Description
Celebrate the festive season with this delightful Pesto Cheese Straw Christmas Tree recipe. Layers of buttery puff pastry are filled with vibrant pesto and a blend of mature cheddar, parmesan, or gruyère, then shaped into a whimsical Christmas tree. Perfect as a savory appetizer or party snack, it’s easy to prepare ahead and bake to golden, cheesy perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Puff Pastry and Filling
- 2 x 320g sheets ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry
- 6 tbsp pesto
- 100g mature cheddar, parmesan, or gruyère, finely grated
For Finishing
- 1 egg, beaten
- Dips of your choice, to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Heat your oven to 200°C (180°C fan) or gas mark 6 to ensure it’s at the perfect temperature for baking the pastry evenly.
- Prepare Pastry Layers: Unroll the two sheets of puff pastry on their baking parchment. Spread the pesto evenly over one sheet, then scatter half of the grated cheese on top.
- Assemble Pastry Sheets: Place the second sheet of pastry on top of the pesto-covered one and gently press to stick the layers together. Remove the top layer of baking parchment carefully.
- Cut Christmas Tree and Star: Using a sharp knife, cut out a large Christmas tree shape—a big triangle with a small trunk at the bottom—from the layered pastry, using as much pastry as possible. From the leftover pastry offcuts, cut out a star shape to top the tree. Reserve remaining offcuts for making cheese straws.
- Arrange and Brush: Transfer the tree shape onto a large baking tray. Brush the entire surface with beaten egg. Place the star on top, brush it with egg, and press gently to adhere.
- Add Cheese and Cut Branches: Scatter the remaining grated cheese over the tree and gently press down to help it stick. On both sides of the tree, make vertical cuts about 1cm apart down the length of the tree, leaving a 2cm wide trunk strip in the middle uncut.
- Twist the Branches: Carefully twist each cut strip of pastry away from the trunk to create the branches and press them gently back onto the baking tray to stay in place.
- Create Cheese Straws: Cut the reserved offcut pastry into thin strips and arrange them on a separate baking tray, ready for baking.
- Chill or Bake: At this point, you can wrap the tree and cheese straws and chill for up to two days or freeze for up to two months, or proceed to bake immediately.
- Bake: Place both trays in the preheated oven and bake for about 20-25 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden and the cheese is bubbling.
- Serve: Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly before serving with your choice of dips if desired. Enjoy your festive pesto cheese straw Christmas tree!
Notes
- Use all-butter puff pastry for the best buttery flavor and crispness.
- Pesto can be homemade or store-bought; adjust quantity to taste.
- Feel free to mix mature cheddar with parmesan or gruyère for complex flavor.
- Ensure the pastry is cold before handling to keep it flaky.
- Twisting the branches creates a decorative effect and helps even baking.
- Cheese straws can be served as a complementary snack or appetizer alongside the tree.
- The tree can be prepared ahead, chilled, or frozen to save time on the day of serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: European
Keywords: pesto, cheese straws, Christmas tree appetizer, puff pastry, festive appetizer, holiday snack, cheesy pastry twist
