Description
A festive creation combining flaky pastry, aromatic pesto, and gooey cheese, perfect for gatherings!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed 🥐
- ⅓ cup basil pesto (store-bought or homemade) 🌿
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella or Italian blend cheese 🧀
- 1 egg + 1 tbsp water (for egg wash) 🥚
- Optional Garnish:
- Grated Parmesan cheese 🧀
- Cherry tomatoes or pimentos (as “ornaments”) 🍅
- Fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs (for greenery) 🌿
- Edible gold flakes or glitter (for sparkle) ✨
Instructions
- Start by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). This is a crucial step, as a properly heated oven ensures that your pastry puffs beautifully and bakes evenly.
- While the oven is heating, take both sheets of puff pastry and roll them out gently. The goal here is to ensure they are even and smooth but don’t overwork them; you want to retain the layers that make puff pastry so flaky.
- Place the first sheet of pastry onto your prepared baking sheet. Spread the basil pesto evenly, covering the sheet with a delicious layer. Next, sprinkle the shredded cheese liberally on top of the pesto—this combo is what makes the tree so mouth-watering!
- Now it’s time to place the second sheet on top of the first. Gently press down to seal the edges and make a compact tree. Carefully cut the layered pastry into a large triangle, saving the remaining dough to mold into a trunk or additional decorations.
- At the base of your pastry tree, cut a small rectangle from the leftover dough to form the trunk. On both sides of the triangle, evenly cut vertical strips about an inch apart, making sure to leave the central strip intact. Once cut, twist each of the strips a couple of times to create ‘branches’ that will puff nicely while baking.
- Whisk together the egg and water to make an egg wash. Brush this mixture generously over the entire surface of the pastry tree; this will give it a golden sheen once baked. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 20–25 minutes or until you see it puffed up and golden brown.
- Once your tree is beautifully baked, remove it from the oven and immediately sprinkle some grated Parmesan cheese on top while it’s still warm to maximize meltiness. For a festive flair, adorn it with cherry tomatoes as ornaments and arrange fresh rosemary or thyme sprigs around as a garland. If you’re feeling extra festive, a dusting of edible gold glitter will add sparkle and joy!
- Finally, slice the warm tree into sections for easy pull-apart servings. Pair it with marinara sauce, garlic aioli, or extra pesto for dipping, and watch it disappear in between cheerful conversations and laughter.
Notes
For optimal crispiness, avoid overloading the pastry with fillings; less is sometimes more!
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
Nutrition
- Calories: 200 kcal
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Protein: 6 g