Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe

If you’re looking for a fun, festive, and surprisingly simple snack to brighten up your holiday gatherings, you’re going to love this Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe. I remember making these with my kids last year, and the joy on their faces when they saw their sandwiches shaped like little Christmas trees was priceless. Plus, these mini sandwiches are super easy and quick to whip up—perfect for when guests suddenly stop by or when you need a kid-friendly holiday treat. Keep reading, and I’ll share with you everything you need to know to make these adorable, tasty bites a total hit!

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Why This Recipe Works

  • Simple Ingredients: Uses pantry staples you probably already have, so it’s quick to prep without extra shopping trips.
  • Kid-Friendly Shape: The Christmas tree shape makes it extra fun for kids, encouraging them to eat their sandwiches happily.
  • Customizable Flavors: Easily swap cheese, ham, or spreads to suit your taste or dietary needs.
  • Quick Assembly: Takes only about 10 minutes, so you can make it last-minute without stress.

Ingredients & Why They Work

The magic of this Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe is really in the balance of simple, classic flavors and easy-to-handle ingredients that come together beautifully. Plus, each component is deliberately chosen for how well it holds up when cut into fun shapes.

Christmas Tree Sandwiches, festive kid-friendly snacks, holiday party sandwiches, Christmas appetizer ideas, easy Christmas snacks - Flat lay of eight slices of soft white crustless bread stacked neatly, eight slices of pale yellow cheddar cheese arranged flat, eight thin slices of pink deli ham slightly folded, a small white ceramic bowl filled with creamy mayonnaise, a small white ceramic bowl with smooth golden mustard, all ingredients fresh and natural, perfectly symmetrical composition, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997
  • Bread: Thinly sliced, crustless bread keeps the sandwiches neat and easy to bite without falling apart. I prefer white bread for softness, but wholegrain works nicely too.
  • Cheese: Go for a sturdy cheese like cheddar or gouda—it melts nicely if you want a warm version and stays firm when cold.
  • Deli Ham: The classic ham offers savory flavor and pairs perfectly with cheese. I double it up if the slices are extra thin for better texture.
  • Mayonnaise: Adds creaminess and a touch of moisture without overpowering. Feel free to adjust the amount to suit your preference.
  • Mustard (optional): Adds a tangy kick. I love it, but if you’re serving kids, try leaving it out or using a milder honey mustard.
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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Tweak to Your Taste

This Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe is a brilliant blank canvas, and I often tweak it depending on my mood or who’s coming over. Once I switched up the ham for turkey and added sliced avocado for a creamier texture—so good! Feel free to get creative and make these your own.

  • Vegetarian Version: Swap deli ham with grilled veggies or a flavorful hummus spread. I tried roasted red peppers once—delicious!
  • Cheese Varieties: Use mozzarella for a milder taste or pepper jack for a spicy twist.
  • Spread Alternatives: Try pesto or cranberry sauce for a festive flair.
  • Crunch Factor: Add thin slices of cucumber or crunchy lettuce to bring more texture.

Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe

Step 1: Prep Your Bread and Spreads

I start by laying out 8 slices of crustless bread on a clean surface and spreading mayonnaise evenly over each one. This creates a creamy base that keeps the sandwich moist. If you like mustard, now’s the time to spread a little over the ham before topping it with the final bread slice—just a thin layer, so it doesn’t overpower.

Step 2: Layer Cheese and Ham

Next, I add a slice of cheese and deli ham on top of the mayo-covered bread. Use thinly sliced ham so it fits neatly without making the sandwich bulky; if your slices are thin, just double them up. Then carefully cover with another slice of bread. This layering ensures each bite has the perfect balance of flavors.

Step 3: Cut Out Your Christmas Trees

Here’s where the festive magic happens! Grab a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter (there are lots on Amazon or in craft stores), and press firmly into your sandwiches to cut out two Christmas trees from each assembled sandwich. It’s normal to have leftover edges—save those for snacking or to make mini crustless bites.

Step 4: Serve and Enjoy Immediately

I recommend serving these Christmas Tree Sandwiches fresh because the bread stays soft and the cheese hasn’t dried out. They’re perfect for holiday party platters or as fun snacks during chilly afternoons. Plus, watching guests and kids dive in is half the fun!

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Pro Tips for Making Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe

  • Use Fresh Bread: I always buy bread the same day and remove crusts myself if needed to ensure softness when cutting shapes.
  • Chill Before Cutting: If your sandwich fillings feel a bit loose, pop the whole sandwich in the fridge for 10 minutes—it makes cutting out clean shapes much easier.
  • Save Your Scraps: Don’t toss leftover bread edges—save them for breadcrumbs or mini croutons.
  • Make Ahead Caution: Avoid assembling more than 1 hour in advance to keep bread fresh and prevent sogginess.

