Cucumber Cream Cheese Tree (Printer-Friendly)

Delightful cucumber and herbed cream cheese layers in festive tree shapes for gatherings.

# What You Need:

→ Bread

01 - 12 slices white or whole wheat sandwich bread

→ Cream Cheese Mixture

02 - 225 grams cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

→ Vegetables

08 - 1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds

→ Garnishes (optional)

09 - Red bell pepper, diced (for tree ornaments)
10 - Fresh dill fronds or chives (for tree trunks or branches)

# Directions:

01 - Combine cream cheese, chives, dill, lemon zest, salt, and black pepper in a medium bowl. Mix until smooth and well incorporated.
02 - Using a tree-shaped cookie cutter, cut tree shapes from each bread slice. Reserve scraps for breadcrumbs or other uses.
03 - Spread a generous layer of the herbed cream cheese mixture evenly onto each bread tree shape.
04 - Arrange cucumber rounds in overlapping layers atop the cream cheese to simulate tree branches.
05 - Decorate with diced red bell pepper as ornaments and use dill fronds or chives to mimic tree trunks or additional greenery.
06 - Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate for up to two hours before serving to maintain freshness.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Fun and festive presentation perfect for any occasion.
  • Quick and easy to prepare with no cooking required.
  • Refreshing and light, ideal for warm weather gatherings.
  • Vegetarian-friendly and easily adaptable to dietary needs.
02 -
  • Chill the cream cheese mixture before spreading to make it easier to work with.
  • Use a sharp cookie cutter to create clean tree shapes without tearing the bread.
  • Prepare the cucumber slices just before assembling to maintain freshness and crunch.
  • Keep the assembled stacks refrigerated until serving to keep cream cheese firm and cucumbers crisp.
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