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These adorable little Christmas tree sandwiches are made with the classic combination of cream cheese and cucumber with colorful carrot and pepper stars to add that iconic Christmas tree look. This is the perfect finger food for the holiday season, or pack them in lunch boxes to incorporate some extra veggies. You can’t go wrong!
Christmas Tree Sandwiches for Kids
As a Registered Dietitian and mom of two, I’ve learned a few things about trying to get kids to eat veggies during the holidays. I find that they’re always thrilled by the novelty of the tree shape and many kids enjoy the mild, refreshing flavor of fresh cucumbers. Even picky eaters tend to grab for these cute little sandwiches!
To encourage them even more, have the kids help cut the bread into a triangular shape and “make” the ornaments. The more hands-on they are, the more likely they are to actually eat them!
Get more inspiration with these Christmas Lunch Box Ideas!
Why We Love This Recipe
- Super simple recipe that requires a short list of ingredients and minimal time
- One of the easiest ways to serve extra veggies during the holidays
- Popular with both kids and adults alike!
- Good source of fiber to support healthy digestion (especially challenging during the holidays)
- Fun fine motor practice for little hands
- Makes a nice lunch, easy dinner, or snack for a holiday gathering
Ingredient Notes
- Whole wheat bread: This is such an easy way to serve some extra fiber, which is especially challenging during the holiday season.
- Cream cheese: You can either use regular cream cheese or try a flavored version, if your kids like that.
- Mini cucumber: I recommend looking for mini cucumbers, which have the perfect size to arrange the slices in a shingled fashion.
- Christmas tree cookie cutter: A large cookie cutter is best since it will be able to better hold the cucumber slices.
- Carrots or peppers: Use a small cookie cutter or small knife to cut the vegetables into star shapes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Use a Christmas tree shaped cookie cutter to cut a Christmas tree out of each slice of bread.
- Spread each Christmas tree with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese.
- Arrange the halved cucumber slices so that the flat side is facing upwards. It should resemble a Christmas tree.
- Using a small star shaped cookie cutter, cut small stars out of carrot slices or peppers. Place them at the top of each tree. Serve and enjoy!
Keep scrolling to the recipe card below for the full printable recipe!
RECIPE TIPS
- If you can’t find mini cucumbers, you can use a regular sized English cucumber, but you may need to overlap the slices since they’ll be larger than the mini ones.
Recipe FAQs
You tend to get the freshest flavor and best appearance when you make these right before serving. You can make them up to 1 day before and cover them with a piece of plastic wrap, but the cucumbers may begin to soften a bit.
If your bread is really thin, it may not be strong enough to hold all the cucumber slices. It also helps to slice the cucumbers really thinly, otherwise they can fall off while you’re eating.
Absolutely! You can make the stars out of any vegetables that are firm enough to slice and hold their shape. Carrots and peppers are ideal, but you can also cut thicker slices of cucumbers.
If you have access to fresh peas, the individual peas look like little green ornaments! You can also cut cheese into stars. Many kids love cheese and it slices very easily!
Storage Guidelines
- These open-faced sandwiches are best served right after making them. You can also prepare them up to 1 day in advance, cover them tightly with plastic wrap, and store in the fridge until needed.
Serving Suggestions
These little Christmas tree sandwiches are the perfect option to serve at a Christmas lunch or party, but my kids also enjoy them for a healthier lunch alongside fresh fruits and vegetables or fluffy scrambled eggs.
If you’re entertaining, pair them with any of these fun ideas:
Recipe Variations
- Switch up the toppings: For a sweeter sandwich, try replacing the cream cheese with peanut butter and add arranging apple slices like shingles. It can be harder to find firm fruits to cut into stars, but bananas, strawberries or melons can be a nice option.
- Try a different shape: Add a few ornaments and stars to your serving tray instead of just trees. Just use different cookie cutters to make any shape you’d like.
- Adjust the base: Instead of plain cream cheese, try the cream cheese spread from these mini cucumber sandwiches or use this cottage cheese ranch dip. You can also easily add some seasonings, like onion powder and lemon juice, or grab a flavored cream cheese from the store.
More Holiday Recipes You’ll Love
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Cucumber Christmas Tree Sandwiches
Ingredients
- 4 slices whole wheat bread
- 4 tablespoons cream cheese
- 1-2 mini cucumbers, halved and sliced
- Large carrot slices or peppers, cut into stars
- Christmas tree cookie cutter
- Small star cookie cutter
Instructions
- Use a Christmas tree shaped cookie cutter to cut a Christmas tree out of each slice of bread.
- Spread each Christmas tree with about 1 tablespoon of cream cheese.
- Arrange the halved cucumber slices so that the flat side is facing upwards on a diagonal. It should resemble a Christmas tree.
- Using a small star shaped cookie cutter, cut small stars out of carrot slices or peppers. Place them at the top of each tree. Serve and enjoy!
