Description
This festive Christmas Tree Appetizer is a beautiful and delicious way to celebrate the holidays. Layers of cheddar, Monterey Jack, and Colby Jack cheese cubes alternate with vibrant green and red grapes arranged in rows to form a Christmas tree shape. Fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs add a fragrant, decorative touch, while a celery stalk forms the tree trunk. Perfect for holiday parties, this no-cook appetizer is simple to assemble and visually impressive.
Ingredients
Scale
Cheese
- 12 ounces Colby Jack cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles
- 4 ounces Monterey Jack cheese, cut into 3/4 inch cubes or triangles
Fruit
- 1 pound green grapes, separated from stems
- 1 pound red grapes, separated from stems
Herbs and Garnishes
- 1 container fresh thyme sprigs
- 1 container fresh rosemary sprigs
- 1 stalk celery, cut into 2-inch pieces
Instructions
- Arrange cheddar cheese row: Start by stacking 8 cubes of cheddar cheese in a row on your serving platter or cheese board. Adjust the number of cubes as needed, creating a wide base for the tree shape.
- Add green grapes row: Place about 12 green grapes in a row directly beneath the cheddar cheese, matching the width and continuing to build the layers of the tree.
- Continue layering cheese and grapes: Following the sequence—cheddar cheese, green grapes, Monterey Jack cheese, red grapes, Colby Jack cheese, green grapes, cheddar cheese, red grapes, and Colby Jack cheese—create rows that widen as you build upward, forming a Christmas tree shape.
- Create tree topper: Place a single red grape at the top of the tree and surround it with green grapes to form a festive tree topper.
- Decorate with herbs: Tuck fresh thyme and rosemary sprigs evenly throughout the grape rows on the platter to add fragrance and a decorative touch.
- Add celery trunk: Position a 2-inch piece of celery at the bottom center of the tree formation to represent the tree trunk.
- Chill and serve: Cover the assembled tree appetizer and refrigerate until ready to serve. Pair it with your favorite crackers for a perfect holiday snack.
Notes
- This appetizer requires no cooking, making it quick and easy to assemble.
- Using firm, seedless grapes will make assembly easier and result in a cleaner presentation.
- Feel free to substitute the herbs with other fresh greens like parsley or basil if preferred.
- Keep the cheese cubes uniform in size for the best stacking and visual appeal.
- Refrigerate the assembled appetizer to keep the cheese and grapes fresh before serving.
