During the holidays, even a simple appetizer can create an atmosphere. Just choose a recipe that combines taste, simplicity, and a touch of flair. These salmon puff pastry trees are the perfect example: easy to prepare, visually appealing, and ideal for sharing. The light and flaky puff pastry encases a creamy and delicate filling made with flavored cheese. And then there’s the salmon that enriches the flavor and creates the tree decoration. The result is a balanced, elegant, and tasty bite, perfect for starting the meal or accompanying a toast. These puff pastries are a versatile option, suitable for buffets, appetizers, and holiday tables, with the great advantage of being made in advance, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere and company. So keep this recipe handy if you want to bring something simple yet impressive to the table.
Other tree-shaped ideas you might be interested in:
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Inexpensive
- Rest time: 15 Minutes
- Preparation time: 30 Minutes
- Portions: 6 Pieces
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Christmas, New Year's Eve
Ingredients for the Salmon Puff Pastry Trees
- 1 roll puff pastry (rectangular)
- 1.4 oz cream cheese
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- dill (or fennel fronds)
- 1 slice smoked salmon
- milk
- salt
- black pepper
Tools
- 1 Rolling Pin
- 1 Cookie Cutter tree-shaped, 4-5 inches
- 1 Cookie Cutter star-shaped
- 1 Knife wavy vegetable slicer
- 1 Baking Sheet
- 1 Small Bowl
- 1 Lemon Grater
- Scissors
Preparation of the Salmon Puff Pastry Trees
Unroll the rectangle of puff pastry and gently roll over it with a rolling pin to flatten and remove any imperfections.
Using a tree-shaped cutter, cut out the puff pastry trees. With my cutter, I cut out 6; it is 5 inches high and measures 5 inches at its widest part.
Place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, then refrigerate for at least fifteen minutes. This will help the puff pastries harden and make them easier to fill and handle. Also, refrigerate the leftover puff pastry for decorations.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, mix the cream cheese with a pinch of salt, a grind of black pepper, some dill or fennel fronds, and a teaspoon of lemon zest using a fine grater.
Once the puff pastries have slightly hardened, remove them from the refrigerator and prick them with a fork along the edges as shown in the photo.
Spread the flavored cream cheese on the surface of the puff pastries inside the outlined border.
Using scissors, cut strips from the salmon slice and place them on the trees as shown in the photo. They should give the impression of Christmas ornaments.
Next, remove the leftover puff pastry from the refrigerator and cut small garlands. I used a potato slicer to create a wavy effect. If you don’t have one, you can find it online by clicking HERE. Place these garlands in the spaces between the salmon strips. Then cut out 6 small stars from the leftovers and place them at the top of each tree.
Finally, brush the trees with milk.
Bake the salmon puff pastry trees in a preheated static oven at 356°F for 18/20 minutes. Remove from the oven and let them cool slightly before serving. Enjoy! Paola
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