Are you trying to figure out something new to add to your Christmas menu? But maybe you don’t have the time to “branch out” with one of the more challenging recipes. You can make a savory breadstick Christmas tree with pastry puff (meaning you get to use already-made dough, saving time and effort).

Each branch of this tree boasts a delicate filling of spinach, ricotta, and grated cheese, creating a crisp-on-the-outside, creamy-on-the-inside texture. You can serve this breadstick Christmas tree for Christmas or any other winter holiday you’re hosting, and make it a Christmas to remember. Just set it out and your guests can break off a branch and enjoy it as a savory breadstick.

The process for preparing the breadstick Christmas tree is simple. Just roll out the dough, cut out two triangles and fill the Christmas tree silhouette with spinach and cheese filling. Then cut and twist the branches (like in the photos below), and the oven will do the rest for you.

For the filling, you can choose ready-made spinach dip or use boiled or frozen spinach. When choosing cheese, give preference to easily melted layers—cheddar or Gouda. For the base, if you don’t have puff pastry, you can use ready-made pizza dough.

Serve the appetizer with soup, salad, or add it to a buffet table. You can even make breadstick Christmas trees as a gift for friends or neighbors, adding a jar of sauce to complete the seasonal gift.

Ingredients for Breadstick Christmas Tree:

1 pound of puff pastry
1 cup of grated cheese
a bunch of spinach
1 egg
1 cup of ricotta
salt, pepper

Instructions for Breadstick Christmas Tree

1. Preheat the oven to 375° F. Cover the baking sheet with parchment. Roll out two flat sheets of pastry puff in one direction to a thickness of 1/5 inch. You’ll want to make a rectangle the size of the baking sheet. Grease the edges of the dough with egg white. Cut out a triangle and place it on the baking sheet. Connect the remaining dough along the height using egg white. You will get a second triangle.

2. Dip the spinach in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, transfer to a colander and pour over ice water. Beat the spinach and ricotta in a blender. Pour in the grated cheese, add salt and pepper to taste and mix. The filling is ready.

3. Distribute the filling evenly over the dough.

4. Cover the filling with a second triangle and make cuts in the form of branches ½ inch wide. Twist the strips.

4. Brush the tree with egg yolk.

5. Bake for 22-25 minutes until golden brown. Transfer the tree to a wire rack and cool. This breadstick Christmas tree would make a delicious side dish with buttermilk roast chicken.

Options:

You can serve the treat with pesto sauce, cheese sauce, or marinara.
Brush the tree with garlic butter after baking.
Experiment with the filling. You can add smoked paprika or finely chopped ham.
You can “decorate” the breadstick Christmas tree. Add a star made of bell pepper and sprinkle with pomegranate seeds after baking.