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This colorful Apple Christmas Tree is one of my favorite snacks to serve during Christmas time! It’s so simple to make and is a wonderful way to entice the kids to eat a bit more nutrient-rich fruit during the holiday season. It’s fun to serve as a healthy, kid-friendly breakfast or appetizer and is easy enough that the kids can help you make them! Happy holidays!
Apple Christmas Tree
Isn’t this the sweetest little Christmas fruit tree? Especially at this time of year with all of the holiday goodies kicking around, I find that we need to make fruits and vegetables a little more fun, colorful and enticing than normal. This apple Christmas tree is the perfect way to do that.
It’s really just a handful of different fruits, a little cheese, and some pretzel sticks, but they’re so cute, the kids will want to munch their way through them. My little guys always get so excited to decorate their own little trees!
apple christmas tree
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Why We Love This This Christmas Fruit Tree
- So easy to make: This is a super simple activity, perfect for including the kids. Just arrange everything together on the plate and serve! Or allow the kids to decorate the trees themselves!
- Healthy and colorful: The rainbow colored fruits are packed with fiber, vitamins and minerals. The perfect way to get a nutritional boost this holiday season! This decorative tree is so colorful and fun; everyone will want to have a few bites!
- Festive appetizer: If you’re hosting a party to celebrate the winter holidays this year, this is the perfect appetizer to prepare! The fruits are delicious on their own, or you can serve them with your favorite fruit dip.
Ingredient Notes
- Green apple: This is the base of the Christmas tree. The green color really makes it look more like an actual tree, but if your kids only like red apples, you can use those instead.
- Pomegranate seeds: These seeds look like little jewels on the tree. So beautiful!
- Blueberries: Rinse and dry fresh blueberries to look like ornaments.
- Cantaloupe: Use a mini star-shaped cookie cutter to give your cantaloupe a little holiday spirit.
- Mozzarella cheese: A slice of cheese cut into the shape of a star makes the perfect tree topper! You can purchase pre-sliced cheese or cut a thin slice off of a block.
- Pretzel sticks: I prefer to use pretzel sticks as the trunk, but you could easily pipe some of this chocolate frosting without powdered sugar instead!
How to Make a Fruit Christmas Tree – Step-by-Step
- Cut 8 half inch slices from a green apple.
- Next, get out a large plate and arrange the 8 slices in the shape of a Christmas tree so that you have four rows of apple slices with the tops of two apple slices touching on each row.
- Next, arrange the pretzel sticks at the bottom of the apple slices to form the trunk.
- Using a small star cookie cutter, cut a star from a thin slice of cheese. Place the star at the top of the apple Christmas tree.
- Next, cut a thin slice of cantaloupe. Using a smaller star cookie cutter, cut out mini stars from the cantaloupe. Distribute evenly over the apple slices.
- Arrange the pomegranates and blueberries across the apple slices, filling in any gaps between the cantaloupe stars, just like you’re decorating a tree.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- This Christmas tree snack is best served fresh since the apple slices will start to turn brown after sitting for a while. Also, the cheese may start to harden around the edges. If you want to make it in advance, follow the steps below to help slow the browning of the apples.
- I like to use an apple cutter to make the apple slices more uniform in size. Then simply slice the pieces in half to make them thinner.
- Feel free to customize your apple Christmas tree with whatever decorations you like. You can use different fruit or use a piping bag to top the tree with a drizzle of natural peanut butter or yogurt.
Recipe FAQs
You can prepare this apple Christmas tree in advance, but the apples will start to turn brown, and the overall appearance may not be quite as nice. One alternative is to soak the apple slices in a little lemon juice and prepare all of your ingredients the day before. Then, assemble these tree Christmas snacks right before serving.
Absolutely! Some people don’t always love the tartness of green apples. The tree is easy to recognize based on the shape, even if you use a red apple. You can also choose a red and yellow variety like the Ambrosia apple or Gala.
The best method is to toss the apples with a little lemon juice. I like to add the apples to a bowl, add a little water, then add a squeeze of lemon juice. Stir well and let the apples sit in the mixture for a few minutes then arrange them on your tray.
I used a 1-inch star cookie cutter for the cantaloupe stars and a 2-inch star cookie cutter for the cheese star. You can find both sizes in this set of cookie cutters!
Storage Guidelines
- These beautiful trees look best made right before your about to serve them.
- If you need to make one in advance, cover the tray well with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In this situation, it helps to coat the apple slices with lemon juice to keep them from turning brown.
Serving Suggestions
This fruit platter Christmas tree is a wonderful treat to serve this Christmas season at your holiday party or Christmas Eve festivities. Pair it with these other festive treats and meals for a little holiday fun!
- Christmas Fruit Wreath
- Banana Snowmen
- Santa Pancakes with Strawberries
- Chocolate Covered Strawberry Penguins
Recipe Variations
- Adjust the fruit: Try different fruits! Instead of pomegranate seeds, you could easily use halved grapes, raspberries, or even sliced strawberries.
- Serve a dip: Tart apples can be more tasty to eat with a sweet dip. I like to use this 4-ingredient peanut butter dip, and it’s always a hit at any party!
- Pipe on the trunk: Although the pretzel sticks are a lovely touch, you can take it to the next level and pipe on chocolate frosting. You can even add mini chocolate chips or chocolate shavings for a bark-like texture.
- Go big: As it is, this appetizer is a nice appetizer to share with a small group. If you’re serving it to a larger party, you can stagger and layer the apple slices into a large mound.
- Create a scene: Arrange this tree alongside my other Christmas treats to create a holiday scene! Add a gingerbread house, candy canes, banana snowmen, and even a holiday charcuterie board to offer a healthy, homemade appetizer for your Christmas party.
More Holiday Recipes & Ideas
- Christmas Lunch Box Ideas
- Turkey Deviled Eggs
- Fruit Halloween Snack Ideas
- Halloween Fruit Tray Ideas
- Halloween Dirt Pudding Cups Recipe
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Green Apple Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 8 slices green apple
- Small handful of pomegranate seeds
- Small handful of blueberries
- 1 slice of cantaloupe
- Thin slice mozzarella cheese (or sub in preferred cheese)
- 4-5 pretzel sticks
Instructions
- Cut 8 half inch slices from a green apple.
- Next, get out a large plate and arrange the 8 slices in the shape of a Christmas tree so that you have four rows of apple slices with the tops of two apple slices touching on each row.
- Next, arrange the pretzel sticks at the bottom of the apple slices to form the trunk.
- Using a small star cookie cutter, cut a star from a thin slice of cheese. Place the star at the top of the apple Christmas tree.
- Next, cut a thin slice of cantaloupe. Using a smaller star cookie cutter, cut out mini stars from the cantaloupe. Distribute evenly over the apple slices.
- Arrange the pomegranates and blueberries across the apple slices, filling any gaps between the cantaloupe stars, just like you're decorating a tree.
- Serve immediately and enjoy!
Notes
- This Christmas tree snack is best served fresh since the apple slices will start to turn brown after sitting for a while. Also, the cheese may start to harden around the edges. If you want to make it in advance, follow the steps below to help slow the browning of the apples.
- Feel free to customize your apple Christmas tree with whatever decorations you like. You can use different fruit or use a piping bag to top the tree with a drizzle of natural peanut butter or yogurt.
