Flaky puff pastry trees with melted cheese, cherry tomatoes, olives, and herbs for a festive bite-sized snack.
# What You'll Need:
→ Puff Pastry
01 - 1 sheet ready-rolled puff pastry, thawed (approximately 8.8 oz)
→ Sauce
02 - 3 tablespoons pizza or marinara sauce
→ Cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (approximately 3.5 oz)
04 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (approximately 1 oz)
→ Vegetables & Toppings
05 - 8 cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 8 black olives, pitted and sliced
07 - 1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil (optional)
08 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
→ Seasonings
09 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How to Make It:
01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - On a lightly floured surface, roll out puff pastry and cut into 16 Christmas tree shapes using a cookie cutter or cut triangles for a tree effect.
03 - Place pastry shapes evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over each pastry tree, leaving a small border at the edges.
05 - Sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan cheese evenly on the sauce layer.
06 - Adorn each tree with halved cherry tomatoes and sliced olives to mimic ornaments.
07 - Sprinkle dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper over the decorated pastries.
08 - Lightly brush pastry edges with olive oil to promote golden browning.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until pastries are puffed, golden, and cheese is melted.
10 - Allow to cool slightly, garnish with fresh basil if desired, and serve warm.
