Description
This festive Spinach Dip Christmas Tree Appetizer features a savory blend of spinach, artichoke hearts, cream cheese, and cheddar wrapped in flaky puff pastry, baked to a golden perfection and shaped into a charming Christmas tree. Perfect as a crowd-pleasing starter for your holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Pastry
- 1 sheet puff pastry (thawed)
Spinach Dip Filling
- 6 ounces frozen spinach (defrosted and liquid squeezed out)
- 13.75 ounces quartered artichoke hearts (drained and chopped)
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened to room temperature)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Toppings
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or cheddar blend (fiesta blend, triple cheddar, cheddar-jack blend)
- 1 whole egg (beaten for egg wash)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set it aside to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
- Make the Filling: In a mixing bowl, combine the chopped artichoke hearts, squeezed defrosted spinach, softened cream cheese, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir thoroughly until the mixture is well incorporated and smooth.
- Assemble the Christmas Tree: Roll out the thawed puff pastry sheet on the prepared parchment-lined baking sheet using a rolling pin to smooth and flatten it slightly. Spread the spinach and artichoke mixture evenly over the entire surface of the puff pastry. Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese generously on top of the spinach mixture. Then, carefully roll the puff pastry sheet jellyroll style, from one end to the other, to form a log. Slice the log into sixteen ¼ inch thick rolls and arrange these cut pieces, cut side up, on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree. Reference the photo for visual guidance.
- Egg Wash and Bake: Beat the whole egg in a small bowl and brush it evenly over the entire assembled Christmas tree. This will give the pastry a shiny, golden brown finish when baked. Bake in the preheated oven for about 26 to 28 minutes or until the rolls are puffed up and golden brown.
- Optional Garnish and Serve: For a festive touch, you may garnish the tree with finely chopped tomato pieces to simulate red ornaments. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure to squeeze out as much liquid as possible from the thawed spinach to avoid a soggy pastry.
- Use a sharp knife to cut the rolls cleanly to maintain their shape.
- If desired, substitute shredded cheese with your favorite blend, but a cheddar blend enhances flavor and meltability.
- The egg wash helps achieve that beautiful golden color but can be omitted if preferred.
- Let the pastry thaw completely before rolling to prevent cracking.
