Looking for festive holiday appetizer ideas? Your guests won't be able to resist this Puff Pastry Christmas Tree! This beautiful pull apart Xmas tree is super easy to make, delicious, and perfect for any holiday party. Customize the recipe with different fillings .... both sweet and savory!
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Are you looking for a show stopping holiday appetizer that's simple to make? Then this easy Puff Pastry Christmas Tree is for you!
I love working with puff pastry for special occasions like Christmas. It's surprisingly foolproof to use, has a wonderful crispy texture and buttery flavor, and it always impresses guests!
This gorgeous pull apart tree was inspired by my Tarte Soleil recipe, a french appetizer that's always a hit at parties. The basic technique is the same, but the cheery Christmas tree shape makes this the perfect hors d'oeuvre for the holiday season.
You are going to love this tasty recipe! It's much easier to make than you'd think, and your guests won't be able to resist pulling apart the flaky, pesto-filled pastry. You can easily customize the tree by swapping in different sweet and savory flavorings, too. Everything from gooey cheeses to decadent nutella works, and no matter which flavors you choose, it's sure to be a hit at your next party!
Ready to get started? Keep reading for all easy recipe, plus lots of helpful tips!
Ingredients
This festive hors d'oeuvre is made with simple, easy to find ingredients! Here's what you'll need:
- Puff Pastry - No need to make your own pastry for this recipe! You can save tons of time by using premade puff pastry, which you'll find in your grocery store's freezer section. I used Pepperidge Farm (which is easy to find and vegan), but Dufour (which is made with butter) is also an excellent option (Dufour also makes a plant based option, if you prefer).
- Pesto - You'll also need some pesto for the filling. Make your own using my easy Pesto recipe, or use a high-quality store bought pesto ... this Rana Pesto is my fave premade option!
- Egg - Before baking, you'll brush the pastry with an egg wash, made with an egg yolk and a little water. The egg wash helps the pastry turn a beautiful golden color.
- Sesame Seeds - A sprinkle of sesame seeds in the perfect finishing touch! While optional, I also decorated the finished appetizer with pomegranate seeds ... they make a colorful, festive garnish, and are delicious paired with the pastry, too.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, and you can easily customize the tree to be vegan and / or dairy free, too. Check out the Fillings + Variations section below for tips.
You'll Also Need
You'll need a rolling pin to roll out the puff pastry, as well as parchment paper for preparing and baking the pastry, and sharp knife to slice the pastry, and a star shaped cookie cutter for cutting out the tree topper (I used the star-shaped cutter from this set). You'll also need a couple large baking sheets to bake the tree (these nonstick pans are my fave!).
How to Make a Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
This pull apart Christmas tree appetizer is surprisingly easy to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Prep puff pastry. On a sheet of parchment paper, use a rolling pin to roll one sheet of puff pastry into a thin rectangle. Gently pressing out any creases in the dough pastry as you do.
- Add pesto. Spread a layer of pesto evenly over the puff pastry dough. Tip: You'll find more filling ideas below!
- Cut out tree. Roll out the other puff pastry sheet (it should be as close in size to the first sheet as possible). Place it over the pesto topped pastry, then gently press the two sheets together. Use a cookie cutter to cut a star in the center of the dough (at the very top), then use a knife to cut out a tree shape and branches. (Check out the next section for step-by-step instructions.) Tip: To make it easier to move the pastry, after you've rolled out it out, fold the pastry half, then fold it in half again. Place it over the other pastry, then unfold.
- Twist branches. Carefully slide the parchment paper onto a baking sheet, then twist each tree branch one to three times. Lay the edge of each twist flat on the baking sheet, and try to maintain the triangular shape of the tree as much as possible. Tip: For the most attractive end result, make all your twists in the same direction.
- Add egg wash + sesame seeds. Brush the egg wash over the entire tree, then sprinkle it with sesame seeds.
- Bake. Transfer the baking sheet to your oven, then bake the tree until it's a deep golden brown. Slide the finished pastry onto a tray, then serve hot, warm, or at room temperature.
And that's all there is to it ... time to enjoy your gorgeous Puff Pastry Christmas Tree! This easy recipe is sure to impress your guest with its beautiful looks and wonderful flavor.
