Pesto Puff Pastry Christmas Trees Recipe
These festive Pesto Puff Pastry Christmas Trees are a delightful appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Crispy, golden puff pastry layered with fragrant basil pesto and melted cheeses, shaped into charming tree forms and finished with a spicy honey drizzle and red pepper flakes for a sweet and savory kick.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 pastry Christmas trees 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-inspired
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry Base
- 2 sheets of puff pastry
Filling
- ½ cup basil pesto
- ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Finishing
- 1 egg, whisked (for the egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon hot honey sauce
- 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Prepare the Pastry Base: Preheat your oven to 360°F (180°C) and line an oven tray with parchment paper. Roll out one sheet of puff pastry on a clean, flat surface, ideally on the paper it came rolled in to make handling easier.
- Spread Pesto and Cheese: Spread the basil pesto evenly over the rolled pastry, reaching close to the edges. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella and parmesan cheese uniformly over the pesto layer.
- Slice into Strips: Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the pesto and cheese-covered sheet, pressing down gently to seal the layers together. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the layered pastry into 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide strips along the long side, leaving a 2-inch (5 cm) section at one end for cutting out small star shapes.
- Fold into Christmas Trees: Take each strip and fold it over itself four times to create a rough triangle that resembles a Christmas tree shape. Secure each folded tree with a skewer and place them onto the lined baking tray.
- Add Star Toppers: Use a mini star-shaped cutter to cut stars from the reserved pastry section and skewer each star onto the top of the pastry trees.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush each pastry tree generously with the whisked egg to get a golden finish. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the pastry is puffed, golden, and crispy.
- Finish with Hot Honey and Red Pepper Flakes: Remove the baked trees from the oven and immediately drizzle with hot honey sauce. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top to add a subtle spicy heat. Serve the pastry Christmas trees warm for the best texture and flavor experience.
Notes
- Make sure to seal the two puff pastry sheets well to prevent the filling from leaking during baking.
- Hot honey adds a sweet heat; adjust the amount to your heat preference or omit if sensitive to spice.
- These trees are best served fresh and crispy but can be gently reheated the next day.
- You can substitute the basil pesto with sun-dried tomato pesto for a different flavor twist.
- Use cold puff pastry for better handling and flakier results.
Keywords: pesto puff pastry, Christmas appetizer, holiday snack, puff pastry trees, festive finger food
