If you’re looking to add some festive flair to your holiday table, this Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe is an absolute must-try. It’s colorful, fun to make, and packed with fresh veggies that even picky eaters can’t resist. Plus, it’s the kind of appetizer that guests can’t stop talking about—and I promise, it’s super easy to pull together. Stick with me and I’ll walk you through every step so you can wow your crowd this season!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive and Fun Presentation: The veggies are arranged to look like a glowing Christmas tree, making it a real showstopper on your holiday table.
- Easy Prep and Assembly: With simple steps and common ingredients, you can make this ahead and relax before guests arrive.
- Fresh and Flavorful: The creamy chive spread balances perfectly with crisp, colorful veggies for a delightful bite every time.
- Great for All Ages: It’s veggie-packed but still approachable—perfect for kids and adults alike!
Ingredients You’ll Need
These ingredients come together to create that flaky crust combined with a smooth, savory cream cheese base and a festive veggie topping. When shopping, pick the freshest vegetables you can find — it really makes the colors pop and the flavors sing.
- Crescent roll dough sheets: I like using canned crescent dough because it bakes up buttery and flaky, and it’s super convenient for last-minute holiday prep.
- Whipped chive cream cheese: The chives add a subtle oniony zing that pairs beautifully with the veggies.
- Sour cream: This lightens the cream cheese mix, making the spread silky and easy to spread.
- Red bell pepper: Choose a firm one—this is perfect for cutting out those festive star shapes.
- Yellow bell pepper: Adds a sunny hue and sweet crunch to the festive design.
- Broccoli florets: Small dice works best; they form the “tree” body with a nice texture.
- Cauliflower florets: Provides a lovely contrast and makes “snowy” spots around the tree.
- Carrots: Freshly grated gives a nice pop of orange and sweetness.
- Cherry tomatoes: Halved tomatoes add a juicy burst and bright red color.
- Red onion: Finely diced for just a hint of sharpness.
- Green onion: Thin slices add color and fresh bite.
Variations
One of my favorite things about this Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe is how it welcomes your personal touch. Feel free to swap in your favorite veggies or add some extras that make the pizza your own holiday masterpiece.
- Variation: I’ve tried swapping the bell peppers for thin slices of zucchini or avocado for a slightly different look and creamier texture.
- Dietary Modification: Use a dairy-free cream cheese and crescent dough if you’re catering to vegan or lactose-intolerant guests—it works surprisingly well.
- Seasonal Spin: Around Thanksgiving, I’ve added roasted butternut squash cubes instead of carrots for a warm, earthy flavor.
How to Make Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
Step 1: Bake a Golden Crescent Roll Crust
Preheat your oven to 375°F. Roll out the two crescent dough sheets on a 10×15-inch baking sheet, overlapping and pinching the seams tightly so nothing leaks out. Don’t forget to fold the edges under neatly to create a crust border that holds all your toppings in. Bake for about 13-15 minutes or until it’s golden and puffed. Once it’s out, let it cool completely—this step is crucial so your cream cheese spread stays put and everything stays clean and pretty.
Step 2: Spread the Creamy Chive Layer
Mix the whipped chive cream cheese with the sour cream until smooth and creamy. Spread this lovingly over your cooled crust, leaving about an inch of that golden edge visible to frame your veggie artwork. This base is what makes every bite luscious with flavor and creaminess.
Step 3: Create Your Festive Veggie Christmas Tree
Here’s the fun part! Use two sizes of star-shaped cutters to carve stars out of your red and yellow bell peppers—the larger star will be the tree topper, which is such a lovely, festive detail. With a butter knife, lightly draw a Christmas tree shape on the cream cheese spread as your guide. Fill the tree area with those small broccoli florets, sprinkle grated carrots over the top for vibrant color, and dot cauliflower florets around the outside for a wintry feel. Arrange the bell pepper stars and halved cherry tomatoes within the tree, then finish by sprinkling finely diced red and green onions for that final pop of brightness. Slice and get ready for compliments!
Pro Tips for Making Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
- Chill the crust before spreading: Letting the baked crust cool completely prevents the cream cheese from melting and keeps your design crisp.
- Choose even-sized veggie pieces: This keeps your tree looking uniform and makes each bite balanced in flavor.
- Use star cutters for precise shapes: It took me a few tries before I found just the right sizes to make the tree look festive and polished.
- Don’t overload with veggies: Too many toppings can make the pizza soggy, so a light, artful touch is best.
How to Serve Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
Garnishes
I love topping mine with a sprinkle of flaky sea salt and an extra handful of green onions right before serving—it brightens the flavors and adds a little festive sparkle. Sometimes, a few fresh basil leaves tossed around makes a surprising but lovely touch.
Side Dishes
This veggie pizza pairs perfectly with a light holiday salad—think mixed greens with pomegranate seeds and a citrus vinaigrette. A warm soup like butternut squash or tomato basil also makes a cozy combo for cooler nights.
