There’s something about little festive touches that make holiday snacking extra fun. That’s why I’m excited to share my Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs Recipe with you—it’s a playful twist on a classic that’s as delicious as it is charming on the party platter.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
I’ve made deviled eggs many times, but turning them into cute little Christmas trees brings such a smile to everyone’s face. It’s festive without being fussy, and a perfect make-ahead appetizer that still wows.
- Eye-Catching Presentation: The Christmas tree shape is a delightful surprise on any holiday table, making your deviled eggs stand out.
- Creamy & Fresh Filling: Adding avocado gives the yolk mixture a rich, creamy texture with a modern twist that everyone appreciates.
- Simple Ingredients: No fancy or hard-to-find components here—you probably have everything you need right now.
- Fun Garnishing: Bright yellow bell pepper stars and red pepper “ornaments” add that festive flair in a natural, tasty way.
Ingredients & Why They Work
This recipe combines classic deviled egg ingredients with a creamy avocado boost and fresh bright toppings. Each component balances flavor and texture beautifully—making your Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs as tasty as they are adorable.
- Large eggs: The base — fresh eggs make all the difference for smooth whites and creamy yolks.
- Mayonnaise: Adds classic creaminess and richness to the filling.
- Dijon mustard: Offers a subtle tang that wakes up the flavor without overpowering.
- Lemon juice: A splash of acidity brightens up the filling and keeps flavors balanced.
- Avocado: Creamy and mild, it makes the filling extra luscious plus a little healthier.
- Salt & pepper: Essential seasonings that bring out all the flavors perfectly.
- Crushed red pepper flakes or red pepper pieces: For that festive red “ornament” pop with a mild kick.
- Yellow bell pepper: Used for star cut-outs, adding a sweet crunch and beautiful color contrast.
Make It Your Way
I love tweaking this recipe to suit different flavor preferences or dietary needs, and you might find your own favorite spin. You can easily swap out ingredients or add in extras to make it truly yours.
- Variation: Once, I swapped avocado for cream cheese to get a slightly tangier filling—it was still creamy but a little firmer, which some guests loved.
- Spice it up: If you like a bit more heat, I sometimes sprinkle smoked paprika or a dash of cayenne instead of red pepper flakes.
- Make it vegan-friendly: Use vegan mayo and skip the eggs entirely by creating avocado-stuffed bell pepper “trees” as a plant-based alternative.
Step-by-Step: How I Make Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs Recipe
Step 1: Perfectly Hard Cook Your Eggs
Start by hard-cooking your eggs. I like using the Instant Pot for foolproof results—6 minutes on high pressure, then quick release and an ice bath. This method gives perfectly tender whites with no gray yolk rings. If you prefer stovetop, boil for 9-12 minutes, then plunge into cold water immediately.
Step 2: Peel and Halve the Eggs
Once cooled, peel carefully to keep the whites intact. Slice each egg in half lengthwise and gently scoop the yolks into a mixing bowl.
Step 3: Mix the Creamy Filling
Mash the yolks with mayo, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and the ripe avocado until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste. The avocado adds wonderful creaminess and a subtle buttery flavor.
Step 4: Pipe the Filling into Tree Shapes
Fill a piping bag or a plastic bag with the yolk mixture, snip the tip, and pipe tall swirls back into the egg whites so they resemble little Christmas trees. The height is key to that festive look!
Step 5: Add the Festive “Ornaments” and Stars
Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the “trees” or gently press tiny red bell pepper pieces or pomegranate seeds onto the filling to mimic ornaments. For the star topper, use a small star-shaped cookie cutter to cut stars from yellow bell pepper and place one on top of each egg tree.
Top Tip
After making these Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs Recipe a few times, I learned some key tricks that make the difference between “just okay” and spectacularly pretty and tasty results.
- Use ripe avocado: It blends smoothly and keeps your filling silky—too firm and it won’t mash well.
- Pipe with a wide round tip: It’s easier to control the swirl height and shape to look more like a tree than just a flat dollop.
- Work on a chilled tray: Keep your eggs cold during assembly so they hold their shape longer, especially if prepping ahead.
