The savory Christmas tree is a truly scenic and easy-to-make appetizer! Perfect to bring to the table during the Christmas holidays! It’s beautiful to present, very tasty, and it can be prepared in no time!
The base is made with puff pastry roses filled with pizza flavor, tomato sauce, mozzarella, oregano, and cooked ham. The aroma in the kitchen once baked is indescribable!
The beauty of this Christmas appetizer is that each guest will take their own stuffed roll from the tree and enjoy a tasty dish in good company!
If you don’t like cooked ham, you can replace it with raw ham or speck, or (as you’ll see in the photo tutorial) alternate rolls filled with raw ham and rolls with cooked ham.
Let’s see together the procedure with step-by-step photos to prepare this puff pastry Christmas tree!
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 15 Minutes
- Portions: about 16 pieces
- Cooking methods: Electric oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas
Ingredients
- 2 rolls Puff Pastry (rectangular)
- A few tablespoons Tomato Sauce
- slices Cooked Ham (about 7-8 slices, or raw ham)
- to taste Oregano (not essential)
- Mozzarella (or sliced cheese, about 7 oz)
- 1 pinch Salt
- Rosemary (for decoration)
- 1 dash Olive Oil
Tools
- Knife
- Teaspoon
- Parchment Paper
- Baking Tray
Preparation
First, unroll the two rectangular rolls of puff pastry and use a knife to make lengthwise strips.
One of the strips will serve to simulate the tree trunk.
Spread a bit of tomato sauce on each strip using the back of a teaspoon. If you prefer, you can season the sauce with a dash of olive oil, a pinch of salt, and a bit of dried oregano.
Place slices of cooked ham lengthwise on each strip, making sure they slightly extend over the edge where you lay them.
Place some sliced mozzarella (preferably pizza mozzarella, as it doesn’t release liquid during baking) or cheese of your choice on top of the ham.
Fold the strip over itself to obtain a nice roll. Repeat the same steps until you’ve rolled all the strips except one.
The last strip should not be filled but only brushed with a bit of tomato sauce to then roll over itself to create a flat roll that will serve as the trunk for your tree.
Take a baking tray and arrange all the roses on a sheet of parchment paper. You need to create a Christmas tree, so start from the base, which is the trunk.
Then position the rolls to simulate the branches of the tree, trying to give it a harmonious and as realistic as possible shape.
Sprinkle a pinch of salt, oregano, and a dash of olive oil on the surface and bake in a static oven at 340°F for about 40 minutes, or in a convection oven for about 35 minutes.
As soon as the pastry becomes beautifully golden, you can remove it from the oven and let it cool slightly.
Always check the cooking because each oven cooks differently.
And voilà, your beautiful Christmas tree is ready to be brought to the table and amaze friends and family!
Merry Christmas to everyone, and see you in the next recipe!
Article protected by copyright © – Gabriella Geroni © All Rights Reserved
