Do you need a quick and easy holiday appetizer? Check out this simple recipe for Meat and Cheese Christmas Trees! Only three ingredients are needed to make this festive snack. Perfect for kids and adults!

I’m a big believer that cooking and creating in the kitchen should be fun – and this is especially true during the holiday months. No matter if you have a party to feed family and friends or are looking for a simple snack to have at the house, this is a great option to make. 

Even the kids can jump in the kitchen and be a part of the creation! Have them use their imaginations to make these meat and cheese trees to help decorate the table. 

The best part is that you don’t have to take a ton of time to get something delicious – and you don’t have to cook or even turn on your oven. I call that a holiday win! 

Use this recipe inspiration to make these Instant Pot meatloaf bites. This recipe is another option that is great for a starter or appetizer as well as this fun Christmas Tree Bread. 

Meat and Cheese Christmas Trees

10 trees

Prep time: 20 minutes

Ingredients:

15 slices pepperoni

15 slices salami

1 pound block of cheddar cheese

Supplies:

Small star cookie cutter

Toothpicks

Instructions:

• Cut the cheese into ¼ inch slices, then use a small star cookie cutter to cut out 10 stars. Set the stars aside.

• Cut the remaining cheese into 10 cubes.

• Stick one toothpick into each cheese cube.

• Fold each slice of pepperoni and salami into quarters (in half, then in half again) and slice three pieces of folded meat onto the toothpick on top of the cheese cube.

• Place one cheese star on top of each tree.

• Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

       

Variations

The fun part about making this simple snack is that you can change it up and enjoy it however you would like. 

• Use different types of cheeses – You can use cheddar, American, Mozzarella, Pepperjack, or any other flavor of cheese that you want. This keeps the edible trees looking unique and gives them a delicious new taste. 
• Slice different meats – Even though pepperoni works perfectly for this dish, that doesn’t mean that you can’t try other meats. Thinly sliced ham, turkey, salami, or even cooked chicken breast would all work! 

How To Serve

Presentation is important when it comes to recipes like this! While you can easily put these on a serving platter for everyone to grab, you can also serve them in different ways. 

Adding them to a holiday charcuterie board would be a great option and a fun way to add eye-catching food to the recipe. 

Can I prep this ahead of time? 

Yes, you can. This recipe is a great option for prepping and having ready. Just be sure that you put it into the fridge and keep it nice and chill during that time. 

I’ll cover them with plastic wrap so that they stay as fresh as possible. You can also cut the meat and cheese ahead of time and then put everything together right before serving. 

Be sure to save some time to make some of these 20 Easy Gluten-Free Snack Ideas for the holidays, too! 

Yield: 10

Meat and Cheese Christmas Trees

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

These Meat and Cheese Christmas Trees prove to be one of the easiest recipes for the holidays!

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Ingredients

• 15 slices pepperoni
• 15 slices salami
• 1 pound block of cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Cut the cheese into ¼ inch slices, then use a small star cookie cutter to cut out 10 stars. Set the stars aside.
2. Cut the remaining cheese into 10 cubes.
3. Stick one toothpick into each cheese cube.
4. Fold each slice of pepperoni and salami into quarters (in half, then in half again) and slice three pieces of folded meat onto the toothpick on top of the cheese cube.
5. Place one cheese star on top of each tree.
6. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

10

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 252Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 591mgCarbohydrates: 2gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 14g

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