Name: Pesto cheese straw Christmas tree
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 15
Ingredients: 2 x 320g sheets ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry; 6 tbsp pesto; 100g mature cheddar parmesan or gruyère, finely grated; 1 egg beaten; dips of your choice, to serve (optional)

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Pesto cheese straw Christmas tree

Pesto cheese straw Christmas tree

Cassie Best

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Serves 10 - 15

Easy

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 25 mins

A star rating of 4.2 out of 5.6 ratingsRate

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Create this tear-and-share pastry tree for a festive family get-together. It's a lovely, playful idea for Boxing Day – and kids will love taking it apart!

Freezable

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Ingredients

Nutrition

Units:

MetricUS

2 x 320g sheets ready-rolled all-butter puff pastry
6 tbsp pesto
100g mature cheddar

parmesan or gruyère, finely grated
1 egg

beaten
dips

of your choice, to serve (optional)

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Nutrition: Per serving (15)

kcal225
fat16g
saturates7g
carbs14g
sugars1g
fibre1g
protein5g
salt0.6g

Method

step 1

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.
step 2

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.
step 3

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.
step 4

Bake the tree for 20-25 mins until golden brown, and the straws on the second tray for 12-15 mins. Serve warm with your favourite dips, if you like.

Recipe from Good Food magazine, December 2021

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A star rating of 4.2 out of 5.6 ratings

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