Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Appetizer
| | Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Appetizer |
Ingredients
- 2tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 110 ounce package baby spinach(about 5-6 cups)
- 1/2 large sweet yellow onion, diced
- 2cloves garlic, minced
- 1heaping tablespoon Knorr vegetable soup mix OR ranch dressing mix
- 18 ounce package cream cheese, room temperature
- 1cup shredded Parmesan
- 1cup shredded cheddar
- 4-5pieces bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
- 2 shets of puff pastry or 2 sheets of refrigerated pizza dough
- 1/2teaspoon salt, garlic salt or seasoning salt of your choice
- 2tablespoons butter, melted
- 1pint cherry tomatoes OR 1 can diced tomatoes, drained
Instructions
- In a large skillet, sauté onion and garlic in olive oil until soft and translucent. Add baby spinach, stirring to combine. When spinach has wilted, about 3-4 minutes, add seasoning mix (Vegetable Soup or Ranch Dressing mix.) Mix and set aside to cool. When cooled, place spinach in a bowl and mix in cream cheese and parmesan cheese, stirring well to combine. Place first puff pastry sheet on a cutting board. Using a ruler or by hand, cut pastry sheet in a long triangle, the shape of a Christmas tree. Remove the right and left side of the triangle that has been cut away and set aside. Spoon all but ½ cup of the spinach mixture over the puff pastry triangle, leaving ¼ inch border. Sprinkle cheddar cheese over spinach on the triangle. Make another triangle with the second puff pastry, reserving the right and left side that has been cut away. Place the second triangle over the spinach tree and stretch to cover the spinach. Gently press down around the edges to seal. Using a sharp knife, make the Christmas tree branches by cutting approximately 1 inch horizontal slices down the right and left side of the tree leaving the middle of the tree (the trunk) intact. Carefully lift each branch and twist it once or twice. Make a tree base out of reserved dough and tuck it into the bottom of the tree. Using some of the reserved puff pastry dough, cut 5-6 stars with a small star cookie cutter or by hand. Attach to tree in various spot, using a tiny bit of water to “glue” stars to the tree. Brush melted butter over the entire tree and stars and sprinkle with seasoning salt of your choice. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown. With the remainder of the reserved puff pastry, cut into 2 inch squares and place in mini muffin or tart tins. Spoon a small amount of spinach mixture into the squares. Sprinkle a small amount of bacon on spinach and bake until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Top with a half a cherry tomato or a few pieces of diced tomato. Place tree on a serving platter and arrange puff pastry squares around the bottom of the tree as “presents.”