Chili Pepper Christmas Tree (Printer-friendly)

Festive creamy cheese dip shaped as a Christmas tree with fresh herbs and chili peppers.

# What You'll Need:

→ Base

01 - 8 oz cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup sour cream
03 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
04 - 2 tbsp mayonnaise

→ Flavorings

05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
07 - 1/2 tsp ground cumin
08 - 1/2 tsp salt
09 - 1/4 tsp black pepper
10 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh chives
11 - 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

→ Decoration & Topping

12 - 2–3 fresh red chili peppers, thinly sliced into rings
13 - 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
14 - 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
15 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh cilantro
16 - 1 small carrot, sliced into thin strips
17 - Crackers or vegetable sticks, for serving

# Directions:

01 - In a medium mixing bowl, blend cream cheese, sour cream, mayonnaise, and shredded cheddar cheese until smooth and creamy.
02 - Add minced garlic, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, black pepper, chopped chives, and parsley to the mixture. Stir thoroughly to combine.
03 - Transfer the mixture to a serving platter and mold into a Christmas tree shape using a spatula, forming a triangle with a wide base and pointed top.
04 - Arrange sliced red chili pepper rings as garlands, dice green and yellow bell peppers as ornaments, and sprinkle chopped cilantro for pine needle effects.
05 - Place thin carrot strips at the base of the tree to represent the trunk.
06 - Present immediately with crackers or vegetable sticks, or cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Festive shape perfect for holidays
  • Combines creamy cheese with spicy chili peppers
02 -
  • For extra spice, use hotter chili peppers or add a pinch of cayenne pepper to the mix
  • Swap cheddar for Monterey Jack or pepper jack cheese for variety
03 -
  • Shape the dip while it's cold for easier handling
  • Use fresh herbs chopped finely for the best flavor
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