# Ingredient List:
→ Bread
01 - 12 slices white or whole wheat sandwich bread
→ Cream Cheese Mixture
02 - 225 grams cream cheese, softened
03 - 2 tablespoons fresh chives, finely chopped
04 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
05 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
06 - ½ teaspoon salt
07 - ¼ teaspoon black pepper
→ Vegetables
08 - 1 large English cucumber, thinly sliced into rounds
→ Garnishes (optional)
09 - Red bell pepper, diced
10 - Fresh dill fronds or chives
# Steps:
01 - Combine cream cheese, chives, dill, lemon zest, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl; mix until smooth and cohesive.
02 - Use a tree-shaped cookie cutter to cut tree silhouettes from each bread slice, reserving scraps for breadcrumbs.
03 - Spread a generous layer of the herbed cream cheese mixture evenly over each bread tree shape.
04 - Arrange cucumber slices in overlapping layers atop the cream cheese to simulate tree branches.
05 - Decorate with diced red bell pepper to mimic ornaments and use dill fronds or chives as trunks or branches.
06 - Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate for up to 2 hours before presenting.
