Party season is fast approaching and you may be planning a Christmas cocktail party or festive gathering. Put together a Christmas nibbles platter with a wow factor this season with these recipes.
Fruit Christmas Tree
You’ll Need:
- One apple and a mini star cookie cutter
- Grapes, washed, dried and halved
- Raspberries, washed and dried
- Blackberries, washed and dried
- 2 store bought graham crackers, to make the rectangular and square presents
- String, for tying the presents
- Wooden slices or other tree trunk suggestions (pretzel sticks, chocolate covered raisins, brown m&ms) to make tree trunk
- Gold sprinkles
Method:
- Wash and dry all of the fruit. Cut the grapes in half.
- Slice an apple into rounds and use a mini star cookie cutter to cut out 2 stars from the apple.
- To assemble the tree, begin by placing the grapes near the bottom of the platter. Make sure you leave enough room at the bottom of the platter to add the trunk and presents. For the first layer of fruit (going from the bottom to the top) add 2 rows of grapes, 1 row of raspberries, 2 rows of grapes, 1 row of blackberries, 2 rows of grapes, 1 row of raspberries, and then 4 rows of grapes. As you are adding the fruit, be sure to taper the shape so it looks like a Christmas tree.
- Add a second layer of fruit on top of the layer you just created – 1 row of grapes, 1 row of raspberries, 2 rows of grapes, 1 row of blackberries, 2 rows of grapes, 1 row of raspberries, and then 3 rows of grapes.
- Place the star at the very top of the tree. Add your tree trunk to the base of the tree.
- To assemble the presents, make 2 square presents out of 4 square graham cracker pieces, using 2 for each present. Make 2 rectangular presents out of 4 rectangular graham cracker pieces, using 2 for each present. Use red and gold string to tie the graham crackers together. Place tie side down on the platter underneath the tree.
- Finish by adding gold sprinkles to the star and around the top of the tree on the platter.
Recipe: The First Year Blog
White Chocolate Snowman Cheeseball
You’ll Need:
- 5 packages cream cheese, light or regular
- ½ cup butter, softened
- ¾ cup loosely packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup powdered icing sugar
- ¼ cup all purpose flour
- ½ cup white chocolate chips
- 2 tablespoons cream
- ½ cup toffee bits
- ½ cup finely chopped, salted peanuts
- 1½ cups shredded coconut
- Garnish: chocolate chips, long red licorice, orange gummy candy, and a chocolate cookie
Method:
- With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in brown sugar, powdered sugar, and flour and beat until smooth.
- In a medium bowl, combine white chocolate and cream. Microwave on high for 20-30 seconds, then stir. If not completely melted and smooth, microwave again for 15 seconds, stir again until smooth.
- Add to cream cheese mixture and beat until smooth. Stir in toffee bits and peanuts. Cover with plastic wrap place in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Lay down two large pieces of plastic wrap and shape a large ball on one, and a small ball on the other. It is easiest to shape into balls once you have wrapped it in the plastic wrap. Place back in the freezer for 1 hour.
- Remove from the plastic wrap and roll in the coconut to coat all sides. Place on serving plate, one ball next to the other as pictured.
- Garnish with chocolate chips, licorice, gummies and cookie as pictured if desired. Serve with graham crackers, cookies, and fruit.
Recipe: The Recipe Rebel
Christmas Tree Cheese Board
You’ll Need:
- 1 package cheddar cheese, cut into ¾ inch cubes
- 1 package pepper jack cheese
- 1 package Colby Jack Cheese
- ½ package Monterey jack cheese
- Green grapes
- Red grapes
- 1 package fresh thyme springs
- 2 Tbsp onion and chive spreadable cream cheese
- 2 Tbsp finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 piece of celery
Method:
- Place the cheese cubes and grapes in rows on a platter or cheese board to resemble a Christmas tree shape. Place cheese in the order listed above ending with the Monterey jack.
- Arrange the thyme springs through out the grapes on the platter like in the photo of the recipe.
- Roll the cream cheese spread into a ball and then roll in the parsley to coat. Place at the top of the tree. Place the celery piece at the bottom of the tree creating the trunk.
Recipe: Real Mom Kitchen
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