If you need more appetizer inspiration this holiday season, check out my Christmas Deviled Eggs and my Italian Pinwheels!
Holiday Inspired Antipasto
Antipasto is typically the first course of any Italian meal and usually consists of cured meats, cheeses, olives, fresh tomatoes and pepperoncinis. I decided to make it a fun Christmas appetizer and serve it all on skewers. Arranged in a circle it makes an adorable Christmas inspired wreath that is almost too cute to eat! You can serve this Antipasto Christmas Wreath with a drizzle of balsamic glaze (homemade or store-bought work great) or extra oil from the marinated mozzarella. Plus, this Christmas Antipasto Wreath is super easy to make and assemble. I know that around the holidays, easy and delicious appetizers are key. This easy appetizer comes out elegant and colorful and perfect for any festivities! It can also be made up to 2 hours ahead of time and kept in the fridge.
Ingredients
My Christmas Antipasto Wreath recipe includes whole, high quality ingredients for the best flavor possible! Here’s what you’ll need:
Green Olives: Pitted green olives work great here. You can also get the ones that are filled with garlic! Peppered Salami: I like the salami that is peppered for extra flavor and a little bite. Alternatively, you can use your favorite salami! Prosciutto: Prosciutto is a high quality, Italian cured ham. It is rich and super yummy! Marinated Mozzarella Balls: You can buy small, marinated mozzarella balls at the grocery store in the cheese section. If you prefer, you can get regular pearl mozzarella that isn’t marinated. Cherry Tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes add a freshness and brightness to this antipasto wreath. Basil: A few leaves of basil on each piece of the wreath adds some more flavor. Pepperoncinis: Personally, I love pepperoncinis and think they add a nice tart bite to this appetizer. I like to remove the stem and cut them in half.
How to Make the Christmas Antipasto Wreath
For this antipasto platter wreath, assembly is simple! Here are the instructions:
Thread a mixture of olives, salami, proscuitto, mozzarella, tomatoes, basil and pepperoncinis onto long toothpicks. Repeat until there are no ingredients remaining. Serve immediately or store in the fridge for up to 2 hours until you are ready to serve!
Tips for the Best Antipasto
Additional meat options: You can use salami and prosciutto like I did, or you can use different cured meats like ham or mortadella. Additional cheese options: You can have little cubes of harder cheese like parmesan or grana padano. Any type of mozzarella cheese would also work really well. Add even more fresh ingredients! You can add things like black olives and artichoke hearts, too! Drizzle or dip! You can drizzle the antipasto wreath with a balsamic glaze (homemade or store-bought work great) or extra oil from the marinated mozzarella for some moisture and added flavor.
Can I make this appetizer wreath ahead of time?
You can make it ahead of time, but only by a few hours. I don’t recommend making this a whole day ahead of time since the juices from the olives and tomatoes will come out and soak the meat and cheese. You want this to be pretty fresh, but feel free to make a few hours ahead and refrigerate until you are ready to serve!
More Appetizer Recipes to Try
Instant Pot Deviled Eggs Easy Hummus Recipe 7 Layer Bean Dip Sweet Potato Biscuits Antipasto Pasta Salad
