Christmas Tree Puff Pastry – delicious sheets of puff pastry filled with pesto sauce and then shaped into a Christmas Tree makes the perfect appetizer this holiday season. This recipe is easier to put together than you think, yet it makes a beautiful display on any holiday buffet table. Let me show you how to make this delicious appetizer.
Christmas Tree Puff Pastry Appetizer
A few years ago, I saw a video on how to make a Christmas tree puff pastry appetizer that looked so incredibly beautiful I knew I had to try it. As a matter of fact, there were actually two videos, one using pesto sauce and the other using Nutella.
The recipe I’m sharing with you today is made with pesto sauce. It turned out even better than I could have imagined. I made it for Christmas Day as part of our appetizers and then I made it again for New Year’s Eve.
Easy Holiday Appetizer
Don’t be afraid to try this recipe! It is actually very easy. I know sometimes when I look at recipes and see a ton of steps I quickly move on, but this recipe is very simple and the presentation it makes is amazing.
Your family and friends are going to be so impressed with you when you place this Christmas tree appetizer on your buffet table over the holiday season…really!
Helpful Kitchen Tools
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- Parchment Baking Sheets– using these sheets makes it easy to lift the puff pastry appetizer off the baking tray and move it to your serving platter.
- Pastry roller
- Pizza wheel cutter
- Baking sheets – a little different than traditional baking pans.
Ingredients for Christmas Tree Puff Pastry
- 2 sheets of puff pastry
- Pesto Sauce
- 1 egg
You can use homemade pesto sauce if you prefer, but I found it even easier just to reach for a favorite jar of pesto sauce.
How to Roll out the Puff Pastry
Using the Pastry Roller, roll out the first sheet of puff pastry onto a piece of parchment paper. THEN gently lift the parchment paper and place it on to a baking sheet.
Next, roll out the second sheet of puff pastry and set aside. Spread the pesto sauce on the sheet of puff pastry that’s on the baking sheet. Then add the second sheet of puff pastry on top to make a sandwich.
How to Get the Christmas Tree Shape
To begin with, if you’re good a “winging” it, cut the Christmas tree shape out of the puff pastry or you can do like I did and make a template using the Parchment Baking Sheets.
- Make a template out of another sheet of parchment paper in the shape of a triangle.
- Cut the Christmas tree shape out of the parchment paper.
- Lay the template on top of the puff pastry.
How to Cut out the Puff Pastry Dough
Use a Pizza Wheel Cutter or a sharp knife and cut out the Christmas tree shape in the puff pastry making sure you cut a tree trunk at the bottom.
Lay the extra sections of puff pastry aside.You’ll need to cut the star for the top of the tree with this extra puff pastry.
How to Make the Twisted Branches of the Christmas Tree
As stated above, you can definitely “wing” it again, but I used a ruler as my guide. I keep this ruler with my kitchen tools and it’s only used for cooking.
- Make the branches of the tree by slicing into the puff pastry from the side being careful to not slice all the way through.
- Then start twisting.
- Press the edges of the twisted branches down into the puff pastry so they don’t pop up.
How to Make the Star for the Top
Use a star shaped cookie cutter to cut out the star for the top of the tree out of the excess puff pastry dough.
How to Bake the Christmas Tree Puff Pastry
Brush the entire tree with the beaten egg and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the entire pastry is puffed and golden brown.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Puff Pastry Appetizer
For the most part, you really should let the pastry cool slightly before sliding it off the parchment paper onto a serving platter. If you don’t have a serving platter large enough to hold the Christmas Tree, use a regular baking tray that you cover with fresh parchment paper. All your guests need to do is pull a branch off and enjoy!
More Easy Appetizer Recipes:
- Christmas Tree Cheese Board Appetizer
- How to Create the Perfect Cheese Board – perfect for any celebration or holiday!
- Bacon Wrapped Jalapenos
- Homemade Queso Cheese Dip – no fake cheese!
- Mini Spinach and Bacon Quiche
- Zucchini Pizza Bites – low calorie and low carb!
Savory puff pastry filled with pesto sauce and then shaped into a Christmas tree makes the perfect appetizer this holiday season. As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Christmas Tree Puff Pastry Appetizer with Pesto Sauce
Ingredients
Instructions
Notes
Recommended Products
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8
Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:
Calories: 100Total Fat: 8.6ggSaturated Fat: 2ggSodium: 161mgmgCarbohydrates: 2.8ggFiber: 0.1ggSugar: 0.2ggProtein: 2.7gg
Really beautiful food presentation, and a great tutorial. Pinned!
Thank you so much Debbie!
This looks delicious and I think I would love either version. Pinned.
Thank you!
This caught my eye right away and I’ll definitely be making it to bring to holiday parties, as not only does it look so festive I’m sure it tastes good too! Thanks for a wonderful recipe and idea!
Thank you for visiting Pat. Hope the appetizer turns out as yummy for you as it did me.
This is too pretty!!!! I want to try it using spinach pesto with feta cheese, like a spinach pie flavor. Pinned and sharing on FB. Please post at Funtastic Fridays on Thursday night at 9pm.
Wondering your thoughts on making this ahead? I’m worried the oil in the pesto will ruin the pastry…… Excited to make this!
I put the pastry together with the pesto sauce about an hour before my guests arrived and it worked fine. I covered it with plastic wrap and kept it in the refrigerator. I haven’t made it any earlier than that though. Please let me know how your appetizer comes out! Thank you for visiting!
Not only is this sure to be delicious but it is also very pretty. Pinned it to try out this year. Thanks for sharing at #HomeMattersParty
Thank you Donna!
would a little extra parmesan and serve it with a marinara sauce work with this? I have a ton of garlic scape pesto in the freezer I want to use with this.
That sounds good! Thanks for visiting.
The tree looks like you used croissant dough–not puff pastry. As I understand it, those are very different things. Which is it? Thanks!
Yes, this is puff pastry.