Description
A festive and savory puff pastry tree filled with basil pesto and cheese, perfect for holiday appetizers.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Crust:
- 1 sheet puff pastry, thawed
- 1/2 cup basil pesto
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Cherry tomatoes or red pepper strips for garnish (optional)
Instructions
1. Prepare the Crust:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out puff pastry on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle. Spread basil pesto evenly over the pastry, leaving a 1-inch border around edges.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses over the pesto, then season with salt and pepper.
- Starting from the long side, tightly roll the pastry into a log. Place seam-side down and chill in freezer for 10 minutes to firm.
- Cut the log in half lengthwise, then arrange the two halves side by side, cut sides up, to form a tree shape on the baking sheet. Twist and braid strands slightly for texture.
- Brush with egg wash and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown and puffed. Garnish with cherry tomatoes or pepper strips if desired before serving.
Notes
You can customize the seasonings to taste.