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Pesto Puff Pastry Christmas Trees with Hot Honey and Red Pepper Flakes Recipe

★★★★★

4.8 from 93 reviews
  • Author: Julian
  • Total Time: 25 minutes
  • Yield: 12 servings 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Description

Celebrate the holidays with these delightful Pesto Puff Pastry Christmas Trees. Layers of flaky puff pastry are filled with vibrant basil pesto and melted cheeses, shaped into festive Christmas tree forms, and finished with a sweet and spicy hot honey drizzle. Perfect as a savory appetizer or festive snack, these puff pastry treats are sure to impress your guests with their beautiful presentation and delicious flavors.

Ingredients

Scale

Pastry Layers

  • 2 sheets of puff pastry

Filling

  • ½ cup basil pesto
  • ½ cup grated mozzarella cheese
  • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese

For Finishing

  • 1 egg, whisked (for the egg wash)
  • 1 tablespoon hot honey sauce
  • 2 teaspoons red pepper flakes

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Pastry Base: Preheat your oven to 360°F (180°C) and line an oven tray with parchment paper. Roll out one sheet of puff pastry on a clean, flat surface, ideally on the paper it came rolled in to make handling easier.
  2. Spread Pesto and Cheese: Spread the basil pesto evenly over the rolled pastry, reaching close to the edges. Sprinkle the grated mozzarella and parmesan cheese uniformly over the pesto layer.
  3. Slice into Strips: Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the pesto and cheese-covered sheet, pressing down gently to seal the layers together. Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the layered pastry into 1-inch (2.5 cm) wide strips along the long side, leaving a 2-inch (5 cm) section at one end for cutting out small star shapes.
  4. Fold into Christmas Trees: Take each strip and fold it over itself four times to create a rough triangle that resembles a Christmas tree shape. Secure each folded tree with a skewer and place them onto the lined baking tray.
  5. Add Star Toppers: Use a mini star-shaped cutter to cut stars from the reserved pastry section and skewer each star onto the top of the pastry trees.
  6. Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush each pastry tree generously with the whisked egg to get a golden finish. Bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until the pastry is puffed, golden, and crispy.
  7. Finish with Hot Honey and Red Pepper Flakes: Remove the baked trees from the oven and immediately drizzle with hot honey sauce. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top to add a subtle spicy heat. Serve the pastry Christmas trees warm for the best texture and flavor experience.

Notes

  • Ensure the puff pastry remains cold while handling to maintain its flakiness during baking.
  • Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean, even strips to make folding easier.
  • Adjust the amount of red pepper flakes based on your preferred spice level.
  • Serve these trees warm right out of the oven for the best taste and texture as puff pastry cools quickly.
  • These can be made ahead and baked just before serving, store uncooked in the fridge.
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 15 minutes
  • Category: Appetizer
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: Italian-inspired

Keywords: puff pastry, pesto, mozzarella, parmesan, Christmas appetizer, holiday snacks, festive recipe, hot honey, red pepper flakes, savory pastry

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Find it online: https://juliandempsey.com/pesto-puff-pastry-christmas-trees-with-hot-honey-and-red-pepper-flakes-recipe/