Step-By-Step: Cutting Out + Shaping the Tree
Here's a more detailed look at how to cut out the tree:
- Shape tree. At the top center, use a cookie cutter to cut out the star. Then, starting from the bottom of the star, cut a diagonal line right to the edge of the puff pastry (about one inch from the bottom). Repeat on the other side. Cut out the stem in the center of the tree (about one-inch wide).
- Remove excess pastry around tree. Next, cut the dough around the outside of the tree into one-inch strips. When you're done, twist these strips, then place them on a separate parchment lined baking sheet.
- Cut out branches. Leaving the center stem of the tree untouched (this will hold the tree together), cut one-inch branches on one side of the tree. Then repeat on the other side.
- Twist branches. Working with one branch / section at a time, twist the pastry one to three times (depending on the branch length). When you're done twisting, lay the end flat on the parchment paper.
Puff Pastry Tips
Puff pastry is much easier to work with than you'd think! If it's your first time, here are some tips that will help:
- Defrost the dough in advance. Puff pastry is typically purchased frozen, so you need to defrost the dough. Simply transfer the pastry to your refrigerator the night before you plan to use it, and it will be defrosted by the afternoon of the next day. The dough must stay cool, so do not defrost it on your counter top.
- Keep it cold. Puff pastry is a type of laminated dough. This means that the pastry has been wrapped around a layer of butter, then folded multiple times to create many thin, buttery layers within the dough. As the puff pastry bakes, the water in the butter melts and creates steam, which causes the pastry to rise. As the steam evaporates, it leaves behind flaky pockets within the pastry. If the butter gets too warm, it will melt, but it won't create as much steam, resulting in a flatter pastry. Because of this, you must keep your puff pastry in the refrigerator until you're ready to start using it.
- Work quickly. Because the dough needs to stay cold, work as fast as possible. And once the tree is ready, bake it right away, or cover it, then refrigerate it (or freeze it) until later.
- Make the recipe in advance. One of the nice things about puff pastry recipes, is that you can prep them in advance, because chilling the dough actually helps it rise better. If you do make this recipe ahead of time, just make sure to cover the dough tightly with plastic wrap before refrigerating (or freezing), so it doesn't dry out. Then when you're ready to bake the tree, remove the plastic wrap, and the chilled / frozen pastry can go straight into the oven.
Filling Ideas + Variations
This Christmas tree pastry can easily be customized with different sweet or savory fillings! Try one of these ideas next:
Savory
- Other Pestos - This recipe uses classic basil Pesto, but other pestos, such as sun dried tomato, rosemary, macadamia nut, kale, or even cilantro pesto, will also work great.
- Cheese - Add a layer of shredded, aged cheese, such as cheddar, gruyere, gouda, or parmesan, or a sprinkle of crumbly cheese, like blue cheese, feta, or goat cheese.
- Preserves - Dollop with gourmet preserves, such as fig jam, onion jam, or tomato jam. Pair the jam with thin layer of cream cheese for an extra decadent treat.
- Dried Tomatoes - Scatter the dough with chopped sun dried tomatoes.
- Olives - Sprinkle with finely chopped olives, or add a sweep of tapenade.
- Herbs - Fill the pastry with fresh herbs, like basil, thyme, tarragon, chives, or with a spice blend such as Herbes de Provence.
- Onions - Caramelized onions or thinly sliced green onions would both make tasty fillings.
- Nuts - Add a layer of finely chopped nuts.
- Tomato + Mozzarella - Spread the pastry with pesto (or skip the pesto), then top with diced sun dried tomatoes and shredded mozzarella.
- Garlic Butter - Brush the dough with melted butter and sprinkle with minced garlic. You could add some shredded parmesan, too.
- Spinach Feta - Fill with sautéed spinach and crumbled feta. A little chopped dill would be delish, too.
- Pizza - Add a thin layer of pizza sauce, then top with shredded mozzarella or parmesan. Sprinkle on other pizza toppings, if you wish.
Sweet
- Nutella - Spread the puff pastry with a layer of nutella.
- Cream Cheese + Jam - For a sweet option, top the pastry with a combination of cream cheese and your favorite jam, such as strawberry or raspberry.
