10 Minute Appetizer Recipe - Pesto Christmas Tree!
Did you know you can prepare a fabulous Christmas appetizer in less than 10 minutes? This festive Pesto Christmas Tree is made with a small block of cream cheese and prepared pesto. Yellow and red peppers make cute “ornaments” for the tree. When you take this appetizer to a party, no one will suspect that this took so little time. I’ve found that each tree is the right amount to serve about 12 people. If you’re taking this to a bigger party, make several and arrange them on a cute tray; your guests will love them.
I recently prepared some of these trees as part of the appetizer display for two catering jobs. Not only were they devoured immediately, several guests at the party wanted the recipe! It was a little embarrassing to tell them how easy they were to make.
I’ve found that it’s a good idea to keep prepared pesto on hand in my fridge; it can be used in several dishes, and since it’s green, it’s perfect for use during the Christmas season. The store-bought kind is really quite good, and much less work than making it yourself. If you want to, you can stir in a little extra Parmesan cheese and some chopped toasted pine nuts to make it really special.
12 Servings
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 rod pretzel or nugget pretzel
1/2 cup pesto
yellow bell pepper
red bell pepper
Cut the cream cheese diagonally in half. Turn one of the halves around and press the two halves together to form a tree shape. Smooth the seam a little. Push the pretzel up into the tree to form a trunk.
Spread the pesto evenly over the tree. Cut a small star out of the yellow bell pepper. Using a straw, cut ornaments from the red bell pepper. I’ve found that it’s easier to cut on the inside of the pepper through rather than from the outside where the skin is a little tough. Arrange the star and the ornaments on the tree. Serve with crackers.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 60
Percent Total Calories From:
Fat 83% Protein 9% Carb. 8%
Nutrient Amount per
Serving
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol 21 mg
Sodium 59 mg
Total Carbohydrate 1 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 2 g
Vitamin A 19% Vitamin C 39% Calcium 0% Iron 2%
I recently prepared some of these trees as part of the appetizer display for two catering jobs. Not only were they devoured immediately, several guests at the party wanted the recipe! It was a little embarrassing to tell them how easy they were to make.
I’ve found that it’s a good idea to keep prepared pesto on hand in my fridge; it can be used in several dishes, and since it’s green, it’s perfect for use during the Christmas season. The store-bought kind is really quite good, and much less work than making it yourself. If you want to, you can stir in a little extra Parmesan cheese and some chopped toasted pine nuts to make it really special.
Pesto Christmas Tree Appetizer
12 Servings
1 8 oz. package cream cheese
1 rod pretzel or nugget pretzel
1/2 cup pesto
yellow bell pepper
red bell pepper
Cut the cream cheese diagonally in half. Turn one of the halves around and press the two halves together to form a tree shape. Smooth the seam a little. Push the pretzel up into the tree to form a trunk.
Spread the pesto evenly over the tree. Cut a small star out of the yellow bell pepper. Using a straw, cut ornaments from the red bell pepper. I’ve found that it’s easier to cut on the inside of the pepper through rather than from the outside where the skin is a little tough. Arrange the star and the ornaments on the tree. Serve with crackers.
Amount Per Serving
Calories 72 Calories from Fat 60
Percent Total Calories From:
Fat 83% Protein 9% Carb. 8%
Nutrient Amount per
Serving
Total Fat 7 g
Saturated Fat 4 g
Cholesterol 21 mg
Sodium 59 mg
Total Carbohydrate 1 g
Dietary Fiber 0 g
Sugars 0 g
Protein 2 g
Vitamin A 19% Vitamin C 39% Calcium 0% Iron 2%
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