Dessert

Santa Veggie Tray Recipe

ByIsabella Vance January 4, 2026January 4, 2026

Introduction

This festive Santa Veggie Tray is a fun and healthy appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. It creatively combines fresh veggies, creamy hummus, and mozzarella to bring a cheerful Santa face to your table. Plus, it’s easy to assemble and sure to delight guests of all ages.

A wooden board holds a veggie platter arranged as a Santa face. The base layer is hummus forming the round face. On top of that, cauliflower florets make a thick white beard covering the lower half. Two black olives represent eyes on the hummus face, with white cream cheese blobs as eyebrows and a red pepper piece as a smiling mouth. The red hat is made of red pepper strips layered above the face, with a row of small mozzarella balls outlining the hat’s bottom rim and another group at the tip. Celery sticks and whole crackers are placed at the top left beside the hat. To the right of the face, there are overlapping green cucumber slices and tiny mozzarella balls along the edge. The bottom part has black olives and sugar snap peas near the beard, completing the scene against a white marbled background. photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Ingredients

1 recipe hummus
2 red bell peppers, sliced thin
Mozzarella pearls (cherry tomato sized)
1 head cauliflower, florets separated
1 cherry tomato, halved
2 (15 ounce) cans large black olives, drained
1 cucumber, sliced
1 cup sugar snap peas
Crackers of choice
2 celery stalks, cut into sticks

Instructions

Step 1: On a large rectangular board, spread the hummus onto a 6-inch plate and place it in the center of the board.
Step 2: Arrange the red bell pepper slices to form the hat on top of the hummus plate. Add mozzarella pearls at the tip of the hat and around the top edge of the face area.
Step 3: Shape Santa’s beard using cauliflower florets. Use a strip of bell pepper to form his lips, place the halved cherry tomato for the nose, and add two black olives as eyes. Use small cauliflower pieces to create eyebrows and a mustache.
Step 4: Fill the sides of the board with sliced cucumbers and bell pepper sticks to resemble arms. Place black olives at the bottom of the arms to add detail.
Step 5: Complete the tray by filling remaining spaces with mozzarella pearls, sugar snap peas, crackers, and celery sticks for a colorful and inviting presentation.

Tips & Variations

Use flavored hummus, such as roasted red pepper or garlic, to add an extra layer of taste.
Substitute black olives with Kalamata olives for a slightly different flavor and a darker color contrast.
Swap out crackers for pita chips if you prefer a lighter or more rustic crunch.
Add small carrot sticks or cherry tomatoes for additional color and variety.

Storage

Store any leftover components separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Assemble just before serving to keep the veggies fresh and crisp. Leftover assembled trays are best enjoyed within a few hours of preparation. Reheat is not recommended.

How to Serve

A festive food platter shaped like Santa Claus is displayed on a white marbled surface. The base of the face is a smooth, beige spread. Santa's hat is made from bright red strips, with a row of white cheese balls trimmed along the edge. The eyes are two black olives with small white dollops above as eyebrows. A single red cherry tomato serves as the nose, and a curved slice of red pepper forms the smiling mouth. The beard and mustache are created with uneven, fluffy white cauliflower pieces. Around the face, on the left are light beige rectangular crackers stacked vertically, green snap peas in the bottom left, and black olives arranged below. On the right, there is a neat row of cucumber slices, more red pepper strips, and a few white cheese balls scattered near the edge. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 4:5 --v 7

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare this veggie tray in advance?

You can prepare the individual components ahead of time and store them separately, but it’s best to assemble the tray just before serving to maintain freshness and prevent sogginess.

What can I use if I don’t have mozzarella pearls?

If mozzarella pearls aren’t available, you can cut fresh mozzarella into small bite-sized pieces or substitute with small cubes of cheddar or another mild cheese for a different flavor.