- Chocolate - Sprinkle the pastry with finely chopped dark chocolate.
- Cinnamon Sugar - Brush the dough with melted butter, then sprinkle generously with cinnamon sugar.
Other Ideas
- Vegan - To make this recipe vegan, you need to use vegan puff pastry, like Pepperidge Farm. Then choose your favorite plant based fillings, such as vegan pesto, sun dried tomatoes, olives, etc. Brush the pastry with melted plant based butter before baking.
- Pastry - You can swap out the puff pastry for pie crust or pizza dough. Just keep in mind that the tree will have a different look, texture, and flavor, and you may need to adjust the cooking time.
- Other Toppings - Replace the sesame seeds with poppyseeds, everything bagel seasoning, or skip the topping altogether.
- Dipping Sauce - Although this appetizer doesn't need it, who could resist a yummy dip? Try pairing it with Marinara Sauce, Whipped Goat Cheese, Romesco Sauce, or Baked Ricotta.
Tip: When substituting different fillings, don't go overboard! A little goes a long way, and if you add too much, the filling will ooze out as the Xmas tree bakes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Christmas Tree Puff Pastry appetizer as part of your holiday spread ... it's sure to garner lots of oohs and ahhs from your friends and family! Pair it with other delicious snacks, such as Fromage Fort (a tasty mixed cheese spread), Fresh Dill Dip, Mushroom Crostini, Stuffing Stuffed Mushrooms, Cranberry Jalapeño Dip, or Stuffed Dates. You could even serve it with a salad (like this Pomegranate Salad, Kale Salad with Cranberries, or this Easy Green Salad) for a festive meal during the holiday season.
Storage
This pesto puff pastry appetizer has the best texture (and flavor) when freshly made. If you do have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in your refrigerator. Then reheat gently in your oven or air fryer. However, you can prep the tree in advance. Just wrap the prepared tree tightly after filling and twisting it, then refrigerate (or freeze) the unbaked pastry. When it's party time, bake the refrigerated (or frozen) tree as directed (it may need a few extra minutes).
Related Recipes
If you loved this easy holiday appetizer, make sure to check out my Tarte Soleil recipe, too! And you won't want to miss these other scrumptious snack recipes:
- Baked Brie in Puff Pastry
- Butternut Squash Crostini
- Feta Stuff Peppers
- Pigs in a Blanket (Vegan)
- Sweet and Spicy Snack Mix
- Honey Glazed Halloumi
- Baked Feta Dip
- How to Use Pesto (30+ Recipes Ideas)
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry
- ¼ cup pesto
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon sesame seeds
- pomegranate seeds for decoration (optional)
Equipment
- Star Shaped Cookie Cutter (I used one from this set.)
- Baking Sheet (you'll need two sheets: one for the tree, and one for the leftover pastry)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place 1 puff pastry sheet on a piece of parchment paper. Use rolling pin to gently roll out any seems in the pastry and to roll the dough into a slightly larger rectangle.
- Spread pesto evenly over pastry.
- Roll the second pastry sheet to the same size as the first. Place over the pesto-topped pastry, then gently press out any air pockets.
- Use cookie cutter to cut a star at the top-center of pastry. Use a sharp knife to cut pastry into a triangular Christmas tree shape.
- Cut the excess dough surrounding the tree into 1-inch strips. Twist the strips, then place them on a parchment lined baking sheet.
- Leaving the center stem of the tree untouched, cut 1-inch branches on both sides of the tree. Carefully slide the tree onto a second baking sheet.
- Twist each tree branch 1 to 3 times (depending on its length), placing ends flat on parchment paper after twisting.
- Whisk together egg yolk and 1 tablespoon water. Brush tree and extra pastry twists with egg wash, then sprinkle with sesame seeds.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until puffy and deep golden brown.
- Sprinkle tree with pomegranate seeds if desired, then serve hot, warm, or at room temperature. Enjoy!
Notes
- Detailed, step-by-step directions (and photos) for cutting out the tree.
- Easy ways to customize the recipe using different sweet and savory fillings.
- Helpful puff pastry tips. Great for beginners!
- Serving suggestions ... what to serve with this appetizer.
- More recipes that are perfect for holiday entertaining.
Nutrition
