Puff Pastry Christmas Trees are visually appealing pastries made from layered puff pastry, cheese, and ham. Once assembled, the strips of filled pastry are shaped into small tree silhouettes. A final brush of basil pesto and a light sprinkle of Parmesan complete the presentation.
These pastries work well as an appetizer or as part of a holiday buffet, offering an easy, reliable option for festive entertaining.
What are Puff Pastry Christmas Trees?
Puff Pastry Christmas Trees are finger-food pastries built from sheets of store-bought puff pastry. They sit in the family of filled, twisted puff-pastry snacks, such as palmiers or twists, but are dressed for the holidays and are decorated with pesto, Parmesan, and a small cheese star. Origin-wise, they’re a party recipe with techniques from classic European pastry-making, the magic of laminated dough.
Pro Tips for Perfect Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
- Keep ingredients cold because cold puff pastry and chilled fillings give the best lift. Work quickly so the butter in the pastry doesn’t soften.
- Use thinly sliced cheese rather than shredded, as it melts evenly and helps layers stick.
- For extra shine, brush the trees lightly with a beaten egg before baking, but you can skip if you prefer only pesto gloss after baking.
- Roll the pastry gently with a floured pin to even out seams, and don’t overwork the dough.
- Space on the tray be leaving at least 2-3 cm between trees, so they can puff and brown evenly.
- Try new fillings by swapping ham for prosciutto, turkey, smoked salmon or add a thin spread of Dijon mustard for a savory kick.
Frequently Asked Questions
What kind of puff pastry should I use?
Use ready-rolled, all-butter puff pastry if you can, as it gives the best flavor and rise. If all-butter isn’t available, regular puff pastry still works fine.
Can I make these vegetarian?
Yes, replace ham with layers of roasted vegetables, that is, thinly sliced pepper or eggplant, or use extra cheese and a smear of pesto for a veggie-friendly tree.
Will these be soggy in the middle?
Not if you avoid over-filling and keep cheese slices thin. Pre-chill the assembled trees briefly before baking to help steam escape during cooking and give a crisper result.
How to Store Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
They last for up to 3 days in the fridge. If you’ve brushed them with pesto already, keep them in a single layer so the pesto doesn’t smear.
Ingredients
How to Make Puff Pastry Christmas Trees
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Unroll the pastry on a cutting board, arrange the cheddar cheese slices evenly over it, and top with the baked ham slices.
Unroll the pastry on a cutting board, arrange the cheddar cheese slices evenly over it, and top with the baked ham slices.
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Carefully place the second sheet of puff pastry over the layered fillings and cut into strips.
Carefully place the second sheet of puff pastry over the layered fillings and cut into strips.
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Take each strip and form the Christmas tree shape.
Take each strip and form the Christmas tree shape.
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Transfer each formed tree to the parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them apart.
Transfer each formed tree to the parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them apart.
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Bake at 180°C/360°F for about 25 minutes.
Bake at 180°C/360°F for about 25 minutes.
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Remove the trees from the oven and immediately brush each one lightly with basil pesto. Then, use a small cookie cutter to cut a tiny star from the extra cheese slices and place it at the top of each tree.
Remove the trees from the oven and immediately brush each one lightly with basil pesto. Then, use a small cookie cutter to cut a tiny star from the extra cheese slices and place it at the top of each tree.
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Sprinkle the trees with grated Parmesan while still warm, so it sticks and melts slightly.
Sprinkle the trees with grated Parmesan while still warm, so it sticks and melts slightly.
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