Christmas Tree Spinach Appetizer

Learn how to make this adorable and delicious Christmas Tree Spinach Appetizer with puff pastry.

With Christmas right around the corner, I had to share this cute idea for decorating not only the food table but the food itself. Wow guests and create a lovely display with just a few ingredients. Now for this, you can opt to use store-bought puff pastry or you can make a homemade version. If using store-bought you will need two sheets to create this Christmas Tree Spinach Appetizer. I do recommend homemade but you can find a good quality puff pastry in the store these days pretty easily these days.

Whether you use homemade or store-bought, this appetizer is delicious, buttery, and eye-catching to boot. Making it the perfect appetizer to display at your home party or to bring to a friend’s gathering. I love making it for a Christmas gathering of any kind as it is always a surprise to see on the table. Not to mention pretty easy to put together.

Why You Will Love This Recipe

• It is easy to assemble
• It creates a beautiful Christmas display for the table
• You can make it completely from scratch or opt to use store-bought items to make it easier
• It tastes delicious
• It is impressive looking
• It creates a buzz around the food table

Trouble Shooting

• If you cut the puff pastry wrong, not to worry, simply press the dough back together and roll it back out.
• The dough is too sticky to work with. Pop it back into the fridge to chill back up for about 30 minutes. Take it back out, flour your work surface, rolling pin (if using one), and even the pastry itself if it’s extra buttery and sticky. This will help keep it from sticking.
• The knife is messing up the Christmas tree cut, use a pizza roller instead. They work much better for this than a knife.

Ingredients

Puff Pastry- this pastry is golden, buttery, and decadent. The perfect pastry dough for a holiday appetizer. You can use either store-bought for this which you will need two or you can make a homemade puff pastry that will be enough for this Christmas Tree Spinach Appetizer.

Spinach– I use fresh spinach sautéed in olive oil for this recipe. You will need 7 packed-down cups of fresh spinach to make this filling. If using frozen use the same amount but make sure the frozen spinach is completely thawed and wrung out. You don’t want excess moisture in the spinach filling.

Cream Cheese- Creates a creamy delicious spread for the inside of the pastry.

Garlic- I find two large cloves give it just the right amount of garlic flavor for the filling.

Parmesan Cheese- Adding a bit of nuttiness to the overall taste.

Sea Salt- Always needed to enhance the flavors of any dish. I use fine sea salt but you can use standard table salt.

Pepper- Freshly cracked pepper if you can. If not standard black pepper is fine too. Adding a nice balance to the overall flavor.

Lemon Juice- adds a bright fresh flavor to the spinach sauce.

Butter- for brushing the top of the pastry before baking.

Olive Oil- a few drizzles in the pan for sautéing the spinach.

What You Will Need

2 puff pastry sheets (or 1 homemade puff pastry)

7 cups of packed fresh spinach

2 cloves of garlic

4 oz cream cheese

1 tbsp lemon juice

1 tbsp melted butter (for brushing)

2 tbsp olive oil

sea salt to taste

Directions

Cutting the Christmas Tree Shape

Begin by shaping the puff pastry into two large upside-down triangles with a two-inch extra piece of dough for the tree stump on the flat portion (as shown). If using store-bought you will need two pastries to do this.

If using my recipe for homemade puff pastry you will have enough dough to make the entire tree. Simply roll out the dough into a large rectangle and cut the tree length-wise. Take the excess sides and place them together to create another triangle. Then pinch off two small pieces of dough to create the small square stumps for the bottom of the tree. Pinch the dough to connect the pieces together.

Lay one onto a lined cookie sheet.

For the Filling

To make the filling, heat a skillet with olive oil. Add the spinach and begin sautéing. Add a pinch of sea salt, cracked black pepper, and lemon juice.

Mince the garlic finely and add it to the skillet. Allow the spinach to cook down slightly then add the cream cheese to the pan. Stir it around as it melts to mix it into the cooked spinach. When fully incorporated, remove from the heat.

Spread evenly over the puff pastry on the cookie sheet.

Place the other piece of puff pastry over it. Take a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, and begin cutting about 2-inch slices into the sides of the pastry. Leave the center intact. Twist each slice so that the top is folded over. Do this until all slices are turned over (see picture).

Brush the pastry with butter and sprinkle the parmesan over the entire Christmas tree pastry.

Bake at 375℉ for 25 minutes or until the pastry is golden and flakey.

How To Plate

Use the parchment paper to help move the Christmas Tree Spinach Appetizer off the baking sheet and onto either a serving board or placed directly on a table with the parchment as the plate. I like to add a few winter berries, pine, or other little touches of Christmas decor to surround the tree and minimize the paper.

How To Store

I store leftovers in an air-tight container for up to 2 days in the fridge. The pastry can be reheated in a toaster oven or conventional oven and served warm.

If you try this recipe and love it, I would appreciate you coming back to give it 5 stars! Or tag me on Instagram @rox_aquaintlife

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