Cheese and Cracker Christmas Tree

Votes: 1

Time: 1 hour (including cooling time)
Complexity: easily
Servings: 8-10

Nutritional value per serving:

Serving size: 1 of 10
Calories 550, total fat 38 G., saturated fats 19 G., proteins 18 G., carbohydrates 35 G., fiber 2 G., cholesterol 97 mg, sodium 951 mg, sugar 4 G.

Instead of a regular cheese platter, serve this impressive (and delicious) cheese tree.

Festive treat

This cheese appetizer looks like it could only be made by an experienced cook, but it's actually quite simple. Follow these 10 easy steps to assemble the dish.

The recipes use measuring containers with the following volumes:
1 glass (st.) - 250 ml.
3/4 cup (st.) - 180 ml.
2/3 cup (st.) - 160 ml.
1/2 cup (st.) - 125 ml.
1/3 cup (st.) - 80 ml.
1/4 cup (st.) - 60 ml.
1 tablespoon (tbsp) - 15 ml.
1 teaspoon (tsp) - 5 ml.
1/5 teaspoon (tsp) - 1 ml.

Ingredients for the recipe:

2 packages (220 g each) of cottage cheese at room temperature
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1.5 tsp. grated lemon zest
5 cups (about 450 g) of any semi-hard cheese, coarsely grated
Coarse salt
1 large breadstick
1/3 cup finely chopped fresh parsley, plus more for sprinkling
1/2 cup fine bread straws (about 40 pieces)
1/2 cup mini crackers (about 45 pieces)
1/4 cup sliced almonds
2 tbsp. l. pomegranate seeds
2 tbsp finely grated Parmesan
Crackers for serving

Ingredient Substitution Suggestions

We recommend

Recipes with similar ingredients: Parmesan cheese, cheddar cheese, cheese, curd cheese, Gouda cheese, crackers, salted straws, pomegranate, parsley, almond, lemon zest

Cooking the dish according to the recipe:

Ingredients needed

Here's all you need for this spectacular holiday appetizer: cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, grated cheese, salted breadsticks, chopped fresh parsley, mini graham crackers, sliced almonds, and pomegranate seeds.

Make a cheeseball

Combine cream cheese, Worcestershire sauce, lemon zest, grated semi-hard cheese and salt to taste in the bowl of a stand mixer.

Basic design

It won't look like wood at first—don't worry. You need to create support. Place some of the cheese mixture on a plate in a mound, large enough to hold a large breadstick securely.

Form a tree

It's time to play with food! Form a cone with your hands to form the base of the future tree. Save some of the cheese mixture to cover the top of the breadstick.

Add some color

To transform the cheese from a white cone into a Christmas tree, press chopped parsley onto the surface with your hand. Avoid leaving any white spots.

Cool it down

Give your cheese tree time to rest and harden in the refrigerator before you continue decorating.

Add branches

Add breadcrumbs, mini-graham crackers, and slivered almonds on all sides. Press them down gently to prevent the tree from tipping over.

Add a garland

What's a Christmas tree without garland? Even better if it's edible. For festive "lights," press pomegranate seeds between the branches.

The finishing touches

The look will be completed with Parmesan “snow”.

Decorate the top

Like a holiday tree, this one needs a topping—place a slice of almond on top. Serve with crackers and watch as your friends and family devour your creation.