Description
This Savoury Puff Pastry Christmas Tree combines flaky puff pastry with creamy Boursin cheese, savory prosciutto, and melted cheddar, finished with a crunchy topping of mixed seeds. It's a festive and impressive appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings, easy to prepare, and deliciously flavorful.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry and Cheese Filling
- 2 sheets puff pastry (500 g)
- 100 g Boursin cheese or herbed cream cheese
- 150 g prosciutto, salami, or capocollo
- 50 g shredded cheddar cheese
Topping and Finish
- Mixed seeds (such as sesame, poppy, sunflower) for sprinkling
- 1 egg wash (1 egg + 1 tablespoon milk)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F) and line a baking tray with parchment paper. This ensures even baking and easy cleanup.
- Assemble the Filling: Lay out one sheet of puff pastry on a clean surface. Spread the Boursin cheese evenly over the pastry. Layer the prosciutto or your choice of cured meat on top, then generously sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese all over.
- Top with Second Pastry Sheet: Place the second sheet of puff pastry gently over the filling and lightly press to seal the layers together without squeezing out the filling.
- Shape the Tree: Using a sharp knife, cut a large triangle from the layered pastry. Reserve the extra dough pieces to create a trunk at the bottom of the triangle or cut other festive shapes with cookie cutters as desired.
- Create the Branches: Starting from the bottom of the triangle, make horizontal slits roughly every 3 cm along the sides, leaving the center intact. These strips will become the branches.
- Twist the Strips: Gently twist each strip outward to create the tree branches. Be careful not to over-twist to avoid the filling oozing out.
- Egg Wash and Seeds: Brush the entire pastry tree with the egg wash to give it a shiny, golden finish. Sprinkle the mixed seeds over the top for added texture and a festive look.
- Bake: Place the pastry on the prepared baking tray and bake for about 25 minutes, or until the pastry is puffed and has a rich golden brown color.
Notes
- This savoury puff pastry Christmas tree makes a stunning centerpiece appetizer for holiday parties.
- Feel free to customize the filling with other cheeses or cured meats of your preference.
- Be gentle when twisting the pastry strips to keep the filling intact and prevent oozing.
- Using mixed seeds adds a nice crunch and visual appeal, but you can omit or substitute based on your preference or allergies.
- If puff pastry feels too soft to cut precisely, chilling it for 10-15 minutes before cutting can help.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 493 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 395 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21 g
- Trans Fat: 0.03 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 32 mg
