This Christmas Tree Pastry with pesto is a delicious and super easy Christmas appetizer.
And it also looks AMAZING!
This Christmas tree pastry is a tasty finger food in the shape of a Christmas tree, all completely to eat, from which each diner can detach its own crispy branch.
Its preparation is very simple and the final effect is definitely wow! Both in taste and in appearance.
The smartest thing about this recipe is that you can make the Puff Pastry Trees by stuffing them with any ingredients you like.
I stuffed this one with basil pesto, and am very impressed with the end product!
Beautiful Christmas Tree Pastry With Pesto Recipe
If you want more recipes for Christmas appetizers:
- Italian Christmas Appetizers: The Best Meals You’ll Want To Prepare
- Focaccia Recipe Easy Authentic with Olives, Tomatoes & Rosemary!
- 20 Best Bruschetta Recipes: The Appetizer You Want Eat Now
- Christmas Charcuterie Board
Christmas Tree Pastry with Pesto
A beautiful pesto tree for a super Christmas appetizer!
Ingredients
- 2 Sheets of puff pastry
- 100g of Basil pesto (6tbsp)
- 5 Cherry tomatoes
- Olive oil for brushing
- Salt & oregano to taste
Instructions
- To make the Puff Pastry Tree, begin by rolling out a roll of puff pastry (ideally rectangular) on a baking sheet covered with baking paper, on which you will draw, cutting it with a knife, the shape of a tree including the base ( an isosceles triangle for the tree and a rectangle for the base).
- Lightly prick the puff pastry with a fork. This is to avoid the risk of the puff pastry puffing up. It is also useful to ensure uniform cooking.
- Stuff your tree with the pesto, spreading a light veil over the entire surface of the pastry sheet.
- Roll out the second sheet of puff pastry laying it on top of the first, on which you have spread the pesto. Using a pizza wheel or a knife, trace the shape of the tree by cutting off the excess dough.
- Make the branches of the tree, cutting strips of thickness of 1.5 cm (like an index finger) on the right and left, leave the center (the trunk) intact and without incisions, 1.5 cm is fine. Proceed to twist each branch with a sharp movement, as if to form pinwheels, taking care to close well the end of each pinwheel with the two edges of the sheet touching, so that it does not open during cooking.
- With the excess puff pastry, created a star to put on top of the tree.
- With a kitchen brush, brush the entire surface with olive oil and put a pinch of salt and oregano all over the surface of the tree.
- To decorate the puff pastry tree, use cherry tomatoes cut in half to create the tree balls.
- Preheat the static oven to 200 degrees Celsius. When it has reached the temperature, bake the tree, and let it cook for 20/25 minutes in the lower part of the oven.
Our beautiful Christmas appetizer is ready
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 169Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 4mgSodium: 212mgCarbohydrates: 6gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 3g
Nutrition is automatically calculated by Nutritionix - please verify all nutrition information independently and consult with a doctor or nutritionist for any and all medical and diet advice.
Make Basil Pesto at Home
- 50 Leaves of basil
- Garlic to taste
- Pine nuts 15 g (0,50 ounce)
- Extra virgin olive oil 100 ml (2/5 cup )
- Parmesan cheese 70 g (7/10 cup)
- A pinch of salt
I make it with a blender to speed up the time.
Chill both the glass and the blender blades in the refrigerator for about an hour to avoid overheating when preparing the pesto.
In the meantime, wash the basil leaves, without pressing them, place them to dry on a clean tea towel.
Pour half of the basil into a glass and blend it together with the garlic cloves, a pinch of salt and a drizzle of oil.
Add the rest of the basil and run the blender for a few seconds.
Add the pine nuts, parmesan cheese, and another drizzle of oil.
Start the machine again, intermittently, until the mixture is smooth.
Pour the pesto into a bowl and dilute it, then, little by little with the necessary oil to obtain a homogeneous cream.
This Christmas Tree Pastry can be sweet or savory, however you wish!
In the first case it is well suited for a festive appetizer, in the second, however, it can be served both at breakfast and as a dessert at the end of the meal.
Other Toppings For Preparing Christmas Tree With Puff Pastry
Savory:
- Ricotta and spinach
- Ham and cheese
- Cream cheese and salmon
- Parma ham and parmesan cheese
- Artichoke pesto
- Red pesto
- Feta and zucchini
- Eggplant and provola cream cheese
Sweet:
- Nutella
- Jam
- Honey and Cinnamon
- Peanut Butter
- Custard cream
- White chocolate cream
How To Store It
I recommend eating it the same day it’s made, to keep the puff pastry crispy.
If you want to make it ahead of time, prepare the puff pastry tree and store it in the fridge without baking.