Description
This Savoury Puff Pastry Christmas Tree with Ham and Cheese is a festive and eye-catching appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Layers of flaky puff pastry are filled with creamy Boursin cheese, savory prosciutto, and shredded cheddar, then twisted into a beautiful tree shape topped with mixed seeds and golden egg wash.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry (500 g)
- 100 g Boursin cheese (or herbed cream cheese)
- 150 g prosciutto or salami or capocollo
- 50 g shredded cheddar cheese
- mixed seeds (quantity as desired for topping)
- egg wash (1 egg + 1 tablespoon milk)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Tray: Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F and line a baking tray with parchment paper. Set it aside for later use.
- Assemble Layers: Open one sheet of puff pastry and evenly spread the Boursin cheese over it. Layer the prosciutto evenly on top, then generously sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese over the meat layer.
- Add Top Layer: Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the fillings and gently press it down to seal all layers together.
- Shape the Tree: Using a sharp knife, cut a large triangle shape from the layered pastry. Reserve any extra dough pieces to create a trunk at the bottom or use cookie cutters for decorative shapes.
- Cut and Twist Strips: Starting from the bottom of the triangle, make slits on both sides about every 3 cm, leaving the center uncut. Carefully twist each strip slightly to expose the filling without over-twisting to avoid fillings oozing out.
- Brush and Add Seeds: Brush the entire puff pastry tree with the egg wash to give it a golden color once baked. Sprinkle mixed seeds over the top for added texture and flavor.
- Bake: Place the tree on the prepared baking tray and bake for about 25 minutes or until the pastry is puffed up and has a beautiful golden brown color.
Notes
- This savoury puff pastry Christmas tree makes a perfect festive appetizer and a great showstopper for holiday celebrations.
- Use different cured meats like salami or capocollo if preferred instead of prosciutto.
- Be gentle when twisting the pastry strips to prevent the fillings from leaking out during baking.
- Feel free to use various types of seeds such as sesame, poppy, or pumpkin seeds for topping to add extra crunch and flavor.
- If you don't have Boursin cheese, herbed cream cheese is a great substitute.
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
