Savory Christmas star puff pastry filled in an air fryer is a delightful and scenic idea to enrich your holiday table with an original, easy, and quick appetizer. Their star shape makes them perfect for the Christmas season, while the creamy and tasty filling, made with Philadelphia, pistachios, and honey, conquers with an irresistible balance between sweet and savory.
The golden and crispy puff pastry base, thanks to the cooking in an air fryer, makes these small finger foods light and fragrant, ready in just a few minutes without the need to turn on the oven. A versatile idea that you can serve as an appetizer, aperitif, or small buffet snack, perhaps accompanied by a glass of sparkling wine.
These stars, simple to make and beautiful to present, will bring a festive touch to the table that will make both adults and children happy. By preparing them in advance and filling them just before serving, they will remain crispy and fresh, perfect to make your Holiday menu even more special.
- Difficulty: Very Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: About 25 filled stars
- Cooking methods: Electric Oven, Air Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: New Year’s Eve, Christmas
Ingredients for Savory Christmas Star Puff Pastry Filled in Air Fryer:
- 1 roll puff pastry
- 3.5 oz Philadelphia (or other spreadable cheese)
- 1 oz shelled and unsalted pistachios
- 1 tbsp honey (acacia, wildflower)
- as needed milk (to brush the surface)
Tools for Savory Christmas Star Puff Pastry Filled in Air Fryer:
- 1 Air Fryer Cecotec
- 1 Bowl
- 1 Spoon
- 1 Knife
- 1 Pastry Cutter star shape
- 1 Rolling Board
Steps for Preparing and Cooking Savory Christmas Star Puff Pastry Filled in Air Fryer:
Roll out the puff pastry on a rolling board, leaving the provided parchment paper, then use a star-shaped cutter to create many shapes, re-roll the scraps, roll out the pastry, and form more shapes.
Place the shapes directly on the air fryer rack (it will require 2 or 3 cooking batches), brush a little milk over the stars to enhance browning.
Cook at 356°F for about 8 minutes, until golden.
OVEN COOKING:
Place the stars on a non-stick baking sheet, brush with milk, and bake in a preheated static oven at 356°F for about 12/14 minutes.
Let the stars cool completely.
Coarsely chop the pistachios (alternatively, you can use roughly chopped pistachios but not ground to a powder), mix them with the Philadelphia and honey until a homogeneous cream is obtained.
Spread a teaspoon of cream on half of the stars and close with the other half, pressing the edges lightly.
If you wish, you can finish with a light dusting of pistachio granules on top. Alternatively, you can fill each star and not cover it with another star, decorating it with pistachio granules as you can see from the photo.
FAQ (Questions and Answers)
Can I use other fillings?
Certainly, you can use a smoked salmon filling (100 grams of Philadelphia, 50 grams of finely chopped salmon, and 1 teaspoon of lemon juice), or a ham and cheese filling (100 grams of Philadelphia, 50 grams of finely chopped ham, and 1 tablespoon of grated Parmesan) or gorgonzola with mascarpone and chopped walnuts.
Can I substitute Philadelphia?
Yes, you can use robiola, well-drained ricotta, or another spreadable creamy cheese.
Can I prepare the stars in advance?
Sure: you can cook them the day before and store them in an airtight container. Fill them just before serving so they remain crispy.
What can I add to enrich the filling?
Besides pistachios and honey, you can add chopped aromatic herbs, a grating of lemon zest, or a pinch of pepper for a bolder touch.
