What types of bread work best for the star shapes?

White and whole wheat sandwich bread work well as they are soft enough to cut cleanly with star-shaped cookie cutters without crumbling.

Can I prepare these sandwiches ahead of time?

Yes, assemble and cover them tightly to keep fresh. Serve within a few hours to maintain texture and appearance.

Use gluten-free sandwich bread while maintaining the same layering and cutting technique.

Try dairy-free cream cheese or layer thinly sliced turkey or smoked salmon for non-vegetarian options.

Star-shaped cookie cutters in three different sizes, a spreading knife, and skewers or toothpicks to secure the layers.

Festive, bite-sized sandwiches layered in star shapes to resemble mini Christmas trees—perfect for holiday gatherings and kids parties.

This is a fun recipe I enjoy making with my kids during the holiday season as it gets them excited about helping in the kitchen.

Bread: 12 slices white sandwich bread, 12 slices whole wheat sandwich bread
Fillings: 120 g cream cheese, softened, 2 tbsp fresh chives, finely chopped, 2 tbsp red bell pepper, finely diced, 2 tbsp cucumber, finely diced
Garnishes: 12 small cherry tomatoes or star-shaped pieces of yellow bell pepper (for tree toppers), 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped (for leaves)
Optional: 1 tbsp mayonnaise, Salt and pepper, to taste

Step 1:: In a small bowl, combine cream cheese, chives, and, if desired, mayonnaise. Season lightly with salt and pepper.
Step 2:: Using star-shaped cookie cutters in 3 different sizes (large, medium, small), cut out star shapes from both types of bread. Aim for 1 large, 1 medium, and 1 small star per sandwich.
Step 3:: Spread a thin layer of cream cheese mixture onto each bread star.
Step 4:: Sprinkle diced red bell pepper on one-third, and diced cucumber on another third, to create visual variety and texture.
Step 5:: Stack the stars from largest to smallest, alternating bread colors for contrast.
Step 6:: Insert a decorative skewer or toothpick through the center of each stack to secure the layers.
Step 7:: Top each sandwich stack with a cherry tomato or a star-shaped piece of yellow bell pepper to mimic a Christmas tree topper.
Step 8:: Garnish with chopped parsley for a pine needle effect.
Step 9:: Arrange on a platter and serve immediately.

This recipe always brings smiles at our holiday parties and makes for delightful conversation starters.

Star-shaped cookie cutters (various sizes), spreading knife, mixing bowl, skewers or toothpicks, cutting board

Contains wheat (bread) and milk (cream cheese). May contain eggs if mayonnaise is used. Check labels for alternatives.

Per sandwich: 105 calories, 4 g total fat, 13 g carbohydrates, 3 g protein.

These stacked star sandwiches make holiday preparations more joyful and festive with just a few simple steps.

→ What types of bread work best for the star shapes?: White and whole wheat sandwich bread work well as they are soft enough to cut cleanly with star-shaped cookie cutters without crumbling.
→ Can I prepare these sandwiches ahead of time?: Yes, assemble and cover them tightly to keep fresh. Serve within a few hours to maintain texture and appearance.
→ How can I make these suitable for gluten-free diets?: Use gluten-free sandwich bread while maintaining the same layering and cutting technique.
→ Are there suggestions for alternative fillings?: Try dairy-free cream cheese or layer thinly sliced turkey or smoked salmon for non-vegetarian options.
→ What tools are needed to create the star shapes?: Star-shaped cookie cutters in three different sizes, a spreading knife, and skewers or toothpicks to secure the layers.