Antipasto Cheese Ball Christmas Tree
User Reviews
4.9
Antipasto Cheese Ball Christmas Tree
Description
This recipe creates a cheese ball molded into a tree shape, combining softened cream cheese with flavorings including chopped sun-dried tomatoes, diced red bell pepper, dill pickles, chives, parsley, onion powder, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt. This mixture is spread and formed on plastic wrap to hold its shape before assembling.
Once shaped, the cheese tree is decorated by pressing mixed olives, additional sun-dried tomatoes, and rosemary sprigs onto its surface, imitating tree decorations. Optional brushing with sun-dried tomato oil enhances flavor. A bell pepper star or thick cheese slice tops the tree, adding festive detail. It is served with crackers, salami, and prosciutto slices rolled on the side to offer a variety of textures and tastes.
The wide tree shape is structurally stable. Ingredients are prepared carefully, such as drying olives and sun-dried tomatoes, to prevent decoration from sliding off. Refrigeration can help firm up the cream cheese mixture if it becomes too soft to handle.
Ingredients
For The Dip:
- 4 cups cream cheese softened
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- ½ cup bell pepper diced, red
- ¼ cup dill pickles finely diced
- ¼ cup chives chopped
- ¼ cup parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 pinch salt to taste
For The Decorations:
- 1 ½ - 2 cups mixed olives I use a variety of black, green and Kalamata olives - dried with paper towel, pitted
- ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes chopped (dried with paper towel)
- rosemary leaves sprigs to decorate
- Ritz crackers or water crackers or pretzels for serving
- 8 salami for serving, slices
- 8 prosciutto for serving, slices
Instructions
- In a bowl combine all the ingredients for the dip and mix until the ingredients are well combined.
- Place a piece of non-stick plastic wrap on a clean bench top or work surface. Scoop the cream cheese mixture out onto the plastic wrap and completely cover with another piece of wrap (you may need two pieces to cover it).
- Use your hands to mould the cream cheese into a tree shape. Then, carefully pick up the tree with one hand and peel off the plastic wrap on the bottom of the tree with your other hand. Place the tree straight onto a serving plate.
- Use a cake spatula to smooth the edges. Decorate with olives, sun-dried tomatoes and rosemary leaves/sprigs, lightly pressing each element into the cream cheese to ensure they stay on. Brush with some sun dried tomato oil from the jar (optional but adds even more flavour)!
- Top with a star cut out of a yellow or orange bell pepper OR a thick slice of cheese.
- Serve with crackers of your choice, salami and prosciutto slices rolled up!ENJOY!
Notes
- Shape the cheese ball into a wider tree for better stability, as tall narrow shapes tend to collapse.
- If the cream cheese mixture softens too much and loses shape, refrigerate for about 20 minutes to firm it up before decorating.
- Pat olives and sun-dried tomatoes dry before applying to the tree to help them stick and prevent sliding caused by excess oil.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 14people
Amount Per Serving
Calories 155 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 155kcal | 8% |
| Carbohydrates | 11g | 4% |
| Protein | 13g | 26% |
| Fat | 7g | 11% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Trans Fat | 0.01g | 1% |
| Cholesterol | 15mg | 5% |
| Sodium | 859mg | 36% |
| Potassium | 516mg | 11% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 454IU | 9% |
| Vitamin C | 12mg | 13% |
| Calcium | 250mg | 25% |
| Iron | 1mg | 6% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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