Santa Veggie Tray

For more tasty lunch ideas, try my BBQ Chicken Nachos or creamy Hamburger Dip—both are easy and crowd-pleasers!

Let’s break it down step by step so you can whip up this Santa Veggie Tray for your next holiday party — or, let’s be honest, just to impress yourself because it’s that cute and creative.

Why a Santa Veggie Tray?

Okay, hear me out: we all love holiday cookies, but sometimes you need a break. That’s where this veggie tray shines. It’s:

• Healthy and festive: A snack that doesn’t leave you in a sugar coma? Yes, please.
• Kid-approved: Even picky eaters will want to grab a piece when it’s part of Santa’s face.
• Customizable: Got a favorite veggie? Sub it in! Hate cucumbers? Skip ‘em. Santa’s pretty chill about these things.

What Makes a Santa Veggie Tray Special?

Unlike your standard veggie platter, this one doubles as edible holiday decor. Guests can admire it for a minute and then dive right in, guilt-free. The design itself invites people to get creative with their plate—it’s not just a snack; it’s a conversation starter. Plus, who doesn’t love a festive twist on healthy eating?

When to Serve a Santa Veggie Tray

This tray is perfect for:

• Holiday parties: A guaranteed crowd-pleaser.
• Family gatherings: Even the little ones will have fun munching on Santa’s hat.
• Potlucks: Easy to transport and assemble on-site.
• Office celebrations: When you’re tasked with “bringing something festive” but want to keep it light.

Ready to get started? Here’s how you’ll bring Santa to life on your serving platter.

What Do You Need to Get Started?

The beauty of this tray is that it’s as simple or as elaborate as you want it to be. First, gather a platter, your ingredients, and a little creativity. Then, think about how you want to arrange everything for maximum visual impact. Whether you’re a seasoned entertainer looking to impress or making your first-ever veggie tray, this guide has you covered every step of the way.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Feel free to mix and match veggies however you’d like! First, make sure you’re using nice, fresh vegetables since they’re the star of the show. Then, consider how the different colors and textures will come together to create Santa’s iconic look. You can find how much I used of each ingredient below in the recipe card.

• Hummus: This is for dipping the veggies in (and also acts as Santa’s face). Homemade is always best! Check out my quick and easy recipe here for a delicious base.
• Bell Peppers: I chose red bell peppers, sliced thin, to create Santa’s vibrant hat. They’re sweet, crunchy, and festive!
• Mozzarella Pearls: These little cheese balls, about the size of cherry tomatoes, are perfect for adding as the fur lining of Santa’s hat. Honestly, who doesn’t love a touch of cheese?
• Cauliflower Florets: These fluffy florets are ideal for building Santa’s full, snowy beard. Their soft texture is perfect for the job!
• Cherry Tomato: Cut one in half to use as Santa’s adorable button nose! Grape tomatoes also work well if you have them on hand.
• Large Black Olives: Not only are olives a staple on any veggie board, but they’re perfect for Santa’s eyes. My kids love snacking on them while we work!
• Sliced Cucumber: With its fresh taste and rich green color, cucumber slices add the perfect holiday hue to the tray.
• Sugar Snap Peas: Another pop of green to fill in Santa’s details! Their crunch adds great texture.
• Crackers: Adding crackers to the board is a great way to mix up textures. Use your favorite kind here to give guests a dipping option.
• Celery: No veggie tray feels complete without celery! These crisp sticks are great for scooping hummus and add balance to the board.

Got everything? Great! Let’s move on and start building Santa’s masterpiece.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Prepare Your Workspace

1. Choose Your Base Start with a large serving platter or cutting board. You’ll need enough space to create Santa’s whole face, beard, and hat. If you’ve got a holiday-themed board, even better!