How to Serve Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe

Christmas Tree Sandwiches, festive kid-friendly snacks, holiday party sandwiches, Christmas appetizer ideas, easy Christmas snacks - Multiple small sandwiches shaped like Christmas trees are shown on a wooden board. Each sandwich has three layers of white bread with two thin layers of ham and cheese in between. The top layer of bread is covered with a light dusting of powdered sugar. One sandwich is positioned upright inside a metal Christmas tree cutter, showing the sandwich's side with the ham and cheese layers clearly visible. The background is slightly blurred to focus on the layered sandwiches photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7

Garnishes

I love adding tiny decorative touches like halved cherry tomatoes or green olives with toothpicks as “ornaments” on top of each tree. A sprinkle of fresh parsley gives a little faux pine texture and makes the sandwiches look even more festive on the plate.

Side Dishes

Pair these sandwiches with a crisp side salad or sweet pickles for a nice contrast. At one holiday party, I served them with warming tomato soup—it was the perfect cozy combo and very popular!

Creative Ways to Present

You can line them up on a big platter to create a Christmas forest centerpiece or stack them on tiered trays for a fancy holiday tea party vibe. Adding some mini flags or festive napkins really ups the presentation without extra effort.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

If you have leftovers, I recommend wrapping them tightly in plastic wrap and storing in the fridge for up to a day. The bread stays soft, but since there’s mayo and ham, it’s best eaten sooner rather than later.

Freezing

Freezing is a bit tricky because the bread can get soggy once thawed, but if you want to prep ahead, freeze just the bread slices and cheese separately, then assemble just before serving for best results.

Reheating

These sandwiches are best cold or at room temperature. If you want a warm version, I like to melt the cheese and ham inside the bread quickly in a skillet or sandwich press, but you lose the tree shape, so keep that in mind.

FAQs

  1. Can I use other types of bread for Christmas Tree Sandwiches?

    Absolutely! While I usually use thinly sliced white bread for softness, you can also use whole wheat, multigrain, or gluten-free bread as long as it’s sliced thin and crustless or crust removed for easy cutting.

  2. What kind of cookie cutter works best for making the Christmas tree shape?

    A medium-sized Christmas tree cookie cutter (around 3-4 inches tall) works best—small enough to get multiple sandwiches from each bread slice but big enough to hold all the fillings without squishing them out. Metal cutters give the cleanest cut.

  3. Can I make these sandwiches vegan or vegetarian?

    Yes! Replace the ham and cheese with your favorite plant-based deli slices or roasted vegetables, and use vegan mayo to keep it creamy. A great alternative I tried recently was hummus and avocado with roasted red pepper slices.

  4. How far ahead of time can I assemble these Christmas Tree Sandwiches?

    To keep the bread fresh and avoid sogginess, I recommend assembling no more than 1 hour before serving. If you need more time, prepare ingredients ahead and assemble just before guests arrive.

Final Thoughts

This Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe has become one of my go-to festive snacks because it feels so special without requiring a ton of work. Making these with people you care about turns simple ingredients into joyful memories for the holidays. I hope you enjoy creating and sharing these little edible trees as much as I do—they’re guaranteed to bring smiles to your table and maybe even start a new family tradition. Give it a try and let me know which variations you loved!

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Christmas Tree Sandwiches Recipe

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.9 from 18 reviews
  • Author: Julia
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 12 mini sandwiches
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: American

Description

These festive Christmas Tree Sandwiches are a fun and easy-to-make appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with simple ingredients like bread, cheese, ham, mayonnaise, and optional mustard, they’re shaped using a tree cookie cutter to bring a playful touch to your party spread.


Ingredients

Bread & Spread

  • 16 slices crustless bread
  • 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
  • Mustard (optional, to taste)

Filling

  • 8 slices cheese
  • 8 slices deli ham


Instructions

  1. Prepare the bread: Lay out 8 slices of bread and spread mayonnaise evenly on one side of each slice.
  2. Add cheese and ham: Place one slice of cheese and one slice of deli ham on top of the mayonnaise-covered bread slices.
  3. Add mustard and top bread: Optionally, spread a little mustard over the ham, then cover each sandwich with a second slice of bread.
  4. Cut into Christmas trees: Using a tree-shaped cookie cutter, cut two Christmas tree shapes from each assembled sandwich to create mini tree sandwiches.

Notes

  • You can use bread with crust and remove it yourself. White bread can be substituted with wholegrain bread; ensure bread is thinly sliced.
  • Use any cheese you prefer such as cheddar, mozzarella, gouda, or edam.
  • If the deli ham slices are very thin, use two slices per sandwich for better filling.
  • Mustard is optional and can be omitted or adjusted to taste.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 mini sandwich
  • Calories: 120 kcal
  • Sugar: 1 g
  • Sodium: 250 mg
  • Fat: 6 g
  • Saturated Fat: 3 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 10 g
  • Fiber: 0.5 g
  • Protein: 7 g
  • Cholesterol: 20 mg

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