Ingredients
Hummus for Santa’s face and dipping
2 red bell peppers, sliced thin for Santa’s hat
Mozzarella pearls for facial details
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets for Santa’s beard
1 cherry tomato, halved for the nose
2 cans (15 ounces each) large black olives, drained for eyes and cuffs
1 cucumber, sliced for sides
1 cup sugar snap peas for extra crunch
Crackers of choice for dipping
2 celery stalks, cut into sticks for arms or sides
Instructions
1-First Step: Gather and Prep Your Ingredients Begin by washing all your vegetables to ensure everything’s fresh and ready. Slice the 2 red bell peppers thinly and cut the 1 head cauliflower into florets, using smaller ones for details like eyebrows. This step sets the stage for your Santa veggie tray, making assembly smooth and helping you adapt for dietary preferences, such as using vegan alternatives if needed.
2-Second Step: Set Up Your Base Spread the hummus onto a 6-inch plate and position it in the center of a large rectangular board. This creates Santa’s face and provides a dipping area, keeping your Christmas vegetable platter interactive. If you’re aiming for a low-calorie version, go light on the hummus to maintain that healthy balance.
3-Third Step: Build Santa’s Hat and Face Details Arrange the thin slices of red bell pepper on top of the hummus to form Santa’s hat, then place the mozzarella pearls at the hat’s base and around the face. Use smaller cauliflower florets for the eyebrows and upper beard, adding a festive touch while allowing for easy modifications based on what veggies you have on hand. This part really brings your Santa-shaped vegetable platter to life with colorful, crunchy elements.
4-Fourth Step: Add the Beard and Other Facial Features Employ larger cauliflower florets for the fluffy bottom beard, creating that signature Santa look. Add a thin strip of red bell pepper for the lips, place the halved cherry tomato for the nose, and position two black olives as the eyes. These steps enhance the how to make a Santa veggie tray process, ensuring it’s adaptable for gluten-free options by swapping in safe alternatives.
5-Fifth Step: Form the Arms and Sides Shape Santa’s arms using bell pepper sticks and add black olives at the ends for cuffs, giving your holiday veggie tray a complete, whimsical appearance. Arrange the sliced cucumber along the board’s sides for balance, and fill in any gaps with the extra mozzarella pearls, 1 cup sugar snap peas, crackers of choice, and 2 celery stalks cut into sticks. This is a great spot to incorporate versatility, like using different dips for various tastes.
6-Final Step: Finishing Touches and Serving Once everything’s arranged, step back and admire your creation it’s now a vibrant, healthy Christmas party snacks centerpiece! Serve it right away for the best crunch, or store it briefly if needed, but remember to keep it chilled. If you’re entertaining, pair this easy Santa veggie tray recipe with other dishes for a full spread that delights everyone.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
π Use a rectangular serving board long enough to accommodate Santa’s beard.
π± Customize vegetables according to your preference for color and variety.
π₯ Substitute hummus with ranch, blue cheese, or dill dip for variation, or offer multiple small bowls of different dips.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Assembly
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 148 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 269 mg
- Fat: 8 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