- Don’t skip the lemon juice: It’s a flavor booster and also keeps the avocado from browning quickly.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs Recipe
Garnishes
I always use the yellow bell pepper stars and crushed red pepper flakes as my go-to garnishes—they add pretty pops of color and a subtle crunch. Sometimes, I swap in tiny pomegranate seeds for a juicy jewel-like “ornament” effect that guests adore.
Side Dishes
These deviled eggs make a perfect starter alongside a fresh green salad, cranberry relish, or even a cheese and charcuterie board. They’re great for balancing richer dishes with their bright, creamy flavor.
Creative Ways to Present
For special occasions, I arrange the deviled eggs in a large oval platter lined with fresh herb sprigs to look like a festive wreath. Little string lights around the edges bring an extra touch of holiday magic.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
After assembling, I cover the deviled eggs with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge for up to two days. Keep them chilled to maintain the creaminess and freshness of the filling.
Freezing
I usually don’t freeze deviled eggs because the texture changes—the avocado and mayo can get watery and separate after thawing. If you want to prep ahead, hard-cook and peel eggs in advance but fill them fresh.
Reheating
Deviled eggs are best served cold, so just let refrigerated leftovers sit at room temperature for 10-15 minutes before serving. Avoid microwaving, which can turn the filling rubbery.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Yes! You can hard-cook and peel the eggs a day ahead and keep them refrigerated. For the freshest taste, prepare and pipe the filling the day you plan to serve.
Make sure your avocado is ripe and soft, and mash the yolk mixture until smooth with no lumps. Using a piping bag with a wide round tip helps create the perfect Christmas tree swirl.
You can use small pieces of cheddar cheese cut into stars or use parsley leaves for a different green topper. Pomegranate seeds also add a beautiful jewel-like garnish if you want to skip the stars altogether.
While traditional deviled eggs use eggs and mayo, you can make a vegan version by substituting avocado or a vegan cream cheese mixture and forming ‘trees’ out of bell pepper or cucumber slices.
Final Thoughts
These Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs Recipe are honestly one of my favorite holiday appetizers to make because they combine the familiar comfort of deviled eggs with a festive, joyful twist. When you bring these out at your next get-together, I promise you’ll get lots of smiles and compliments. It’s a simple way to make your holiday spread stand out—give it a try and watch how they light up the table and your guests' faces!
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Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 pieces
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the holidays with festive Christmas Tree Deviled Eggs, a creative and delicious appetizer featuring creamy avocado-infused filling and vibrant bell pepper stars for garnish.
Ingredients
Eggs and Filling
- 6 large eggs
- 3 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice freshly squeezed
- ½ large avocado ripe
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Crushed red pepper flakes or red pepper pieces for garnish
Garnish
- 1 large yellow bell pepper
Instructions
- Cook the eggs: Hard-cook the eggs using your preferred method such as stovetop boiling or the Instant Pot until fully set, about 10 minutes of cooking time.
- Prepare the eggs: Once cool enough to handle, peel the eggs carefully and slice each in half lengthwise to expose the yolks.
- Make the filling: Scoop the yolks into a bowl and mash them with mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, lemon juice, and ripe avocado until the mixture is smooth and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Assemble the trees: Pipe the avocado yolk mixture back into the egg white halves in a tall swirl that mimics the shape of a Christmas tree.
- Add ornaments: Sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes or place tiny pieces of red pepper or pomegranate seeds on top of the filling to resemble tree ornaments.
- Create star toppers: Using a 1-inch star-shaped cookie cutter, cut 12 stars out of the yellow bell pepper and place one atop each deviled egg tree as a festive star.
Notes
- For perfect hard-boiled eggs, cook them in boiling water for 10-12 minutes or use the Instant Pot for 5 minutes followed by a quick release.
- Using ripe avocado adds a creamy texture and a subtle flavor that balances the richness of the yolks and mayonnaise.
- If you don't have a star-shaped cutter, you can carefully cut the bell pepper into small star shapes with a knife.
- Pomegranate seeds can be used instead of red pepper pieces as a colorful and tasty decoration.
- For easier piping, put the yolk mixture in a piping bag or resealable plastic bag with the corner snipped off.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 70 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 110 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
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