Make this easy puff pastry Christmas tree with just a few ingredients, it’s delicious, quick, easy to make, and super customizable. So, you can make it sweet or savory, and it’ll be the perfect Christmas appetizer!
Published: November 20, 2025 by Pamela.
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My Halloween puff pastry evil tree was such a hit that I had to create a Christmas version too. I wanted something a bit different from the usual twisted-branches tree, so here is my version! But before we start…
Tips to make the best puff pastry Christmas tree
- Keep the puff pastry dough on the parchment paper it comes with, never bake without a parchment. You can replace it with a baking paper if you prefer.
- Don’t overfill the puff pastry, just add an enough layer to cover it.
- Always, always, always make sure the puff pastry is cold before baking. If you take some time to fill and make the cuts, place the tree in the refrigerator or even freezer when you are preheating the oven (for about 10 minutes).
What you need to make a puff pastry Christmas tree appetizer:
The ingredients are very simple and the list is short, it all depends on the filling you want to use. For this tree I used cream cheese, pesto, and decorated with fresh basil and cherry tomatoes. That’s it, and of course you will need puff pastry sheets.
- Puff Pastry Sheets: You can use 1 or 2, depending on the size of the tree, if you use 1, just make sure you fold it in half. Also, buy rectangular puff pastry.
- Filling: Again, the filling choice is up to you. For sweet, you can go with Nutella if you want, it pairs well with puff pastry!
- Milk: I use milk to spray on top before baking, you can use an egg wash if you prefer.
- Decoration: If you’re filling it with pesto, cherry tomatoes go well with it. For sweet options, you can decorate it with candy, dust some powdered sugar on top, whatever you want!
For the tools, you don’t need to buy anything (not in this economy)! To cut the tree, use a sharp knife, if you don’t have an exacto knife (if you do, that’s great!) and for the star, I just drew one by hand and cut it with a knife.
How to make this Christmas appetizer with puff pastry
1. Fill the puff pastry
Start by evenly spreading cream cheese, then pesto (I use store-bought), then add the second puff pastry sheet on top and make sure they are both aligned.
2. Shape the tree
Start by shaping the tree, you can give it the shape you want, just make sure you don’t throw away the extra pieces! Leave the biggest piece (probably one you cut from the top) to make the star, and use all the other pieces to place them in between the other branches. You can also use the leftover pieces that don’t look like branches to layer them under the tree in the middle (we’re not wasting anything!)
3. Add details, bake, and decorate
Now for the fun part (honestly the whole process was fun). Add the details you want, I added a few cuts to give a few details for the branches. Cut a star and add it to the top, place the tree with the baking paper on a baking tray, then bake according to the puff pastry’s packaging (mine said 200C for 20 minutes and that’s what I did, it was perfect).
Once baked, I decorated the tree with cherry tomatoes cut into quarters to mimic tiny ornaments, added a few fresh basil leaves, and sprinkled a bit of sea salt on the board to look like snow. You don’t need any on the tree itself since the pesto is already salty.
💬 Tried this Christmas appetizer idea? I’d love to know what you think! Leave a quick comment or tap the ⭐️ to rate, your feedback helps me keep improving recipes.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Can I bake the puff pastry Christmas tree in advance
No, it’s best baked fresh. Shape the tree, cover it so the dough doesn’t dry, and keep it in the fridge. When you’re ready to serve, brush it with egg wash or milk and bake.
Can I freeze the shaped tree
You can freeze it unbaked. Shape it, cover it, freeze it flat, then bake it straight from frozen and add a few extra minutes. Don’t forget the egg wash or milk before baking.
How to store baked puff pastry tree
Cut whatever remains from the tree and place them in an airtight contsiner in the fridge. When ready to eat, pop them in the microwave for a few seconds or reheat them a bit in the oven (make sure the temperature is not to high so they don’t burn). Consume within 2 to 3 days.
Puff Pastry Christmas tree filling options:
- Pizza filling: Add marinara sauce and shredded cheese to make a simple pizza version. Try to stay away from topping that are hard to cut like pepperoni.
- Nutella: Nutella is one of the simplest and most delicious sweet fillings!
- Red pesto: Red pesto is also a festive option, well obviously it’s red so!
- Olive tapenade: Great for a savory holiday twist with a deeper, salty taste.
- Cinnamon sugar butter: Brush the first sheet with a bit of butter, then mix granulated sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle them on top before adding the second puff pastry sheet. Just like making cinnamon rolls!
Let me know if you make other filling options, I’d love to know!
⭐️ If you tried this Christmas recipe, be sure to leave a rating and share your thoughts in the comments below. I’d love to hear your feedback!
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 2 Puff pastry sheets
- Pesto
- Cream cheese
- Milk (To spray on top before baking)
- Cherry tomatoes & Basil (for decorating)
Instructions
- Spread a thin layer of cream cheese all over the first puff pastry sheet. Add the pesto on top (I use store-bought) and place the second sheet over it, making sure both layers are aligned.
- Cut out the tree shape. You can go for any style you like. Keep all the extra pieces. Save the largest trimmed piece to cut out the star, then place the remaining scraps between the branches to fill the gaps. You can even stack the odd-shaped pieces under the center of the tree so nothing goes to waste.
- Add small cuts along the branches for texture, if you want. Cut out your star and place it on top. Then place the tree with the parchment paper on a baking tray and bake according to your puff pastry package. Mine was perfect at 200 °C (392 °F) for 20 minutes.Once baked, decorate the tree with cherry tomatoes cut into quarters to mimic tiny ornaments. Add a few fresh basil leaves and sprinkle sea salt on the board to create a snowy look. Skip the salt on the tree itself since the pesto already brings enough seasoning.
Notes
- Nutrition info is estimated and may vary based on ingredients and portions. For the most accurate details, consider using a nutrition tool or checking our full Nutrition Information Disclaimer.
- The number of servings is an estimate.
Nutrition
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