Creative Ways to Present
For holiday parties, I’ve arranged this pizza on a rustic wooden board surrounded by mini ornament picks and pine sprigs for a truly festive spread. You can even cut it into bite-sized squares for an easy finger food option. It’s always a hit whether placed center-stage or as part of a larger appetizer buffet.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
I store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. The crust stays surprisingly crisp if you let it come back up to room temperature before serving again. This pizza is best eaten within 2 days for the freshest taste.
Freezing
I haven’t frozen the fully assembled veggie pizza because the cream cheese layer can get watery, but you can freeze the baked crescent crust on its own. Just thaw it fully and then spread the cream cheese mixture and veggies fresh before serving.
Reheating
Since this is a cold veggie pizza, I usually serve leftovers chilled or at room temperature. If you want to warm the crust a bit, pop it in a low oven (300°F) for 5 minutes before spreading the cream cheese and veggies freshly.
FAQs
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Can I use a different crust instead of crescent roll dough?
Absolutely! While crescent roll dough gives you that flaky, buttery base I love, you can substitute premade pizza dough or even a sturdy cracker crust. Just keep in mind the baking times and textures will vary slightly, so adjust accordingly.
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How far ahead can I prepare this Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe?
You can bake the crust a day ahead and keep it wrapped tightly. The cream cheese spread and veggie decorations are best added the same day you plan to serve to keep everything fresh and vibrant.
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What’s the best way to cut the pizza for serving?
I usually slice it into about 12 rectangles to keep each piece manageable and to preserve the festive tree design as much as possible. A sharp knife works best for clean cuts through the veggies and crust.
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Can this recipe be doubled or scaled down?
Definitely, though you’ll want to adjust your baking sheet size accordingly. For a smaller batch, a half recipe works great on a smaller sheet, and doubling is easy if you have the space and ingredients on hand.
Final Thoughts
I absolutely love how this Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe turns out every single year. It’s one of those holiday treats that feels special without being fussy, and I promise your family and friends will go crazy for it. When I first made this, it quickly became a festive tradition because it’s as fun to make as it is to eat. So, go ahead and give it a try—you’ll enjoy both the process and the beautiful, delicious result. Happy holidays and happy baking!
Print
Christmas Veggie Pizza Recipe
- Prep Time: 25 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Total Time: 40 min
- Yield: 12 servings
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This festive Christmas Veggie Pizza features a buttery crescent roll crust spread with a tangy chive cream cheese mixture, topped with a colorful and crunchy assortment of fresh vegetables designed to resemble a Christmas tree. Perfect for holiday gatherings, it offers a delightful combination of flavors and textures in a visually appealing appetizer or snack.
Ingredients
Crust and Spread
- 16 ounces crescent roll dough sheets (2 cans of 8 ounces each)
- 7 ½ ounces 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 cups broccoli florets (small diced)
- ½ cup cauliflower florets (small diced)
- 2 tablespoons carrots (grated)
- 5 cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 2 tablespoons red onion (finely diced)
- 1 green onion (thinly sliced)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Crust: Preheat the oven to 375°F. Overlap the crescent dough sheets so they fit a 10×15-inch baking sheet, pinching the seams to seal them closed. Fold under any excess dough around the edges to create a neat crust. Bake the crust for 13-15 minutes until golden brown. Allow it to cool completely before proceeding.
- 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 roll crust, leaving about an inch of crust visible around the edges.
- Create Vegetable Stars: Using two different sized star-shaped vegetable cutters, cut star shapes out of the red and yellow bell peppers. Reserve the larger stars to use as the star atop the Christmas tree decoration.
- Outline the Christmas Tree: Using a butter knife, gently draw an outline in the shape of a Christmas tree onto the cream cheese spread. This will serve as a guide for vegetable placement.
- Decorate the Tree: Fill in the Christmas tree outline with the diced broccoli florets, creating a lush green tree shape. Dot cauliflower florets randomly over the cream cheese around the tree to simulate snow or ornaments.
- Add Carrot Snowflakes and Star Ornaments: Sprinkle the grated carrots over the tree to add a bright orange contrast. Place the larger bell pepper star at the top of the tree and scatter the smaller bell pepper stars across the tree as additional decorations.
- Finish with Tomatoes and Onions: Arrange the halved cherry tomatoes on the tree as colorful ornaments. Sprinkle the finely diced red onion and thinly sliced green onion evenly over the entire pizza for added flavor and visual appeal.
- Slice and Serve: Once decorated, slice the pizza into 12 servings and serve immediately to enjoy the crisp crust and fresh vegetable toppings.
Notes
- This Veggie Pizza features a soft and buttery crescent roll base, making it easier and quicker to prepare than traditional pizza dough.
- Ensure the crust is completely cooled before adding the cream cheese spread to prevent melting and softening of the spread.
- Feel free to customize the vegetable toppings to your preference or seasonal availability while retaining the festive look.
- Store any leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; best served fresh to maintain crispness.
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