Brie & Cranberry Puff Pastry Tree: A Festive Delight Recipe
This Brie & Cranberry Puff Pastry Tree is a festive and elegant appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Layers of flaky puff pastry, creamy brie, tangy cranberry sauce, and crunchy pistachios come together to form a visually stunning edible ‘tree’ that’s both delicious and easy to prepare.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 appetizer servings 1x
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
Filling
- 200g (7 oz) brie cheese, thinly sliced
- ½ cup whole berry cranberry sauce or dried cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped pistachios
Garnish
- Fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs
- Extra chopped pistachios
- Optional: honey for drizzling
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper to ensure even baking and easy cleanup.
- Prepare Pastry: Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured surface and cut them into triangles of decreasing size to assemble the shape of a Christmas tree.
- Assemble Layers: Starting with the largest triangle, layer thin slices of brie cheese, spoon dollops of cranberry sauce, and sprinkle chopped pistachios. Continue stacking smaller triangles on top, repeating the layering to build the tree shape.
- Egg Wash: Brush the top of the assembled pastry tree with the beaten egg to help achieve a beautiful golden-brown finish during baking.
- Bake: Place the assembled pastry tree on the prepared baking tray and bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until the puff pastry is puffed and golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve: Once out of the oven, garnish with fresh thyme or rosemary sprigs and extra chopped pistachios. Optionally, drizzle with honey for a touch of sweetness. Serve warm.
Notes
- This appetizer can be prepared ahead of time and baked just before serving, making it ideal for holiday entertaining.
- Use dried cranberries if cranberry sauce is unavailable, but whole berry cranberry sauce adds juiciness.
- For a nut-free version, omit pistachios or substitute with seeds like pumpkin seeds.
- Cool slightly before serving to allow the brie to set and avoid burns.
Keywords: brie puff pastry, cranberry sauce appetizer, holiday appetizer, festive puff pastry tree, brie and cranberry, easy holiday recipe
