Description
Flaky golden puff pastry filled with creamy spinach and gooey cheese, shaped into a festive Christmas tree that pulls apart beautifully. A holiday showstopper!
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cups fresh spinach (or 1 cup frozen, thawed and drained)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup ricotta OR cream cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella
- ¼ cup grated parmesan
- Salt & pepper to taste
- Pinch of nutmeg (optional)
- 1 sheet puff pastry (large, thawed)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella (for the melty inside)
- 1 egg (for egg wash)
- Grated Parmesan (for topping)
- Chopped fresh parsley (for topping)
- Flaky salt or coarse sea salt (for topping)
Instructions
- Prepare the Spinach Filling: Heat olive oil and sauté garlic for 30 seconds. Add spinach and cook until wilted (or warmed through if using frozen). Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Transfer to a bowl and mix in ricotta (or cream cheese), mozzarella, and parmesan. Let cool slightly.
- Shape the Christmas Tree: Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F). Roll out puff pastry into a large rectangle. Cut the pastry into a large tree shape (triangle with trunk). Use the leftover pastry to cut a second identical tree. Place the first tree on a baking tray.
- Fill & Assemble: Spread the spinach-cheese filling over the first pastry tree. Sprinkle extra mozzarella on top for the melty pull-apart effect. Place the second pastry tree on top. Gently press edges to seal.
- Create the Tree “Branches”: Using a sharp knife, cut horizontal strips on both sides of the tree, leaving the center intact (the spine). Twist each strip 1–2 times to form branches.
- Brush & Bake: Brush entire tree with egg wash. Sprinkle parmesan, parsley, and flaky salt. Bake for 22–28 minutes, until deeply golden and puffed.
Notes
- For a vegetarian option, ensure all cheese used is rennet-free.
- Can be made ahead and frozen before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from frozen.
- Feel free to add other herbs or spices to the filling for extra flavor.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 20g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 50mg