Pastry Christmas Trees

Makes: 8 trees

Prep time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

PESTO

• 75 g (1/2 cup) cashews, toasted
• 3 small garlic cloves
• 50 g (2 packed cups) kale
• juice of a lemon
• 125 ml (1/2 cup) olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

TREES

• 1 rectangular sheet puff pastry
• 150 g (1 ½ cup) cheese, grated (plus extra for cheese stars)
• 3 slices ham, cut into small pieces

Method

PESTO

1. Place all ingredients into high-speed food processor and blitz until a smooth paste consistency.

TREES

1. Preheat oven to 180 C and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Spread pastry with pesto, grated cheese, and ham pieces. 
3. Roll out sheet of puff pastry on a clean, flat surface (leaving it on the parchment paper it comes rolled in).
4. Thinly spread an even layer of pesto all over the pastry, getting as close to the edges as you can.
5. Evenly sprinkle with cheese and ham pieces.
6. Using a sharp knife, cut 2.5 cm strips down the long side of the pastry rectangle (so you end up with more short strips, rather than long ones).
7. Fold strips into Christmas tree shapes then place a skewer through each pastry tree and place on the lined oven tray.
8. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly then top each tree with a cheese star before serving.