Festive Reindeer Antler Spread (Printable version)

Creamy dip garnished with colorful vegetables and crackers arranged in festive antler shapes.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dip

01 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
02 - 1/2 cup sour cream
03 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
04 - 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
05 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
06 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
07 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

→ Vegetables

08 - 1 large carrot, cut into thin sticks
09 - 1 red bell pepper, cut into thin strips
10 - 1 yellow bell pepper, cut into thin strips
11 - 1 cucumber, cut into thin sticks
12 - 1 cup snap peas

→ Crackers & Breads

13 - 1 cup breadsticks, halved
14 - 1 cup assorted crackers

→ Cured Meats (optional)

15 - 3.5 ounces prosciutto or salami, sliced into strips

→ Garnish

16 - Fresh dill sprigs or parsley

# Directions:

01 - Combine cream cheese, sour cream, parmesan, chives, lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl. Whisk until smooth and creamy, then transfer to a small serving bowl and place centrally on a large platter.
02 - Place carrot sticks, bell pepper strips, cucumber sticks, and snap peas in two mirrored sweeping arcs on either side of the dip bowl, forming antler shapes.
03 - Intertwine halved breadsticks and assorted crackers along the vegetable antler lines to enhance texture and appearance.
04 - Weave prosciutto or salami strips among the vegetables and crackers if using the non-vegetarian option.
05 - Decorate with fresh dill or parsley sprigs for a festive finish. Serve immediately alongside extra crackers.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks absolutely magical on the table—guests always pause to admire it before diving in, and that moment of recognition when they see the reindeer is priceless
  • Everything comes together in just 25 minutes, so you can spend more time with family instead of being stuck in the kitchen
  • The creamy parmesan dip is the secret weapon that transforms simple vegetables into something everyone actually wants to eat
  • You can easily customize it for dietary preferences—just skip the cured meats for vegetarian guests and everyone's happy
02 -
  • The dip needs to be genuinely creamy and smooth, which means your cream cheese absolutely must be softened—take it out of the fridge 30 minutes before you start
  • Your vegetables will look perfect right when you arrange them, but they start releasing moisture pretty quickly, so this isn't a dish you can prep hours in advance—you'll get about 90 minutes of visual perfection before things start to wilt slightly
  • The lemon juice does more than add flavor—it keeps everything tasting bright and prevents the dip from tasting heavy or overwhelming
03 -
  • Invest in a sharp chef's knife and a steady cutting board—the cleaner your vegetable cuts, the more polished your final spread will look, and it's worth taking a few extra minutes on this step
  • The secret to a dip that tastes restaurant-quality is tasting it as you go and adjusting the seasoning until it's genuinely exciting—not just edible, but something you'd actually be excited to eat more of
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