Festive Cheese Creations: Christmas Tree and Snowman Appetizers

Appetizer Cheese Trees or Snowmen Recipe

🎄🧀🎅

Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 30 minutes
Yield: 7 cups

Ingredients:

• 3 cups cream cheese
• 4 cups cheddar cheese
• 2 cups pesto sauce
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1/4 teaspoon ground mustard
• 2-3 tablespoons parsley, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup cilantro, finely chopped
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 2 red bell peppers, cut into small pieces

Instructions:

1. Mix Cream Cheese and Cheddar Cheese: In a large mixing bowl, combine the cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Divide the mixture in half.

2. Add Pesto Sauce: Mix the pesto sauce into one half of the cheese mixture until well combined.

3. Add Onion and Mustard Mixture: To the other half of the cheese mixture, add the finely chopped onion, ground mustard, and pepper sauce. Mix until evenly distributed.

4. Refrigerate: Cover each half of the cheese mixture and refrigerate for about 4 hours or until firm enough to shape.

5. Shape into Trees: Once the cheese mixture is firm, place each half on a cookie sheet. Shape each half into a cone shape to resemble Christmas trees.

6. Coat with Parsley: Roll the tree shapes in finely chopped parsley, pressing the parsley evenly onto the surfaces of the trees.

7. Decorate with Bell Peppers: Press the pieces of red bell pepper onto the trees to form colorful ornaments.

8. Create Garland with Pine Nuts: Press the pine nuts onto the trees in a string-like pattern to create a garland effect.

9. Optional Star Topping: For an extra festive touch, top each tree with a star shape cut from lemon peel, if desired.

10. Serve with Crackers: Arrange the decorated cheese trees on a serving platter and serve with your favorite crackers.

Snowman Cheeseball Variation:

🧀⛄🥨

• Note: The following instructions are for making a snowman-shaped cheeseball.

1. Prepare Cheese Mixture: Follow steps 1 and 2 from the main recipe to prepare the cheese mixture.

2. Divide and Flavor: Divide the cheese mixture into three equal parts. Mix two-thirds of the mixture with pesto sauce and the remaining one-third with chopped onion, mustard, and pepper sauce.

3. Refrigerate: Cover each portion of the cheese mixture and refrigerate as directed in the main recipe.

4. Shape into Balls: Once the cheese mixtures are firm, shape each portion into two balls.

5. Coat with Almonds: Roll the balls in finely chopped blanched almonds until evenly coated.

6. Assemble Snowman: Stack the cheese balls on a serving plate, with the smaller ball on top for the head of the snowman. Gently press them together.

7. Add Arms: Insert pretzel sticks into the sides of the snowman for arms.

8. Decorate: Use capers for eyes, sliced olives for buttons, chopped carrots for a nose, sliced cucumber for a hat (thin slice for brim, chunk for top), chopped bell pepper for a mouth, and fresh thyme leaves for a scarf. Be creative and have fun decorating your snowman cheeseball!

Enjoy these festive and delicious appetizers at your next Christmas or Thanksgiving gathering, or even for a fun weeknight snack! 🎉🧀🎄