Flaky puff pastry bites topped with cheese, tomatoes, and olives, shaped like Christmas trees for festive snacking.
# 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:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Roll out the puff pastry on a lightly floured surface and cut into 16 Christmas tree shapes using a cookie cutter or cut triangles to mimic tree shapes.
03 - Place the puff pastry trees evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over each pastry tree, leaving a small border around the edges.
05 - Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan over the sauce on each tree.
06 - Arrange cherry tomato halves and olive slices over the cheese to resemble ornaments on the trees.
07 - Sprinkle dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper over each tree.
08 - Lightly brush the exposed edges of the pastry with olive oil to achieve a golden finish.
09 - Bake the bites for 16 to 18 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden and the cheese is melted.
10 - Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, garnish with fresh basil if desired, and serve warm.
