Photos by Jamie Plain
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the most delicious! These Christmas recipes are full of festive fun, from savory bites dressed up like little Christmas trees to sweet treats that look like they’ve been dusted with winter snow. Because at Christmas, even the food deserves to be dressed up!
Smokey Christmas Tree Cheeseball
Ingredients
2 (8-ounce) blocks cream cheese, softened
1–2 cups shredded smoked Gouda cheese
1-2 cups shredded sharp cheddar
1/2 cup finely chopped pecans
1/2–1 teaspoon garlic powder, to taste
Black pepper, to taste
Fresh dill and parsley, finely chopped, for decorating
Pine nuts, for the garland
Pomegranate seeds, for the ornaments
A slice of yellow cheese, for the star
Instructions
1. Make the cheese mixture: In a large bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, shredded smoked Gouda, shredded cheddar, chopped pecans, garlic powder, and black pepper. Mix until everything is evenly combined.
2. Shape the tree: Transfer the cheese mixture to a serving plate or a piece of plastic wrap. Shape it into a tall cone to create the Christmas tree.
3. Add the greenery: Gently press the chopped dill and parsley all over the outside of the cheese tree until it is covered and looks like evergreen branches.
4. Decorate the tree: Arrange the pine nuts in a garland around the tree, then press pomegranate seeds into the surface to look like little Christmas ornaments.
5. Make the star: Use a mini star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star from the yellow cheese. Carefully place it on top of the tree.
6. Chill and serve: Refrigerate until firm and ready to serve. Serve with crackers, pretzels, or your favorite dippers.
Christmas Tip: Make the cheeseball a day ahead if you’d like to get some of the prep out of the way. For the prettiest presentation, add the fresh herb coating and decorations closer to serving time.
Snowy Brownie Pinecones
Ingredients
1 box brownie mix
Ingredients listed on the brownie mix package (usually eggs, oil, and water)
Chocolate cereal with pointed, flake-like pieces, such as Premier Protein Chocolate cereal
Powdered sugar, for the snowy finish
Instructions
1. Bake the brownies: Prepare and bake the brownies according to the package directions. Let them cool completely.
2. Make the brownie mixture: Crumble the cooled brownies into a large bowl. Gently squeeze and mix the crumbs together until they hold their shape when pressed. If the brownies are too dry to stick together, add a tiny bit of frosting or chocolate spread at a time until the mixture is moldable.
3. Shape the pinecones: Take a portion of the brownie mixture and use your hands to form it into a tall, slightly tapered oval, with a narrower tip at the top. Repeat until you’ve used up the mixture.
4. Add the pinecone scales: Starting at the bottom, gently press the pointed chocolate cereal pieces into the brownie shapes, working upward in overlapping rows. Angle the pieces slightly outward and upward to create the look of a real pinecone.
5. Add the snow: Once the pinecones are decorated, dust them generously with powdered sugar to give them a snowy Christmas look.
6. Serve and enjoy: Arrange the finished pinecones on a holiday platter for a festive dessert that looks like it came straight out of a winter wonderland.
Christmas Tip: Work with small portions of brownie mixture at a time and keep the pinecones fairly firm so the cereal pieces stay in place. If the mixture gets too soft while shaping, refrigerate it briefly before continuing. OL
