Description
Delightful and festive Puff Pastry Pesto Christmas Trees, perfect for holiday appetizers or snacks. Flaky puff pastry layers are spread with creamy basil pesto and optional cream cheese, topped with shredded cheese, and baked until golden and crispy.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 roll puff pastry
- 4 tablespoon basil pesto
- 4 tablespoon cream cheese, optional
- 2 tablespoon 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 trees.
- Roll Out Puff Pastry: Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto a piece of parchment paper to prevent sticking and make it easier to handle.
- Spread Cream Cheese and Pesto: Using a spoon or spatula, spread the cream cheese evenly over the pastry if using, then layer the basil pesto evenly on top of the cream cheese for rich flavor.
- Sprinkle Cheese: Evenly sprinkle the shredded cheese over the pesto layer to add a melty, golden topping to the pastry trees.
- Cut Into Strips: Using a knife or a pastry wheel cutter, cut the layered puff pastry into approximately 1 inch (2.5 cm) wide strips for shaping.
- Shape the Trees: Fold the strips to form Christmas tree shapes. You can leave them free-standing or use a skewer in the middle to help the shape hold better, as desired.
- Bake: Place the shaped pastries on a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until puffed up and golden brown.
Notes
- Try making homemade basil pesto for fresher flavor and control over ingredients.
- Add a cut-out star made from cheese atop each tree for extra festive decoration.
- If you prefer a dairy-free option, omit the cream cheese and shredded cheese and consider a vegan pesto.
- Using a skewer helps keep the tree shape intact during baking if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 250 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg
