A Stunning Antipasto Wreath Whipped Feta Dip: The Perfect Christmas Centrepiece

We’re always on the lookout for a truly special Christmas appetiser—one that captures the magic of the season and tastes divine, but doesn’t require endless hours of prep. It’s a common challenge during the festive rush. What if we shared a recipe that delivers maximum impact with minimal fuss? We’d love to introduce you to our magnificent Antipasto Wreath Whipped Feta Dip.

This recipe has become our absolute saviour for holiday entertaining. It elegantly marries the creamy, zesty allure of a whipped feta dip with the rich, savoury notes of a traditional antipasto board. The most wonderful part? Everything is arranged into a gorgeous, edible wreath that will undoubtedly be the star of your festive table. It’s beautiful, delicious, and one of those truly brilliant christmas appetizers easy that will make you feel like a culinary genius.

Why We Adore This Recipe

• A Breathtaking Festive Showstopper: This is so much more than a dip; it’s an edible masterpiece! The wreath form, studded with colourful toppings and fresh rosemary, has a wonderfully festive feel that is certain to delight your guests.
• Effortlessly Simple to Make: As there’s no cooking involved, this appetiser can be assembled in just a few minutes. The dip comes together in a food processor, and the rest is just a joyful bit of creative arrangement. It’s the ideal stress-free recipe for any host.
• A Harmony of Flavours and Textures: We just love the interplay between the cool, velvety whipped feta and the assortment of toppings. Each scoop offers a delightful mix of salty salami, briny olives, sharp artichokes, and sweet tomatoes.
• Wonderfully Adaptable: Please think of our recipe as a starting point. You can easily substitute the antipasto elements with your own favourites. Not keen on olives? Try some roasted peppers instead! It’s your creation, so have fun with it.
• Ideal for Making in Advance: The whipped feta dip can be prepared a day or two ahead, which is a real gift during the busy Christmas period. When it’s time to serve, simply give it a stir, spread it onto your platter, and begin decorating.

Ingredients

• feta cheese
• cream cheese
• extra virgin olive oil
• lemon juice
• black pepper
• cherry tomatoes
• mixed olives
• salami or chorizo
• marinated artichoke hearts
• mozzarella pearls
• fresh basil leaves
• fresh rosemary sprigs

Crafting Your Perfect Antipasto Wreath Whipped Feta Dip

Putting together this spectacular appetiser is a straightforward, three-part process. We will walk you through preparing the creamy dip, shaping it into a wreath, and adorning it beautifully. Let’s begin!

Step 1: Whipping Up the Creamy Feta Base

The foundation of this dish is the exceptionally smooth and flavourful whipped feta dip. The key to its light, airy consistency is using high-quality ingredients and a food processor to do the hard work for you.

1. Add the crumbled feta cheese, softened cream cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh lemon juice to the bowl of a food processor.
2. Pop the lid on and blend on a high setting for about 2-3 minutes. You might need to pause and scrape down the sides of the bowl once or twice to make sure everything is incorporated.
3. Keep blending until the mixture is perfectly smooth, creamy, and light, with a texture similar to that of thick Greek yoghurt.
4. Give the dip a taste and season with a little black pepper. We find that the feta provides enough saltiness, but feel free to add a pinch more if you think it needs it.

Step 2: Creating the Wreath Foundation

With your dip prepared, it’s time to create the base for your edible work of art. A large, circular serving plate or a rustic wooden board works perfectly for this.

1. Spoon the prepared whipped feta dip onto the middle of your serving dish.
2. Using the back of a spoon or a small spatula, gently spread the dip outwards to form a large ring, approximately 2-3 cm in thickness.
3. As you spread, aim to create a clear circular shape, leaving an open space in the centre to achieve the wreath effect. There’s no need for it to be perfectly symmetrical—a little rustic charm is all part of its appeal.

Step 3: Assembling Your Edible Antipasto Wreath

Now for the most enjoyable part, where you can let your creativity shine! While there are no hard and fast rules for decorating your antipasto wreath, we have a few suggestions to help you achieve a truly stunning presentation.

• • Begin with the Greenery: Gently press the fresh rosemary sprigs into the feta dip all around the ring. This forms the “pine” base of your wreath and instantly gives it a festive appearance.

–Position the Larger Items: Next, place your larger toppings. We love making little salami rosettes by folding slices in half and then half again. Arrange these, along with the quartered artichoke hearts, at even intervals around the wreath.

–Fill in the Gaps: Now, nestle the halved cherry tomatoes, mixed olives, and mozzarella pearls into the spaces between the larger elements. Try to achieve a balanced distribution of colours and shapes for visual appeal.