Creating Santa’s Face and Hat

2. Make Santa’s Face Spread your hummus in an oval shape near the center of the platter. This will be the foundation of Santa’s face. Don’t stress about perfection here — the veggies will fill in any gaps.
3. Build the Beard Place cauliflower florets around the bottom half of the hummus to create Santa’s fluffy beard. You can pile them high or spread them out, depending on how dramatic you want his beard to look.
4. Add the Hat Arrange red bell pepper slices at the top of the hummus in a triangle shape to form Santa’s hat. Don’t forget the white trim! Use more cauliflower florets to line the bottom edge of the hat and add a little cauliflower “pom-pom” at the tip.

Finishing Santa’s Features

5. Create the Face Details
   • Eyes: Place two black olives for Santa’s eyes. If you’re feeling fancy, you can cut a tiny piece of cauliflower for the pupils.
   • Nose: Use one of the halved cherry tomatoes for Santa’s nose. It’s the perfect pop of red!
   • Mouth: Lay a thin strip of red bell pepper just below the nose for Santa’s smile. Adorable, right?

Adding the Final Touches

6. Add the Extras Arrange the cucumber slices, sugar snap peas, and celery sticks around the edges of the platter. These are great for munching and give the tray more color and variety. Don’t forget to add crackers for dipping!
7. Finishing Touches Add the mozzarella pearls along the cauliflower beard for extra texture and cuteness. You could even add a few sprigs of parsley or rosemary for a festive garnish. If you want to get even fancier, use sesame seeds or paprika to add little accents.
8. Set the Scene Place the tray on a holiday-themed tablecloth or next to some twinkling lights. Presentation counts, after all. A festive display makes the whole setup feel extra special.

Tips for Success

• Prep Ahead: You can chop all the veggies the day before and store them in separate containers. Assemble everything just before serving to keep it fresh.
• Make It Kid-Friendly: Swap hummus for ranch dip if your kiddos prefer it. They’ll still love decorating Santa’s face with veggies.
• Use What You Have: Don’t have mozzarella pearls? No problem. Use small dollops of cream cheese or even extra cauliflower florets.
• Keep It Balanced: If you’re short on veggies, balance the tray with more crackers or even pretzels. Santa won’t mind!
• Get Creative: Feeling artistic? Use extra veggies to add little details like rosy cheeks (more cherry tomatoes!) or a more defined outline.

Why This Recipe is a Winner

Let’s be real. Most party platters look great but don’t always get eaten. The Santa Veggie Tray changes that because it’s:

• Interactive: Guests love assembling their perfect bite. A little cauliflower, a cucumber slice, and some hummus? Yes, please!
• Nutritious: Who says holiday snacks can’t be good for you?
• Festive Fun: It’s impossible not to smile when you see Santa made out of veggies.
• Adaptable: You can adjust this tray to fit your crowd’s tastes or dietary needs, making it perfect for every gathering.

Print

FAQs

1. Can I make this vegan or gluten-free? Absolutely! Just use a vegan hummus and gluten-free crackers, and you’re good to go.

2. How do I store leftovers? Cover the platter with plastic wrap and refrigerate. The veggies will stay fresh for up to 2 days, but it’s best to eat them sooner rather than later.

3. Can I customize the veggies? Totally. You can use cherry tomatoes for the hat or swap cucumbers for zucchini slices. This recipe is super flexible.

4. What if I don’t like hummus? No problem! Try guacamole, ranch dip, or even a whipped feta spread instead.

5. Can kids help make this? Yes! This is a great recipe to let kids get creative. They’ll love arranging the veggies and might even try something new since they made it themselves.

6. Can I add protein to the tray? Sure! You can include rolled-up turkey slices or some cubes of cheese alongside the crackers to make it heartier.

Final Thoughts

This Santa Veggie Tray is your secret weapon for holiday gatherings. It’s festive, healthy, and super easy to pull together. Plus, it’s a great way to sneak some veggies into the mix without sacrificing the holiday spirit. So, grab your veggies, get creative, and bring Santa to life on your platter. Happy holidays, and happy snacking!