Flaky puff pastry bites with cheese, tomatoes, and olives shaped like Christmas trees for a festive snack.
# Ingredients:
→ Puff Pastry
01 - 1 sheet (8.8 oz) ready-rolled puff pastry, thawed if frozen
→ Sauce
02 - 3 tablespoons pizza sauce or marinara sauce
→ Cheese
03 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (3.5 oz)
04 - 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (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
# Instructions:
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 cut pastry trees evenly on the prepared baking sheet.
04 - Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over each pastry tree, leaving a small border along the edges.
05 - Evenly sprinkle shredded mozzarella and grated parmesan over the sauce-covered pastry.
06 - Top each pastry tree with halved cherry tomatoes and sliced black olives to resemble ornaments.
07 - Sprinkle dried oregano and freshly ground black pepper over each tree.
08 - Lightly brush the exposed pastry edges with olive oil to promote golden browning.
09 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until the pastry is puffed, golden brown, and the cheese is melted.
10 - Remove from oven, let cool briefly, then garnish with fresh basil if desired. Serve warm.
