If you’re looking for a festive, fun, and downright delicious way to light up your holiday appetizer table, I’ve got just the thing for you. This Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe combines bright, seasonal veggies with a creamy chive spread on a golden buttery crescent roll crust — and it’s decorated like a Christmas tree! I absolutely love how this turns out because it’s as beautiful to look at as it is to eat. Trust me, your friends and family will be sneaking seconds before you know it.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive & Fun Presentation: It looks like a Christmas tree, making it a standout appetizer that guests actually want to eat.
- Quick & Easy: With just a handful of ingredients and simple steps, you can whip this up in under 40 minutes.
- Fresh, Colorful Veggies: This pizza gets a vibrant mix of veggies that add crunch and nutrients without any fuss.
- Kid-Friendly: My kids love picking off their favorite shapes — who says veggie pizza can’t be fun!
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients complement each other perfectly — creamy, tangy, fresh, and crispy all in one bite. When you shop, look for the freshest veggies you can find since they’re the star of the show here.
- Crescent roll dough sheets: Use the refrigerated kind that comes in cans; it makes the crust buttery and flaky without extra work.
- Whipped chive cream cheese: Adds a lovely mild onion flavor that pairs well with veggies; whipped is easier to spread.
- Sour cream: Blended with the cream cheese gives a tangy, smooth base for the veggie toppings.
- Red bell pepper: Choose a firm, bright one for that gorgeous red star shape on your veggie Christmas tree.
- Yellow bell pepper: Brings sunny color and sweetness to balance the reds and greens.
- Broccoli florets: Use small dice so they’re easy to arrange and bite-sized on the pizza.
- Cauliflower florets: Provides nice pale pops of contrast all around the tree shape.
- Carrots: Grated for a sprinkle of orange, adding subtle sweetness and texture.
- Cherry tomatoes: Halved, these little bursts of juicy freshness make the “ornaments” on your tree.
- Red onion: Finely diced adds a bit of sharpness that cuts through the creaminess.
- Green onion: Thin slices for garnish and an extra layer of mild onion flavor.
Variations
I like playing around with the veggies here depending on what’s in season or what I have on hand. Feel free to put your own spin on this Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe — that’s what makes it so fun and approachable!
- Variation: Sometimes I swap the cauliflower for finely chopped Brussels sprouts for an earthier crunch that surprises guests.
- Variation: For a vegan version, try a dairy-free cream cheese spread and skip the sour cream—just make sure to season well.
- Variation: Add some sliced black olives or roasted red peppers to give a bit more color contrast and flavor depth.
- Variation: If you want to amp up the festive factor, add edible gold or silver dust to the chive cheese spread for some sparkle.
How to Make Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Crescent Roll Crust
Preheat your oven to 375°F — getting that temperature right is important for a perfectly golden crust. Overlap two crescent roll dough sheets to cover a 10×15-inch baking sheet as evenly as possible. Pinch all the seams together so you don’t have any gaps while baking. I like folding under any extra dough around the edges to keep it neat and prevent over-browning. Bake for 13-15 minutes until it’s a lovely golden brown. Then, let it cool completely before moving on — if it’s still warm, the cream cheese spread will melt and get messy.
Step 2: Make the Cream Cheese Spread
In a medium bowl, mix together the whipped chive cream cheese and sour cream until smooth and well combined. This combo gives you a tangy, creamy base that’s easy to spread and pairs perfectly with crisp veggies. Spread the mixture evenly over the cooled crust, leaving about an inch of bare crust around the edges for a nice frame.
Step 3: Cut & Arrange the Veggie Stars
Using two different sizes of star-shaped vegetable cutters, you’ll cut star shapes out of the red and yellow bell peppers. The larger star becomes the shining topper at the top of your Christmas tree design. Next, with a butter knife, gently draw a rough triangle in the cream cheese spread to outline your tree shape. Fill that space with small broccoli florets, nestling them close together for a full “tree” effect. Dot the surrounding cream cheese area with cauliflower florets to mimic snow or decorations around the tree.
Step 4: Add the Colorful Details
Sprinkle grated carrots evenly over the broccoli to add warmth and dimension to your tree. Then, place your bell pepper stars thoughtfully — the big one at the top and the smaller ones scattered across the tree like sparkling ornaments. Add the halved cherry tomatoes next; they’re perfect “baubles” that burst with flavor. Finally, sprinkle red and green onion pieces liberally for extra color and a touch of bite. Slice into squares or rectangles and serve immediately for the best crunch and freshness!
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
- Don’t Skip Cooling the Crust: I once rushed this and spread cream cheese onto warm dough — it got soggy, so let it cool fully for the best texture.
- Veggie Sizes Matter: Cutting broccoli and cauliflower into small pieces makes arranging easier and each bite more balanced.
- Use Sharp Star Cutters: Sharp, clean cutters create crisp veggie stars that won’t tear or crumble — it really helps with presentation.
- Assemble Just Before Serving: Making this pizza too far in advance can cause the veggies to release moisture, so aim to put it together right before guests arrive.
