Pastry Christmas Tree Recipes

NUTELLA® PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Roll out one puff pastry sheet into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface and place on the prepared baking sheet.
• Lightly score puff pastry into the shape of a Christmas tree (triangle) with a wide base. Spread chocolate-hazelnut spread over the triangle in a thin layer with the back of a spoon.
• Roll out the second sheet of puff pastry to a large rectangle and place on top of the first one. Carefully trace the shape of the chocolate covered triangle underneath and cut out the Christmas tree shape and the trunk. Pull away excess pastry.
• Lightly score 2 lines down the middle of the triangle to form a tree trunk that is narrower at the top and gets wider towards the base. Using the trunk as a guide, cut branches into the sides of the triangle.
• Twist the branches away from you, trying to get in 2 turns on the lower branches. Continue moving up the tree, twisting away from you as you go.
• Cut a small star out of the excess pastry; place on top of the tree. Brush the star and tree with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffy and golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Cool slightly, about 5 minutes. Slide onto a serving plate, using a piece of parchment paper if needed.

CHERRY, COCONUT, AND PISTACHIO PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper.
• Drain cherries and reserve juice for another use. Finely chop cherries and place in a bowl with coconut; mix well. Let sit until coconut absorbs excess liquid from the cherries, about 5 minutes.
• Place 1 puff pastry sheet on a clean counter and lightly score a large triangle shape into it, like a Christmas tree; don't cut all the way through. Repeat with the second puff pastry sheet.
• Set aside 2 tablespoons of the coconut-cherry mixture. Spread the rest inside the scored triangle on the first sheet of pastry. Sprinkle with ground pistachios and place the second pastry sheet on top, lining up the triangles. Transfer to one of the prepared baking sheets.
• Cut out the shape of the tree along the triangular score line, and remove the outer pastry scraps. Make horizontal cuts on the tree from the outer edges in toward the middle, leaving about 1 inch intact in the center to resemble a trunk. Gently lift each horizontal strip, making sure to lift both sheets of pastry, and twist it a couple of times to expose the filling.
• Use the puff pastry scraps to cut out a star shape for the top of the tree and a tree trunk for the bottom. Make sure to use both layers of pastry. Fill the trunk and star with the reserved cherry mix.
• Place the star, trunk, and any extra pastry scraps onto the remaining baking sheet. Brush all pastry pieces with beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and browned all over, 25 to 30 minutes. Gently lift parchment paper onto wire racks and allow to cool completely before serving, about 20 minutes.

PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350. Line a large baking tray with aluminium foil and grease with butter or coconut oil.
• Roll out two sheets of puff pastry on a lightly floured surface to 11x13 in each. Lay the first sheet out on the prepared baking tray.
• Very gently, score a rough shape of a Christmas tree (triangle) with a knife, just so that when you spread over the Nutella®, you have a guide for where the tree will be. Try to maximise the space and make the base of the triangle as wide as the width of the puff pastry sheet. Leave about 2 in at the bottom of the puff pastry sheet for a tree trunk.
• With the back of a spoon, spread the Nutella® thinly in the triangle area.
• You should end up with a chocolate triangle.
• Roll the second sheet of puff pastry up then line it up with the top of the bottom sheet, then roll it down towards you.
• Gently with your fingers try to feel the outline of where the chocolate is underneath. Score along the lines of the triangle first with a knife then begin cutting carefully. I pressed the blade into the pastry rather than sliced so that I did not tear the foil underneath. Remove the excess pastry.
• At the base of the tree carefully cut away two strips either side to form the base of the tree trunk.
• Very lightly, score where the trunk of the tree will be as a guide, wider at the base, getting thinner at the top. Pressing the knife blade rather than slicing, begin cutting the pastry to form the branches, following the line of the trunk and getting narrower the further up they go.
• Finally the tree will be ready for twisting.
• Beginning at the base, twist the pastry away from you, trying to get in two turns on the lower branches.
• Continue moving up the tree, twisting away from you as you go.
• At the top of the tree you may only get a single twist in the top branches. If desired, cut out a star with the pastry trimmings and place on the baking tray.
• Brush the entire tree with lightly beaten egg.
• Bake in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until risen and golden brown. Let cool slightly before enjoying.

PESTO CHEESE STRAW CHRISTMAS TREE

Steps:

• Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Unroll the two pastry sheets, keeping them on their baking parchment. Spread the pesto over one of the pastry sheets, then scatter over half of the grated cheese. Flip the second sheet of pastry on top and press to stick the two pastry sheets together. Remove the top layer of parchment.
• Cut out a Christmas tree shape - a large triangle with a little stump at the bottom, using as much of the pastry as possible. Cut a star shape out of the offcuts for the top of the tree. Reserve the rest of the offcuts. Lift the tree onto a large baking tray, brush with the beaten egg, then do the same with the star and press it on the tip. Scatter over the rest of the cheese and gently press to help it stick to the pastry.
• Cut vertical lines into the sides of the tree, about 1cm apart, leaving a 'trunk' of about 2cm up the middle. Twist the strips of pastry and stick them back down to the tray. Do this with all the pastry 'branches'. Cut the offcuts into straws, and arrange them on another baking tray. You can now wrap and chill the tree and offcuts for up to two days, freeze for two months, or bake straightaway.