 4 Pretzel Sticks (cut in half)
- 1/3 cup herbs (basil, rosemary, dill, etc.), diced
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Unwrap Laughing Cow cheese wedges, or cut brie or white cheese into triangular wedges.
- Mix herbs, crushed red pepper, and smoked paprika on a shallow plate.
- Press a cheese wedge into the herb mixture to coat one side. Flip and insert half a pretzel stick into the base to form the trunk.
- Serve immediately or refrigerate covered (without pretzel sticks) until ready to serve.