Description
These Puff Pastry Pizza Christmas Trees are a festive and delicious holiday appetizer, featuring flaky puff pastry filled with savory pesto, smoked gouda, and pepperoni, shaped into charming Christmas tree shapes and topped with garlic butter and parmesan.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry and Filling
- 1 box puff pastry dough (2 sheets)
- 3 tablespoons pesto (such as spinach-basil pesto)
- ¼ cup pizza sauce
- 6 slices smoked gouda
- 12 slices thinly sliced pepperoni
Toppings and Finishing
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- 1 tablespoon salted butter (melted)
- fresh parsley (finely chopped)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- parmesan cheese (grated, for topping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Pastry: Preheat your oven to 400℉. If the puff pastry sheets are frozen, allow them to defrost on the counter.
- Roll Out Pastry Sheet: On a parchment-lined cutting board, roll out one sheet of puff pastry evenly.
- Layer Pesto and Sauce: Spread the pesto thinly over the rolled-out puff pastry, followed by an even layer of pizza sauce.
- Add Cheese and Pepperoni: Layer the smoked gouda slices and the thinly sliced pepperoni over the sauce.
- Place Second Puff Pastry Sheet: Carefully place the second sheet of puff pastry over the toppings to form a sandwich.
- Cut Strips: Using a pizza cutter wheel, cut the pastry horizontally into 12 strips about 1 inch wide each.
- Shape Christmas Trees: Fold each strip back and forth on itself, starting with the longest fold on the bottom and shorter folds above, creating a Christmas tree shape. Secure each shape by inserting a wooden skewer vertically through the center.
- Arrange on Baking Tray: Place the shaped pastries on a parchment-lined baking tray, spacing them apart to allow for expansion during baking.
- Apply Egg Wash: Whisk the egg in a bowl to create an egg wash and brush it generously over all the pastries.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-22 minutes until the pastries are golden brown and puffy.
- Brush Garlic Butter: Mix the melted butter with fresh parsley and garlic powder. Brush this garlic butter mixture onto the warm pastries immediately after baking.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese and extra chopped parsley on top for a festive presentation. Serve warm with additional pizza sauce if desired.
Notes
- Flaky puff pastry filled with pesto, smoked gouda, and pepperoni is wrapped into the shape of Christmas trees, making a festive and fun appetizer.
- Make a double batch for larger gatherings or seconds and thirds!
- Using fresh parsley in the garlic butter adds a bright, fresh flavor and attractive green color.
- You can substitute smoked gouda with mozzarella for a more classic pizza flavor.
- Ensure the puff pastry is well chilled before rolling out for best puff and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 pastry
- Calories: 241 kcal
- Sugar: 0.3 g
- Sodium: 357 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.34 g
- Trans Fat: 0.04 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 0.1 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 18 mg