How to Serve Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
I love to finish this pizza with a light sprinkle of finely chopped fresh parsley or dill — it adds a fresh herbal note and a little more green sparkle. Sometimes I’ll also add a tiny drizzle of good quality olive oil over the veggies for a glossy, inviting look.
Side Dishes
This pizza is great paired with a simple winter salad tossed in a citrus vinaigrette to cut through the creamy base and several types of holiday nuts or roasted chickpeas for crunch. On the sweeter side, a chilled cranberry or pomegranate punch adds a festive touch.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I like to place the Christmas veggie pizza on a wooden board surrounded by fresh rosemary and pine sprigs to evoke that cozy Christmas vibe. You can also cut the pizza into star shapes to mirror the pepper stars, adding an extra whimsical touch!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Once assembled and served, any leftovers can be covered tightly with plastic wrap or stored in an airtight container in the fridge. Because of the fresh veggies, it’s best eaten within 24-36 hours to avoid sogginess.
Freezing
I don’t recommend freezing this pizza after it’s topped with fresh veggies because they lose their crispness. However, you can freeze the baked crescent roll crust ahead of time if you want to prep in stages.
Reheating
If you want warmed crust, you can gently reheat the plain baked crust before spreading the cream cheese mixture and adding veggies. Leftovers with toppings are best enjoyed cold or at room temperature to keep that fresh veggie crunch intact.
FAQs
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Can I use regular cream cheese instead of whipped?
Absolutely! You can use regular cream cheese, but I recommend softening it first to make spreading easier. Whipped cream cheese just gives a lighter texture that’s super spreadable, so it’s more convenient but not mandatory.
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Can I prepare this Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe ahead of time?
You can bake the crust ahead and keep it stored, but I suggest assembling the spread and veggie decorations right before serving. This keeps everything fresh and crisp, avoiding soggy veggies or softened crust.
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What if I don’t have star-shaped cutters?
No worries! You can carefully cut the bell peppers into star shapes using a sharp knife or get creative with other shapes like circles or trees. The charm is in your personal touch!
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Is this recipe good for kids?
Definitely! Kids love the colorful veggies and the fun shapes, plus they enjoy helping cut the stars. It’s a great way to sneak in veggies at holiday gatherings.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe has become my go-to holiday appetizer because it’s festive, flavorful, and totally approachable. I love sharing it with friends and family because it sparks smiles and brings a touch of joy to any party. If you want something pretty, tasty, and easy, give this recipe a try — I promise it’ll become a new holiday favorite in your house too!
Print
Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the holidays with this festive Christmas Veggie Pizza featuring a buttery crescent roll crust topped with a creamy chive cream cheese spread and decorated with fresh colorful vegetables arranged to resemble a Christmas tree. This light and crunchy appetizer is perfect for any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
Crust
- 16 ounce(s) crescent roll dough sheets (2 (8 ounce) cans)
Cream Cheese Spread
- 7 ½ ounce(s) whipped chive cream cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
Vegetable Toppings
- 1 red bell pepper (cored and seeds removed)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (cored and seeds removed)
- 1 ¼ cup broccoli florets (small dice)
- ½ cup cauliflower florets (small dice)
- 2 Tbsp carrots (grated)
- 5 cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 2 Tbsp red onion (finely diced)
- 1 green onion (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Crust: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Overlap the crescent dough sheets to fit a 10×15-inch baking sheet and pinch the seams together to seal. Fold under any excess dough around the edges to create a neat crust. Bake for 13-15 minutes or until the crust turns golden brown. Remove from oven and let cool completely.
- Make the Cream Cheese Spread: In a medium bowl, combine the whipped chive cream cheese and sour cream until smooth and well blended. Spread this mixture evenly over the cooled crescent dough, leaving about an inch of border around the edges for a crust.
- Cut Pepper Stars: Using two different sized star-shaped vegetable cutters, cut star shapes out of the red and yellow bell peppers. Use the larger star to create the top star for your Christmas tree design.
- Outline Christmas Tree: Use a butter knife to lightly draw an outline of a Christmas tree shape onto the cream cheese layer to serve as a guide for the toppings.
- Decorate the Tree: Fill in the outlined Christmas tree shape with the small diced broccoli florets to create the green tree body. Dot cauliflower florets around the cream cheese outside the tree shape for snow-like effect.
- Add Carrots and Stars: Sprinkle grated carrots over the broccoli to mimic tree decorations. Place the larger star at the top of the tree and scatter the smaller star shapes randomly over the tree area.
- Finish with Tomatoes and Onions: Place the halved cherry tomatoes on the tree as additional ornaments. Sprinkle finely diced red onion and thinly sliced green onion all over to enhance flavor and color contrast.
- Slice and Serve: Carefully slice the pizza into 12 portions and serve immediately to enjoy the festive presentation and fresh flavors.
Notes
- This Veggie Pizza features a buttery crescent roll crust with a flavorful chive cream cheese spread and fresh vegetables arranged festively for the holidays.
- Allowing the crust to cool completely before spreading the cream cheese prevents melting and keeps the creamy layer thick and smooth.
- The star-shaped vegetable cutters create a fun, decorative touch for Christmas and can be substituted with other festive shapes.
- Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; slice before serving.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 208 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 19 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 17 mg
