This puff pastry Christmas star recipe is elegant enough for a festive holiday table while also being delicious with buttery pastry and a filling of ham, ricotta, and tomatoes. While it could be served alongside an entire meal, it is also great served as an appetizer.
To make the puff pastry Christmas star, you begin by mixing ricotta with ham, salt, and pepper for a filling. Then, you plate a small bowl on top of a round of puff pastry before cutting slits around it and dolloping the cheese mixture on each portion. After that, the pastry gets folded over the cheese mixture so that they look like points on a star before the entire thing is spread with more of the cheese mixture, studded with cherry tomatoes, sprinkled with oregano, and baked in the oven. The puff pastry star is absolutely tantalizing with its oozy cheesy filling.
What is a Puff Pastry Christmas Star?
This puff pastry Christmas star is puff pastry that has been shaped into a star shape with a ricotta cheese and ham filling. It is garnished with cherry tomatoes, which become even sweeter when baked in the oven. The points of the star can simply be torn off before being enjoyed by guests.
Pro Tips
- Keep the puff pastry cold in the fridge until you are ready to use it in this Christmas puff pastry recipe.
- Make sure you don’t dollop too much of the ricotta cheese mixture on each point of the star as you don’t want it to spill out.
- If you don’t have dried oregano, you could replace it with dried basil or Italian seasoning.
- For a meatless version, feel free to omit the ham.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make This Puff Pastry Star Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can! Once you have assembled the puff pastry star, you can tightly cover it and refrigerate it for up to 1 day before you intend to bake it. Just wait to brush it with the egg wash when you bake it in the oven.
Can I Use Different Meats in the Puff Pastry Star?
Absolutely! The ham adds a wonderful meatiness to the appetizer but you could also use salami, prosciutto, or diced chicken instead if preferred.
Why Did My Puff Pastry Not Rise?
Your puff pastry may not have risen if it warmed up too much; the butter in the pastry needs to stay cold to ensure that it rises properly in the oven. If you find that your puff pastry warms up during assembling, you can place it in the fridge for a few minutes to help the butter set up again.
How to Store the Puff Pastry Christmas Star
Your leftover puff pastry Christmas star can be stored covered in the fridge for up to 2 to 3 days. It can then be re-warmed in the oven which will also help the pastry crisp up.
Ingredients
How to Make Puff Pastry Christmas Star
In a bowl, mix the ricotta with 100g of the ham and the salt and pepper until combined.
In a bowl, mix the ricotta with 100g of the ham and the salt and pepper until combined.
Place the puff pastry on a surface with a small bowl in the middle. Make four cuts to form a cross and then make one more cut in between each of those cuts to create eight sections.
Place the puff pastry on a surface with a small bowl in the middle. Make four cuts to form a cross and then make one more cut in between each of those cuts to create eight sections.
Brush the puff pastry with the egg wash. Bake in a 392 F (200 C) oven for 25 minutes.
Dollop some of the ricotta mixture on each rectangle. Top each section with half of the mozzarella cubes and a sprinkle of oregano.
Serve and enjoy!
Fold the triangles so that they are points.
Spread the rest of the filling in the middle, and sprinkle it with the remaining ham and mozzarella, and the tomatoes. Add the capers and another sprinkle of oregano.
Brush the puff pastry with the egg wash. Bake in a 392 F (200 C) oven for 25 minutes.
Serve and enjoy!
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