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It’s never too early to think about new recipes for Christmas or an impressive centerpiece for the occasion. A homemade pesto puff pastry Christmas tree appetizer is definitely worth considering. This puff pastry recipe is in the shape of a Christmas tree, so it’s definitely a fitting, festive choice. These puff pastry tree appys are a delicious recipe for the holiday season and easy to make with store-bought puff pastry.
Puff pastry sheets combine with red and green pesto to make the trees which are wonderful served warm from the oven.
You might also like melted snowman cookie bark, a jumbo Christmas tree fruit pizza cookie, or mint milano Christmas brownies.
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Appetizer Ingredients
You could count the ingredients you need for this savory Christmas appetizer on one hand if you wanted, but it’s better to make your own red and green pesto, instead of opening jars, since it’s for Christmas. The packaged sheets are puff pastry make this recipe a breeze.
So yes, you will need more ingredients but, trust me, it’s well worth making the red and basil pesto sauce yourself since they’re amazing when prepared fresh like this. This is my favourite recipe for an Authentic Italian Basil Pesto and also this Pesto Rosso.
You simply need to blend the ingredients for these sauces in a blender or food processor, so if you have the ingredients already it won’t add much time on to the recipe prep. If you are pressed for time though, simply use your favourite brands of prepared pesto instead.
How to Make Simple Christmas Appetizers
Everything about these puff pastry appetizers is cute, from the Christmas tree shape to the pesto-decorated branches of the tree and the Christmas spirit they convey. But how do you make them exactly?
The first thing to do when making this savory Christmas appetizer is thaw out the puff pastry. Meanwhile, soak the skewers in water (this prevents them catching fire in the oven!)
Put all the ingredients for the red pesto in a blender or food processor and blend well. Set to one side. Repeat with the green pesto ingredients.
Cut each sheet of puff pastry into eight strips with a pizza cutter or a sharp knife. Brush the strips of pastry with egg wash (eggs mixed with water). Now you can spread a layer of pesto over each dough strip, using both red and green, and refrigerate the Italian Christmas appetizers while you preheat the oven.
Fold each strip of pesto-coated pastry like an accordion to end up with the shape of a tree and skewer them. Bake the Christmas appetizers until lightly golden, cool a little before serving. From the top of the tree trunk to the Christmas tree branches, this holiday party appy is delicious!
Christmas Tree Appetizers Serving Ideas
I love this puff pastry recipe served warm from the oven, with a glass of fizz perhaps. It could be that you want to serve more than one appetizer. To keep the theme, these Italian stuffed tomatoes would be a delicious pairing.
There is more than one way to add these Christmas appetizers to your holiday menu. Serve them before the main course on Christmas day or make them for a Christmas Eve party. They’re ideal for anytime during the holiday season.
In Italy, pastry-based appetizers are known as ‘rustici’ which translates to mean ‘rustic’. Anytime there is a buffet, birthday party or potluck event in Italy, rustici are sure to make an appearance!
Some Variations You Might Like
Although this Christmas tree shaped appetizer is perfect just as it is, it’s always fun to try new tweaks. Other than subbing pesto from a jar for the homemade kind, there are other things to try. If you are not a fan of pine nuts, you can use a different nut in the pesto, such as walnuts.
For example, you could sprinkle some shredded parmesan cheese over the mini puff pastry Christmas tree bites before baking. Another idea is cutting out little stars using a tiny star-shaped cookie cutter from a block of parmesan and threading one on to the top of each skewer – after baking of course, so they don’t melt! Small cherry tomatoes could be added between the branches for a different look. Easy but tasty festive recipes are always a hit!
Savoury Puff Pastry Christmas Trees FAQs
You can prepare the pesto ahead of time and keep it refrigerated, then you can assemble these in a few minutes shortly before your guests arrive.
A puff pastry recipe can be frozen but I don’t really recommend it because they will be soft instead of crispy when thawed out. If you have leftovers, keep them in an airtight container for a few days. This will dry out a little, but you can always give them a few minutes in the oven at 400 degrees F to bring back some of the crunch.
Christmas Tree Puff Pastry Appetizer
Pesto Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Appetizer
Ingredients
- 2 Sheets puff pastry
- 2 eggs, for egg wash
- 2 Tablespoons water, for egg wash
- ½ Teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ Teaspoon italian seasoning
Red Pesto
- ½ Cup sun dried tomatoes
- 3 Cloves garlic
- ¼ Cup basil leaves, fresh
- 2 Sprigs oregano, fresh
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, fresh
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 Pinch black pepper
- ½ Teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 Tablespoon pine nuts
- ¼ Cup parmesan cheese
- ⅓ Cup extra virgin olive oil
Green Pesto
- 3 Cloves garlic
- ½ Cup basil leaves, fresh
- ¼ Cup parsley, fresh
- 1 Pinch salt
- 1 Pinch black pepper
- 2 Tablespoon pine nuts
- ¼ Cup parmesan cheese
- ⅓ Cup extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- **Thaw the puff pastry sheets before starting** Soak Skewers in a bowl of water while preparing puff pastry trees**
- Add all red pesto ingredients to the food processor (or blender) and blend. Add to a bowl and rinse the food processor (or blender).
- Next, add green pesto ingredients to the food processor (or blender) and blend. Add to a bowl.
- Slice each puff pastry sheet into 8 equal sized strips. (about 1” wide each) Brush with egg wash, then place onto a flat work surface eggwash side down.
- Spread a thick layer of the pesto onto each strip of puff pastry, alternating red and green pesto as you work. Place into the fridge for 10 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Next, fold the puff pastry accordion style, start the first fold wide, then increasingly more narrow with each fold. The finished product should be shaped like a triangle (or, Christmas tree) . Pierce the skewer down the center of the pastry.
- Place onto a baking sheet. Add to the center rack of the oven and bake for 15 minutes
- Allow pastry to cool for 3 to 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition
This pesto puff pastry Christmas tree appetizer recipe is a breeze to prepare and you can kick off your Christmas meal in style. A savory puff pastry Christmas tree makes a cute treat, served with a glass of Champagne or Prosecco. Add this Christmas tree puff pastry to you meal plans for the holiday season. This festive Christmas appetizer will become a go-to holiday recipe.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
Such a pretty dish that seems complicated but so easy and delicious! We enjoyed it so much!
These are just adorable!