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    Home » Appetizers » Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    Published: Nov 12, 2018 · Modified: May 16, 2020 by Elaine · This post may contain Amazon affiliate links · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This blog generates income via ads · 16 Comments

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    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer title

    Make your party food preparation a breeze with this 10-minute festive Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer! 

    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    Do you find entertaining during the holidays stressful? This Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer is the easiest appetizer you'll make all season!

    It's a no-fuss, stress-free, spectacular party food platter with a touch of elegance. Full of olives, hot pickled peppers, cheese cubes and mini cheese balls, your gluten-free, keto, vegan and paleo guests will be able to find something in this herb wreath to snack on.

    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    This cheese and olive wreath appetizer is quick and easy

    This gorgeous appetizer platter takes one trip to the store and 10 minutes to arrange!

    Start with a round serving dish. I used a 10-inch quiche dish I've had for years, but any round low dish will work, too. Choose something larger for a big crowd, smaller for a more intimate group.

    Pick up a few kinds of fresh herbs. I bought dill, rosemary, mint and sage, only because they were the ones that looked the most fresh.

    The herbs add more than an attractive bed for your cheese and olives! Their aroma as I was putting this together was intoxicating.

    Begin by arranging the herbs loosely in a circular pattern. I started with the feathery dill, then added sprigs of rosemary, mint and a few sage leaves on top.

    Next add a few cheese cubes. Choose your favourite cheddar, or an assortment like havarti, feta, pecorino, manchego or smoked gouda.

    If you have extra time, make a batch of mini cheese balls. For this holiday appetizer wreath, I made mini cheese balls by combining cream cheese and sharp cheddar and rolled them in Everything Spice mix.

    And lastly, fill in all the gaps with assorted piquant peppers and quality olives.

    Should I use pitted olives or olives with pits intact?

    While pitted olives are easier to eat, those with pits intact have much more flavour. Provide a small bowl for the olive pits.

    Have you ever felt awkward about what to do with your olive pit?  If you've been concerned about the etiquette of eating olives in public, check out this article How to Eat Olives Without Looking Like a Fool .

    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    And finally, place a small bowl with cocktail forks or toothpicks in the center of the wreath.

    Just like that, you've made a spectacular platter! Serve with cocktail napkins and enjoy your easy fuss-free holiday appetizer.

    How do I keep herbs fresh?

    Avoid finding slimy herbs in the back of your fridge!  To extend the life of tender herbs like dill, parsley, cilantro, and mint, trim the stems, then place in a jar with an inch or so of water. Cover with a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator, or use a herb keeper to keep herbs fresh.

    This popular Pomegranate Mandarin Holiday Wreath Salad that I made on repeat last December inspired me to create this olive wreath appetizer this year. If you make it, leave me a comment below or snap a pic and post it on Instagram and tag me @flavourandsavour ! I love to see what you make!

    You might also like this post How to Make an Antipasto Platter.

    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer

    Make this festive Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer when you need a quick, no-fuss easy appetizer that looks elegant! 
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Appetizer
    Cuisine: American, Canadian, Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 145kcal
    Author: Elaine
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    Ingredients

    • assorted fresh herbs of your choice dill, rosemary, sage, mint
    • 1 pint olives with pits
    • 4 oz cheese of your choice
    • 8 mini mini cheese balls or bocconcini cheese balls
    • ¼ cup peri-peri peppers or other piquant peppers

    Instructions

    • Loosely arrange herbs in a circle in a large round dish. I began with a layer of fresh, feathery dill, then added rosemary, mint and sage leaves on top.
    • Arrange cheese balls and cheese cubes randomly (or symmetrically) on top of the herbs. 
    • Add olives and peppers to fill in the spaces. Tuck in extra herbs to fill in any gaps. 
    • Add a small bowl in the center to hold toothpicks or appetizer forks. Alternatively, fill the bowl with mixed nuts or Spanish Spiced Almonds

    Nutrition

    Calories: 145kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 15mg | Sodium: 1009mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 375IU | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 0.4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @enessman or tag #flavourandsavour!
    Nutrition Facts
    Holiday Cheese and Olive Wreath Appetizer
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 145 Calories from Fat 117
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 13g20%
    Saturated Fat 4g25%
    Cholesterol 15mg5%
    Sodium 1009mg44%
    Potassium 38mg1%
    Carbohydrates 2g1%
    Fiber 1g4%
    Protein 4g8%
    Vitamin A 375IU8%
    Calcium 137mg14%
    Iron 0.4mg2%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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    This post contains affiliate links. If you click on any of the affiliate links and make a purchase within a certain time frame, I’ll receive a small commission. The commission is paid by the third party, not by you. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

    SAVE THIS TO ONE OF YOUR PINTEREST BOARDS and connect with me on Pinterest! I’m always finding new tasty recipes to pin. Subscribe to my weekly newsletter and never miss a recipe!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Leanne | Crumb Top Baking

      November 30, 2018 at 3:42 am

      5 stars
      I love how easy this is and yet so festive! Appetizers like this are always a big hit over the holidays!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 30, 2018 at 7:35 pm

        'Tis the season for appies! Thanks for commenting!

        Reply
    2. Denise from Urbnspice

      November 28, 2018 at 8:54 pm

      5 stars
      This is a beautiful appetizer platter, Elaine! It is so seasonally perfect for the holidays (although I think perfect for any time of year). I love those little mini cheese balls nestled in amongst the olive medley. (and thanks for the link for olive etiquette - that was great!).

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 30, 2018 at 7:29 pm

        Thanks Denise! Yes, I had a good laugh at that article!

        Reply
    3. Melanie @ Bon Appet'Eat

      November 28, 2018 at 8:45 am

      5 stars
      This would love amazing on my table! So pretty!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 30, 2018 at 7:29 pm

        Thanks so much Melanie! I hope you get a chance to make it this holiday season.

        Reply
    4. Colleen

      November 27, 2018 at 8:29 pm

      5 stars
      Beautiful platter Elaine, and I love the simplicity, which is what I'm striving for lately. Love the herbs, they always elevate everything!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 30, 2018 at 7:31 pm

        Thanks Colleen, Simple is usually best, isn't it? The herbs add a beautiful aroma, too!

        Reply
    5. Jessica

      November 27, 2018 at 1:17 pm

      5 stars
      LOVE the simplicity of this! Especially for the holiday season. Colourful too!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 27, 2018 at 6:15 pm

        Thanks Jessica! Easy is always best!

        Reply
    6. Cathy

      November 27, 2018 at 11:46 am

      5 stars
      Thank you for this great simple solution to accommodating those on restricted diets! As usual, you've made it very attractive, too.

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 27, 2018 at 6:15 pm

        Thanks so much, Cathy!

        Reply
    7. Jo Vanderwolf

      November 26, 2018 at 8:34 pm

      5 stars
      I am in love with how beautiful this is! What a fabulous way to "fancy up" such wonderful simple ingredients. I will be trying this for my guests this year 🙂

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 26, 2018 at 9:55 pm

        Thanks so much, Jo! Easy appetizers are always best at this busy time of the year!

        Reply
    8. Deirdre

      November 16, 2018 at 8:14 pm

      5 stars
      What a beautiful platter! Can't wait to make this!

      Reply
      • Flavour & Savour

        November 16, 2018 at 9:20 pm

        Thanks Dierdre! Perfect for the holidays!

        Reply

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    Gluten-free Made Easy!

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