Description
These delightful Beef Ham & Cheese Puff Pastry Christmas Trees are a festive treat that combines savory beef ham and gooey melted cheese encased in flaky puff pastry. Perfect for holiday gatherings, they are simple to make and sure to impress your guests!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 sheets of all-butter puff pastry
- Thinly sliced high-quality cured beef ham
- Shredded sharp cheddar cheese or Gruyère cheese
- Blend of cheddar and mozzarella cheese
- 1 large egg
- Splash of water or milk
- Sesame seeds (optional)
- Poppy seeds (optional)
- Finely chopped fresh herbs like dill or chives (optional)
- Black pepper
- Dijon mustard (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200°C (400°F). Line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Carefully unroll your thawed puff pastry sheets onto a lightly floured surface or directly onto your prepared parchment paper.
- Lay one sheet of puff pastry flat. If you're using Dijon mustard, spread a very thin, even layer over the entire surface of this first pastry sheet, leaving a small border around the edges for sealing.
- Arrange a single, even layer of thinly sliced beef ham over the pastry, covering the mustard layer (if used) or directly on the pastry. Avoid piling it too thick to ensure even baking and easy shaping.
- Generously sprinkle your chosen shredded cheese evenly over the beef ham. A light grind of black pepper at this stage is a lovely addition.
- Carefully place the second sheet of puff pastry directly on top of the cheese and ham layers. Gently press down all over with your hands, especially around the edges, to ensure all layers are well adhered.
- Using a Christmas tree-shaped cookie cutter (about 7-10 cm tall works best) or a sharp knife, cut out as many trees as you can from the pastry sandwich.
- For each cut-out tree, make a small vertical cut (about 1.5-2 cm) at the base to create the 'trunk'. Then, starting from the sides of the tree, make horizontal slits along the 'branches' towards the centre, but do not cut all the way through. You're creating strips for twisting.
- Gently take each 'branch' strip you just cut and twist it once or twice. This creates that beautiful, dimensional Christmas tree look. Be careful not to tear the pastry.
- Carefully transfer your shaped puff pastry trees to the prepared baking sheets, leaving some space between each. Whisk your egg with a splash of water/milk to create an egg wash, then lightly brush the tops of each tree. If using optional toppings like sesame seeds or herbs, sprinkle them on now.
- Bake in your preheated oven for 12-18 minutes, or until the pastry is beautifully puffed, golden brown, and the cheese is melted and bubbling. Keep a close eye on them as oven temperatures can vary.
- Allow them to cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes before transferring them to a serving platter. These are absolutely irresistible served warm!
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 18 mins
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tree
- Calories: 200
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
Keywords: Keep puff pastry cold for best results, avoid overfilling with ingredients, and use sharp tools for clean cuts. Consider adding garlic powder or onion powder to the cheese for extra flavor.