Winning recipe...Christmas Antipasto Wreath

This is the time of year when the party invites start rolling in… and with them that familiar message: “Do you want to bring something?”

Of course we say yes — secretly hoping the reply will be “No, just yourself!” But just in case someone comes back with “Actually, something for the buffet would be great…” here’s a show-stopping idea that looks incredible, travels well, and takes more assembly than cooking.

Let me introduce you to the Antipasto Christmas Cocktail Wreath.

It’s festive, flexible, and guaranteed to impress — without spending hours in the kitchen. I styled mine with rosemary straight from the garden (which looked and smelled amazing), along with olives, mozzarella balls and a variety of cold meats.

Perfect for parties, picnics, or whenever you need to bring something.

Antipasto Christmas Cocktail Wreath

Ingredients

(Adjust quantities depending on the size of your wreath)

• Mini mozzarella balls (bocconcini or ciliegine)

• Mixed olives (green, black, marinated if you like)

• Selection of cold meats (salami, prosciutto, chorizo, mortadella, etc.)

• Cherry tomatoes

• Roasted peppers or artichokes (optional)

• Fresh rosemary sprigs (for decorating)

• Fresh basil leaves (optional)

• Olive oil (for drizzling, optional)

• Cracked black pepper (optional)

You’ll Also Need

• Wooden skewer sticks or cocktail sticks

• A large round serving platter

• A small bowl or glass to place in the centre (to help shape the wreath)

How to Assemble

1. Create the wreath shapePlace a small bowl or glass in the centre of your serving platter. This will help you keep a neat wreath shape as you assemble.

2. Prep your ingredientsFold or roll slices of cold meat into bite-sized pieces. Drain mozzarella balls and olives well.

3. Assemble using skewersThread a mix of ingredients onto each skewer — for example: mozzarella, olive, folded salami, tomato. There’s no right or wrong here; variety is key.

4. Arrange in a circleLay the skewers around the bowl, overlapping slightly, until you have a full wreath shape.

5. DecorateRemove the bowl from the centre. Tuck rosemary sprigs throughout the wreath to give it that festive, Christmas look. Add basil if using.

6. Finish & serveDrizzle lightly with olive oil and finish with cracked black pepper if you like. Serve as is, or cover and transport — it travels beautifully.

Tip: If you’re taking this somewhere, keep the skewers slightly shorter so they fit neatly on the platter and are easy for guests to grab.

I got you Covered. A total crowd-pleaser — impressive, festive, and blissfully stress-free.