The fanciest vacation appetizer to share and serve with a glass of champagne. Two sheets of puff pastry, some pesto sauce, that’s all. Scrumptious, enjoyable and straightforward.
That is the sort of appetizer the French prefer to serve for Christmas. Even when we prefer to serve subtle dishes and high-quality items on that very particular meal, we additionally prefer to have home made treats. Festive however nonetheless reasonably priced. And this Christmas tree is completely good to your vacation menu, each tasty and cute. Ultimate to welcome the household with a glass of champagne and different appetizers.
When you’ve got children at dwelling when you put together this recipe, why don’t you ask them for assist? Kids will like to make this. It’s a enjoyable vacation exercise to do with children.
Serve heat, as it’s proper out of the oven, as a complete tree to share. Branches can be as flavored breadsticks to seize.
The French use puff pastry fairly often and actually, hardly ever make it at dwelling. Puff pastry can be utilized for any candy or savory dish corresponding to quiche, tart, or galette. There are additionally many enjoyable methods to make use of for appetizers. You possibly can impress your visitors with many shapes and fillings. The most well-liked in France is tarte soleil solar tart (have you ever ever tasted my recipe with pesto rosso and olive tapenade?). I additionally prefer to make rolls as on this smoked salmon puff pastry rolls recipe.
How you can form this puff pastry Christmas tree?
Two layers of puff pastry crammed with pesto sauce. Make the form of a tree, reduce branches and twist, brush with crushed egg, and bake.
Should you’re aware of solar tarts, then you’ll in a short time grasp this recipe because the precept is identical, with a special form. If not then simply comply with the step-by-step tips defined beneath. You’ll see it’s tremendous straightforward. I’ve added images of every step to make it even simpler.
Which puff pastry to decide on to kind the tree?
Whether or not your puff pastry is home made or store-bought, the best is to have two rectangular puff pastries. You possibly can all the time use spherical pastries however then your tree can be smaller.
Now the steps. I’ve made step-by-step footage to information you.
First, put together your base
Roll out the primary sheet puff pastry on the oven tray or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Unfold a layer of pesto sauce over your entire floor of the pastry. Place the second sheet of puff pastry on prime.
Then draw and reduce your tree
In the midst of the width, make the form of the trunk, it needs to be thick however not too excessive, then draw the underside of the decrease department. Take away the 2 rectangular and place them on one other tray lined with parchment paper (you don’t wish to throw this away).
Then from the center of the higher width to every finish of the decrease department, reduce the form of the tree and discard the 2 remaining triangles. You now have the form of your tree.
Form the branches
Make strips to kind the branches. I used the blade of a paring knife to have uniform strips. Then, as for solar tarts, make a number of turns of every strip. Attempt to make good twists. Three on the backside for the longer branches, then two or one as you go as much as the highest of the tree.
Enhance with crushed egg
Press the sides throughout in order that pesto sauce received’t run away. Whisk an egg. Then with a brush or utilizing your fingertips, coat your tree with egg wash. It’s possible you’ll use cream as a substitute.
And non-compulsory, the ornament
Sprinkle with sesame seeds, poppy seeds, flax seeds, or different seeds.
And use the remaining elements you chop off whereas making the form of the tree for every other humorous form: half bushes as I did, stars…
Which filling for this Christmas recipe?
My suggestion is to make use of the traditional basil pesto filling. You possibly can spice it up with some paprika, chili flakes, or the French Espelette pepper, however the potentialities are limitless.
For savory variations
Pesto rosso can be a sensible choice, like in my solar tart recipe. It’s also possible to have a mixture of basil pesto and pink pesto, or pesto and olive tapenade. Or a mixture of pesto and cream cheese.
Additionally, strive the variations with cheese. Ham – Emmental or reblochon, salmon – cream cheese… Or vegetable sauces: eggplant dip, tomato sauce that isn’t too runny…
For candy model
The candy model is a assured success for youngsters with Nutella or different chocolate spreads in it. It’s also possible to use jam or a sugar-cinnamon combine.
Christmas Tree Puff Pastry Festive Vacation Appetizer
The fanciest vacation appetizer to share and serve with a glass of champagne. Two sheets of puff pastry, some pesto sauce, that is all. Scrumptious, enjoyable and straightforward.
Stop sleep
Serve heat. See images for detailed step-by-step directions.
Bon appétit !
What to do with leftovers ?
When you form the tree, there are two small rectangulars and two large triangles left. Don’t throw them away. Place them on one other tray lined with parchment paper or on the aspect of your Christmas tree and make any form : star, gressin, small tree… That is what I did:
