Make your holiday season bright and healthy with this festive Christmas Tree Veggie Tray. It’s the perfect showstopper for any holiday party, combining the crunch of fresh broccoli, bell peppers, and cherry tomatoes with a creamy, garlicky buttermilk dip that everyone will love.
Feeling in the festive spirit? Try making any of our healthy Christmas appetizer recipes to celebrate the holiday season!
This recipe transforms a standard vegetable platter into a festive, nutrient-dense appetizer that supports heart health through smart ingredient swaps and a rainbow of fresh produce.
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Yes, you can prep the components a day early. However, we recommend assembling the "tree" on the platter shortly before serving to prevent the vegetables from shifting or drying out.
It is almost always significantly cheaper (and healthier!) to make your own. Store-bought trays often use older produce and dips high in preservatives and sodium.
Broccoli, carrots, and cucumbers are the top choices, but for this festive version, broccoli is essential for the "evergreen" look.
This garlicky dip pairs beautifully with whole-wheat pita triangles or even as a spread for healthy turkey sliders.
Looking for more festive and heart-healthy ways to start your holiday party? These vibrant Christmas appetizers, from seasonal fruit canapes to veggie-packed wreaths, offer a nutrient-dense and delicious alternative to traditional heavy party snacks.
Round out your festive menu with these lean, protein-rich main courses designed to support your heart health without sacrificing holiday flavor. These roasted and glazed holiday mains pair perfectly with our Christmas tree veggie tray for a complete, dietitian-approved celebration.
Recipe yields 16 servings
In a bowl, combine cream cheese, buttermilk, dill, garlic, onion powder, salt and black pepper. Cover with plastic wrap and keep chilled while assembling the “Christmas tree.”
On a flat platter, arrange the broccoli florets in a tree pattern with the cherry tomatoes in 2 layers as “ornaments.” Arrange the bell pepper strips in the shape of a star at the top of the “tree.”
Arrange the pretzel sticks as the tree “trunk.” Arrange the cauliflower florets as the “snow” at the bottom of the tree.
Serve the dip with the vegetables.
This tray is a perfect companion to other light holiday appetizers like whole-grain crackers or air-fried zucchini fries. It also balances out heavier holiday mains like roasted turkey or lean beef roast by providing a fresh, crunchy side option.
If you don't have broccoli, green beans or snap peas make excellent green "branches" for the tree.
Use a plant-based cream cheese and unsweetened almond milk mixed with a teaspoon of lemon juice to replace the buttermilk.
Ensure your pretzel sticks are certified gluten-free, or substitute with a celery stalk for the tree "trunk."