Description
These Puff Pastry Pesto Christmas Trees are a festive and delicious appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with flaky puff pastry, flavorful basil pesto, optional cream cheese, and shredded cheese, these savory treats bake up golden and crisp, adding a fun seasonal touch to your party platter.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry & Spread
- 1 roll Puff Pastry
- 3-4 tablespoons Basil Pesto
- 3-4 tablespoons Cream Cheese (optional)
- 2 tablespoons Shredded Cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F) to ensure it’s hot and ready for baking the puff pastry Christmas trees.
- Roll Out Puff Pastry: Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto a piece of parchment paper on a flat surface, spreading it out evenly.
- Spread Cream Cheese and Pesto: Using a spoon or spatula, evenly spread the optional cream cheese first over the puff pastry, followed by an even layer of basil pesto on top.
- Sprinkle Cheese: Generously sprinkle shredded cheese over the pesto layer to add extra flavor and help the layers bind.
- Cut Strips: Using a knife or pizza wheel, carefully cut the puff pastry into 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide strips.
- Shape Trees: Fold or twist the strips to create the shape of Christmas trees. Optionally, insert a skewer in the middle of each strip for stability.
- Bake: Transfer the shaped pastries with parchment paper onto a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until golden brown and puffed.
Notes
- Use either store-bought or homemade basil pesto for fresh flavor.
- Cream cheese is optional but adds richness and helps the pesto stick better.
- Feel free to experiment with other shredded cheeses like mozzarella or cheddar.
- These puff pastry snacks are best served warm right out of the oven.
- You can prepare them ahead and bake just before serving to keep them crispy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 1.5g
- Sodium: 340mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 22g
- Fiber: 1.5g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 15mg
