Pestostuffedchristmastree Recipes

Steps:

• Roll out 2 sheets of puff pastry.
• Cut into the shape of a Christmas Tree.
• Spread basil pesto on bottom layer of pastry sheet.
• Sprinkle parmesan cheese.
• Place top layer of tree-shaped pastry sheet down.
• Make horizontal tree branch slices.
• Twist the tree branches.
• Brush egg wash (egg with water) along the tree trunk and base.
• Lightly run a fork over tree trunk and base.
• Bake according to the boxed direction of the puff pastry.
• Decorate the tree with sliced cherry tomatoes, whipped ricotta cheese.
• Using star-shaped cookie cutter, make a cheddar cheese star and set on top of the tree.

Steps:

• Position an oven rack in the lower third of the oven and preheat to 375 degrees F. Line an upside-down baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
• Add the basil, pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper to a food processor and pulse until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, drizzle in 1/4 cup of the olive oil until incorporated. The pesto should be slightly chunky, not smooth.
• Combine the mozzarella, ricotta, pecorino, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper in a medium bowl. Add the pesto to the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
• Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 1 large and 2 small triangles; one of the 12-inch sides will be the base of the large triangle with the 2 small triangles on either side. Combine the 15-inch sides of the 2 small triangles to create a large triangle on the prepared baking sheet, tugging and pressing down on the dough as needed to shape it. This will be the base of the tree.
• Leaving a 1/4-inch border around the perimeter of the triangle, spread the pesto and cheese mixture evenly to cover the base. Cover it with the remaining large triangle, tugging the dough as needed to fit over the base. Seal the 1/4-inch border by firmly pressing the top edge down onto the bottom.
• Leaving a 1-inch "trunk" down the middle of the tree intact, use a sharp knife to cut horizontal lines, about 1 1/2 inches apart, from the middle "trunk" to each edge, making "branches." Twist each "branch" to reveal the layers of cheese and pesto. The shorter ones will twist once or twice. The longer ones will twist three or four times.
• Bake until golden brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Lightly brush with the remaining 1 teaspoon olive oil. Serve warm.

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Combine sun-dried tomato pesto and goat cheese in a small bowl and stir well.
• Unroll 1 puff pastry sheet onto the prepared baking sheet. Cut away 2 strips at the bottom of the sheet to form a tree trunk, about 1 inch wide and tall. Cut diagonally to the top of the puff pastry sheet to create a long triangular shape, removing excess pastry on either side.
• Spread a thin layer of the pesto mixture over the pastry, all the way to the sides. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon Pecorino-Romano cheese on top.
• Roll up the second puff pastry sheet and place at the tip of the triangle. Unroll carefully towards the bottom. Press down lightly and carefully cut away the sides to match the first triangle. Remove excess pastry.
• Cut 2/3-inch thick branches into the sides of the triangle from both sides, leaving a space lengthwise in the center all the way from the trunk to the tip. 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.
• Brush the entire tree with beaten egg. Sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon of Pecorino-Romano cheese and dried oregano.
• Bake in the preheated oven until deep golden brown, about 20 minutes. Let cool on the baking sheet slightly.

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Line 2 baking sheets with a silicone liner (such as Silpat®).
• Roll pastry into a 14-inch square, sprinkling with flour if necessary.
• Cut from the bottom corners up to the center top to make a triangle. Place the triangle on a prepared baking sheet and place in the refrigerator.
• Overlap the long edges of the 2 remaining pieces of pastry by about ½ inch to form a second triangle. Roll to flatten slightly. Place on the second prepared baking sheet and chill until needed.
• Remove the first triangle from the refrigerator. Lift the silicone liner and pastry off the pan and onto the counter. Trim about 1 ½ inches off the bottom of the triangle and cut a 2-inch piece from that strip. Tuck that piece under the triangle to make a trunk.
• Spread all but 1 to 2 tablespoons pesto sauce over the entire triangle, leaving ¼ inch exposed at the edges. Grate most of the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese over the pesto. Place the second pastry triangle over top; stretch and pull it to fit, and trim off any extra dough as needed. Lightly press the edges together to seal and pat over the whole surface of the dough.
• Use a pizza wheel to cut ¾-inch horizontal strips on one side of the tree going from the outside edge in to about ¼ to ½ inch from the center; leave the center part connected to form the trunk. As you move up the tree, it may be easier to place the pizza wheel at the trunk and cut out to the edge. Repeat on the other side, lining up the cuts with the first side.
• Lift up each strip and twist 3 to 4 times. As you get up to the shorter pieces near the top, twist as many times as you can, but don't worry if you can't twist the strips at the very top.
• Brush remaining pesto over the center of the tree and any other spots you feel need it. Transfer the silicone liner back onto a baking sheet. Grate remaining cheese over top.
• Bake in the center of the preheated oven until pastry is fully cooked and well browned, 30 to 35 minutes; do not undercook.
• Transfer to a wire rack and cool for 15 minutes before serving.

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.

Steps:

• SHORTBREAD CHRISTMAS TREE:.
• Heat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit.
• In a stand mixer beat butter and sugar until creamy. Add vanilla and flour until dough forms. Roll out dough onto parchment lined baking sheet and using powdered sugar to prevent sticking, cut out shapes. Set scraps aside to be used on the next sheet.
• Bake 12-16 minutes until edges just start to brown. Remove from oven and smooth by placing parchment paper over the top of freshly baked cookies and press down flat with a slightly smaller baking sheet. Allow to cool.
• PIPING AND FLOODING ICING:.
• In stand mixer blend egg white with 3 1/2 cups confectioners sugar and red food coloring. Once mixed place half in a large piping bag with a large round tip (This is your flooding bag). Add a cup of confectioners' sugar to the remaining frosting in the stand mixer and beat until mixed. Scoop this mixture into another piping bag with a small tip. using this bag pipe along the edges of your cookies. Once done use the flooding bag to flood your cookies. Use a toothpick or needle to pop any air bubbles that form immediately after piping to ensure a smooth surface.
• Use leftover thicker frosting to pipe additional details and glue cookies together to form a 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.