–The Finishing Touches: Tuck fresh basil leaves in here and there to add another splash of green and a lovely fragrance. To finish, drizzle a little extra virgin olive oil over the entire creation.

Serve straight away with a selection of crackers, crusty bread, or fresh vegetable sticks for dipping.

Tips for a Flawless Festive Appetizer

We’ve prepared this recipe on numerous occasions and have gathered a few helpful hints over time to guarantee it turns out wonderfully every single time.

Choosing Your Ingredients

In a simple recipe such as this, the quality of your ingredients really makes a difference. For the feta, we suggest using a block preserved in brine over pre-crumbled types. The flavour is more robust and tangy, and the texture is far creamier. For more guidance on choosing the right cheese, this guide to different types of feta cheese from Food & Wine is an excellent read. For your toppings, select a range of items with varied colours, textures, and tastes to make your wreath both beautiful and delicious.

Make-Ahead Magic

To give yourself more time on the day of your event, the whipped feta dip can be prepared up to two days beforehand. Simply store it in the fridge in an airtight container. When you are ready to assemble, allow it to sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes to soften up, give it a thorough stir, and then you can shape and decorate your wreath. We advise assembling the wreath no more than an hour before serving to ensure the toppings look their very best.

Serving Suggestions

The options for what to serve alongside your dip are practically limitless! We particularly enjoy serving it with:

• Warm, toasted baguette slices or crostini
• Soft pitta bread, sliced into triangles
• An assortment of crackers (plain, seeded, or whole-wheat)
• Crisp vegetable sticks like carrots, cucumbers, and bell peppers

Customising Your Antipasto Wreath

One of the finest qualities of this recipe is its sheer versatility. Don’t hesitate to get creative and substitute in your own favourite antipasto ingredients. If you appreciate these Italian-inspired flavours, we think you’ll also love our Bruschetta Chicken as a simple yet sophisticated main dish.

• • A Spicy Kick: For a touch of warmth, add a pinch of red pepper flakes or a few drops of your favourite hot sauce into the whipped feta.
  • Vegetarian Delight: Simply leave out the salami and embellish your wreath with more plant-based treats like sun-dried tomatoes, roasted red peppers, marinated mushrooms, or grilled courgette.

–A Hellenic Twist: Embrace the feta’s Greek heritage by adding sliced cucumber, finely chopped red onion, and a dusting of dried oregano to your toppings.

• An Herbaceous Infusion: Blend a generous handful of fresh basil, dill, or parsley directly into the feta dip for a lovely green hue and a burst of fresh, herby flavour.

FAQ

Beyond the Wreath: Other Ways to Enjoy Whipped Feta

While we absolutely adore the wreath presentation for gatherings, we encourage you not to reserve this delicious dip for special occasions alone! The whipped feta is remarkably versatile. It serves as a brilliant spread for sandwiches and wraps, a creamy foundation for a flatbread pizza, or a delightful side for grilled chicken or lamb. It’s a wonderfully adaptable dip that complements many main courses, including our flavourful Garlic Parmesan Chicken Pasta Recipe.

Our Final Word on This Festive Favourite

The Antipasto Wreath Whipped Feta Dip is more than just a recipe; it’s a true celebration on a plate. It brings together simplicity, elegance, and incredible flavour in a way that truly embodies the spirit of festive sharing. We promise it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will have all your guests asking for the recipe.

So, this Christmas season, we invite you to move away from the stress and embrace the delight of simple, beautiful food. We hope you’ll give this recipe a go and see it become the star of your holiday table. Please do share your finished creations with us—we always love seeing how you make our recipes your own. Let us know how it went in the comments section below!

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Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• Feta cheese, crumbled
• Cream cheese, softened
• Extra virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling
• Fresh lemon juice
• Black pepper, to taste
• Fresh rosemary sprigs
• Salami or chorizo
• Marinated artichoke hearts, quartered
• Cherry tomatoes, halved
• Mixed olives
• Mozzarella pearls
• Fresh basil leaves

Instructions

1. In a food processor, combine the crumbled feta cheese, softened cream cheese, extra virgin olive oil, and fresh lemon juice. Blend on high for 2-3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl as needed, until the mixture is perfectly smooth and creamy. Season with black pepper to taste.
2. Spoon the whipped feta onto a large, circular serving plate or board. Using the back of a spoon, gently spread the dip into a large ring, leaving an open space in the centre to create a wreath shape.
3. Decorate the wreath by first pressing fresh rosemary sprigs into the dip to form a base. Arrange the salami, artichoke hearts, halved cherry tomatoes, mixed olives, and mozzarella pearls around the ring. Garnish with fresh basil leaves and a final drizzle of extra virgin olive oil before serving.