Description
Create a festive and visually stunning Antipasto Christmas Tree featuring cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, Castelvetrano and kalamata olives, pepperoncini, and fresh rosemary, all beautifully arranged on a styrofoam cone for an impressive holiday appetizer.
Ingredients
Scale
Antipasto Ingredients
- 10 ounces cherry tomatoes
- 10 ounces bocconcini (mozzarella cheese balls)
- 16 ounces Castelvetrano olives (pitted)
- 4 ¼ ounces kalamata olives (pitted)
- 16 ounces pepperoncini
Other Ingredients
- 2 ounces fresh rosemary
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons sea salt flakes
- Styrofoam cone (not edible, for assembly only)
- Plastic wrap (for wrapping cone)
- Toothpicks (for securing ingredients)
Instructions
- Prepare the cone: Wrap the styrofoam cone tightly with a layer of plastic wrap to prevent direct contact with food and place it on a flat serving board or surface.
- Start assembling the base layer: Insert a toothpick halfway into the base of the cone, then thread a cherry tomato onto it. Continue this process around the base, alternating ingredients—cherry tomatoes, bocconcini, Castelvetrano olives, kalamata olives, and pepperoncini—to create a colorful and balanced first layer.
- Build subsequent layers: For each new layer, insert the ingredients in the gaps between the previous row to create a full and dense appearance, covering the cone completely. Use pepperoncini sparingly as they take up more space.
- Add rosemary sprigs: Break fresh rosemary into small sprigs with your fingers and insert them in any remaining gaps between olives, tomatoes, and cheese for added aroma and decorative effect.
- Apply olive oil: Using a cooking brush, lightly coat the entire tree with olive oil to add shine and an extra hint of flavor.
- Season with sea salt flakes: Sprinkle sea salt flakes evenly over the tree to finish seasoning and enhance taste.
- Serve or store: Serve the antipasto Christmas tree immediately, or refrigerate it to enjoy later. If refrigerated, allow it to come closer to room temperature before serving for best flavor.
Notes
- This antipasto tree is a creative Italian-inspired twist on a traditional antipasto platter, perfect for holiday gatherings.
- Use toothpicks carefully to secure ingredients firmly in place, ensuring the tree remains stable while serving.
- Adjust the amount of pepperoncini based on your preference for spice and tree fullness.
- You can customize the tree by adding other antipasto staples like salami or artichoke hearts for variety.
- The styrofoam cone and plastic wrap are not edible and are only for assembly purposes.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 524 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 2048 mg
- Fat: 48 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 25 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 6 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 68 mg
