Pull-Apart Deviled Egg Christmas Tree

One of my favorite parts of the holiday season is seeing my friends and family transform classic recipes into festive holiday shapes. From meringue snowmen and reindeer rolls to Santa Claus cookies, the creativity never ceases to amaze me. This year, I’m especially excited about this pull-apart deviled egg Christmas tree.

This recipe offers a savory take on the pull-apart cupcake trend that has reigned supreme over the past few years. The recipe begins with our zippy pepperoncini deviled eggs recipe, but rather than placing the eggs on a traditional deviled egg platter, they’re arranged in a staggered Christmas tree shape. The key to making a pull-apart deviled egg Christmas tree is to prepare extra filling to spread over the egg whites, creating a singular, seamless tree shape. From there, crumbled bacon is sprinkled over the “trunk,” finely diced red peppers are zigzagged as edible garland across the tree and a yellow pepper star graces the top of the tree.

This is one festive Christmas appetizer you’ll find yourself making year after year!

Ingredients for Pull-Apart Deviled Egg Christmas Tree

• Hard-boiled eggs: You can’t make deviled eggs without plenty of perfect hard-boiled eggs. Older eggs are actually better for hard-boiling, so save them for your deviled egg recipes.
• Pepperoncini: For the recipe, you’ll need a generous amount of minced pepperoncini and their juices, which add wonderful zip and tang to the filling, just as mustard does in classic deviled eggs.
• Garlic: A bit of minced garlic adds a zesty kick to the green-colored filling.
• Avocados: No mayonnaise here! Instead, avocados are used to make this avocado deviled egg filling rich and creamy, while also adding a green hue.
• Cilantro: A handful of chopped fresh cilantro further intensifies the filling’s green color and adds a touch of freshness.
• Spices: A simple combination of salt, pepper and chili powder seasons the filling with just the right amount of heat.
• Bacon: Cooked and crumbled bacon pairs well with the avocado and has a rich brown color that resembles the bark of a tree trunk.
• Red bell pepper: Beyond its red hue perfect for some edible garland, the pepper’s crunch contrasts nicely with the soft, creamy deviled eggs.
• Yellow bell pepper: Just as with a real tree, our pull-apart deviled egg Christmas tree is finished with a bright, golden star. For sharp, clean lines, grab a 2-inch star cookie cutter.

How to Assemble a Pull-Apart Deviled Egg Christmas Tree

Step 1: Make the filling

Cut the hard-boiled eggs in half lengthwise. Remove the yolks and place them in a large bowl, setting aside the egg whites.

Mash the yolks with the pepperoncini juice, minced pepperoncini, garlic and avocado until smooth.

Stir in the cilantro, chili powder, salt and pepper.

Editor’s Tip: For a smoother filling, pulse the avocado mixture in a food processor until the desired consistency is reached. If your filling seems dry, add water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it’s smooth and spreadable.

Step 2: Arrange to make a tree shape

On a large platter or serving board, arrange the egg white halves in rows (for example, one egg, two eggs, three eggs, four eggs, five eggs, six eggs). Take four more egg halves and arrange them to make a two-by-two tree trunk at the base of the arrangement.

Editor’s Tip: You will have extra egg white halves. Enjoy them as snacks while you work or save them for another use, such as chopping and sprinkling over a Cobb salad.

Step 3: Fill the egg whites

Cut a small hole in the tip of a pastry bag or in a corner of a food-safe plastic bag; insert a medium-sized round tip. Transfer half the avocado mixture to the bag. Generously pipe into the egg white halves.

Step 4: Spread the remaining filling on top

Next, spoon the remaining filling in dollops over the deviled eggs. Using an offset spatula, gently spread the filling so that the eggs are mostly covered.

Step 5: Decorate

Sprinkle the tree’s “trunk” with the cooked bacon so the deviled egg filling is mostly covered. Next, arrange the minced red bell pepper in a zigzag pattern over the eggs to resemble a strand of garland.

Finish by using a 2-inch star-shaped cookie cutter to cut a star from a halved yellow bell pepper. Place the star on top of the deviled egg tree. Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Other Ways to Decorate a Pull-Apart Deviled Egg Christmas Tree

• Decorate with “ornaments”: If desired, you can use a small round cookie cutter to cut circular ornaments from yellow, green, orange or additional red peppers, and scatter them over the tree. Sliced olives or small rings of red onion also work well.
• Make a candy cane-style garland: Use finely diced white onion alongside the red bell pepper to make a candy cane-style strand of red-and-white garland.
• Top the tree with cheese: Instead of a yellow pepper, cut a star from a slice of sharp cheddar cheese. Small mozzarella pearls would also make terrific baubles for the tree.

How to Store a Pull-Apart Deviled Egg Christmas Tree

Deviled eggs should be kept covered and refrigerated when not being served.

How long do deviled eggs last?

Once assembled, the deviled eggs should be enjoyed within 24 hours.

How can you make a pull-apart deviled egg Christmas tree ahead of time?

A pull-apart deviled egg Christmas tree is a terrific make-ahead appetizer. You can store cooked, unpeeled hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also make the deviled egg filling up to one day in advance. Even though this filling is made predominantly with avocados, the pepperoncini juice and other ingredients slow the avocados from browning, giving you a little wiggle room.

For the best taste, keep the whites separate from the filling until the day of your event. Store the halved whites in an airtight storage container and the filling in a resealable zip-top bag. Squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent discoloration.

Pull-Apart Deviled Egg Christmas Tree Tips

Can you make a pull-apart Christmas tree with other kinds of deviled eggs?

Absolutely! If pepperoncinis are not your thing, try this recipe with another deviled egg recipe you enjoy. Or, if you want to stick with a green-colored filling, choose a recipe made with pesto or try this creamy herb deviled egg recipe. If you don’t mind a deviled egg tree that’s off-color, try southwest deviled eggs or horseradish deviled eggs.

What other pull-apart shapes can you make with deviled eggs?

You’re limited only by your imagination when it comes to making a pull-apart deviled egg arrangement. Draw inspiration from these adorable Santa deviled eggs and make a larger version to celebrate the holidays.

You could also make this recipe into a wreath: Arrange the egg whites into a large ring shape and then top with the filling. Add a decorative finish by arranging a portion of the eggs into a bow shape and filling these eggs with an alternative filling for a colorful contrast. Smoked salmon deviled eggs, topped with ribbons of smoked fish or bacon, would complement the avocado and pepperoncini filling from this recipe.