A Christmas tree made of cheese and a variety of colorful olives is definitely something you’ll want to try this holiday season. This unique olive tree appetizer is packed with flavor and so easy to make. Continue reading for tips on making an olive Christmas tree.
Olive Tree Appetizer
- Begin with a Styrofoam cone measuring about 6 to 8 inches (15-20.5 cm.) in height. Wrap the cone securely with plastic wrap.
- Spread a generous spoonful of room-temperature cream cheese over the flat bottom of the cone, then place the cone on a serving tray or plate. Press the cone down lightly to secure it to the plate.
- Spread cream cheese on the remainder of the cone, then chill it for about an hour (if you like, you can mix a small amount of chives, chopped parsley, onion powder, or garlic salt into the cream cheese).
- While the Christmas tree is chilling, use a star-shaped canape cutter to cut cheddar or Colby cheese into small stars. For extra color, cut a few extra stars from red, green, and yellow bell peppers.
- Break several toothpicks in half and use them to attach olives to the Christmas tree shape, starting at the bottom of the tree. Use a variety of interesting olives such as black, green, or kalamata olives. You can also use olives stuffed with pimentos, jalapenos, almonds, or onions. Using larger olives at the bottom will add stability to the olive tree appetizer. Leave several spaces between olives for cheese and pepper stars.
- Attach a few sprigs or leaves of fresh rosemary between the olives, then top the cheese-olive tree with a cheese star. Cover the olive Christmas tree loosely with plastic and refrigerate for up to eight hours.
Serve the Christmas olive tree appetizer with sliced salami and your favorite crackers. Sliced pears and apples also pair beautifully with a cheese-olive tree.
-
Bold & Beautiful Festive Bloomers: 6 Christmas Flowering Plants For A Big Holiday Buzz‘Tis the season for celebration and easy living, so make sure your plants are up to it. These dynamic Christmas flowering plants will help you see out the season in style
-
9 Thoughtful Stocking Stuffers For Gardeners – That They’ll Actually UseStocking stuffers often end up an after-thought, but not these! Explore expert-curated stocking stuffers for gardeners that they'll use for years to come.
-
How To Press Olive Oil: Making Olive Oil At HomeInterested in making oil from olives? It's easier than you might think. Click here to learn how to press olive oil.
-
Olive Preservation Guide: How Do You Brine OlivesCured olives are a delicious snack or addition to recipes. There are many methods for curing olives. Learn how to preserve olives here.
-
Growing An Olive Tree With No Olives: What Is A Fruitless Olive TreeWhat is a fruitless olive tree, you may ask? Many are not familiar with this beautiful tree, commonly used for its beauty in the landscape. The olive tree with no olives may be the perfect tree for your southern landscape. Click this article to learn more about fruitless olives.
-
Olive Tree Xylella Disease: Learn About Xylella Fastidiosa And OlivesIs your olive tree looking scorched and not thriving as it should. Perhaps, Xylella disease is to blame. What is Xylella? This bacterial disease affects hundreds of different plants and trees in temperate climates around the world. Click here to learn how it affects olives.
-
Olive Oil Information: Learn How To Use Olive OilOf course, we know how to use olive oil with foods, but have you ever wondered about olive oil?s other uses? There are, indeed, other uses for olive oil. The following article contains information about what exactly olive oil is and how to use olive oil beyond cooking.
-
Olive Tree Topiaries – Learn How To Make An Olive TopiaryOlive trees are native to the Mediterranean region of Europe. They have been grown for centuries for their olives and the oil they produce. Olive tree topiaries are popular. If you are considering making an olive tree topiary, the following article will help.
-
Olive Houseplants – Growing A Potted Olive Tree IndoorsOlive trees as houseplants? If you?ve ever seen mature olives, you may wonder how it?s possible to transform these reasonably tall trees into olive houseplants. But it is not only possible, indoor olive trees are the latest houseplant craze. Learn more here.
-
Potted Olive Tree Care: Tips On Growing Olive Trees In ContainersIf you don't have enough space for a full tree, or if your climate is too cold, you can still have olive trees, as long as you grow them in containers. Click the following article to learn more about potted olive tree care and how to grow an olive tree in a pot.
