Easy and delicious Christmas snack recipes to make the day before

Tis the season for savory, sweet and savory starters in all their forms. I love working with puff pastry because it produces such delicious results with so little work. Today, I’m bringing you an irresistible Christmas cookie recipe that’s sure to be a crowd pleaser. Here are my favorites for 2022!

Christmas Snowflake Puff Pastry (Savory or Sweet)

Composition

• 2 sheets of dough
• 2-3 slices bacon, crushed walnuts or topping of your choice (optional)
• 1 wheel camembert or brie (optional)
• 3-4 tablespoons cranberry sauce, pesto, or your choice of sweet or savory spread
• 1 egg beaten with a little water or milk (can be used in both recipes)
• Fresh thyme for garnish

Preparation

1. Heat the oven to 200°C. If your yogurt dough is frozen, place it on a cutting board at room temperature for 10-15 minutes.

2. If using, prepare while the bacon paste is thawing. Lay the strips flat on a large non-stick pan or wire rack and cook on low heat for 15-20 minutes, turning once halfway through, until crisp. Place them on a paper towel-lined plate, then chop or finely chop them and set aside.

3. Cut a circle out of the dough by running a knife along the edge of a plate, cupcake pan, or other round object the same width as your puff pastry. Reserve leftovers for finger foods, if desired.

4. Line one sheet of yogurt dough on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat, and set the other aside on your cutting board.

5. If using, place a wheel of cheese on the baking sheet in the center of the dough, then trace the cheese with the back of your knife before setting the cheese aside.

6. If using cheese, spread the cranberry sauce (or sauce of your choice) on the outer ring of the pastry, or all over. If using bacon or other toppings, sprinkle them over the sauce.

7. Arrange the second sheet of thick dough on top, straighten the edges. If using cheese, center it again, then make 16 radial slits from edge to edge of cheese as shown. If you are not using cheese, make the same cuts leaving a small uncut circle in the center to hold the core in place.

8. Take each piece and fold it towards the piece next to it, then form the ends into a snowflake.

Finally, brush the entire surface with beaten egg, then bake for 12-15 minutes or until the pastry is golden brown. Garnish with fresh thyme.

A Christmas starter to make the day before: Christmas tree in puff pastry

Composition

For the Basil Walnut Pesto (or use 1/2 to 3/4 cup store-bought pesto):

• 2 cups packed basil leaves
• 3/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 clove of garlic
• 1/4 cup walnuts
• grated lemon peel
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

For the pastry and decoration:

• 2 sheets of dough
• 1 egg
• 4 cherry tomatoes
• 3 tablespoons of cream cheese
• small basil leaves
• 1 slice of gouda cheese

Preparation

1. Heat the oven to 220°C.

2. Prepare basil pesto. To do this, add all the ingredients to a food processor and mix until it becomes a paste, but still a little thick. Add salt and pepper to taste. Put it in the refrigerator.

3. Remove a sheet of dough from the refrigerator. Roll out on floured parchment paper to get a rectangle about 3-4mm thick.

4. Cut a tree shape from the dough (just a triangle for the tree and a small square for the trunk, see photos). Put the remaining dough in the refrigerator.

5. If at any point your dough is sticky and difficult to work with, refrigerate for 5-10 minutes to chill. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spread about 1/2 cup pesto on top.

6. Remove the second layer of dough from the refrigerator and roll it like the first. Top the dough with the pesto. Cut out the same shape (you don’t have to be very precise). It is not necessary to press the two parts of the dough together. Reserve the crumbs and refrigerate.

7. Now cut the left and right (“tree branches”) horizontal lines in the dough, they should be placed at a distance of about 2 cm from each other. Do not cut down the middle of the tree. Twist each strip to form spirals.

8. Beat the egg with 1 tablespoon of water. Brush the dough with the egg mixture.

9. Bake (220°C) for 10 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 160°C and bake for 10 minutes. After the cooking time is over, make sure that the dough does not darken too much.

10. Decorate your tree (optional): place the halved tomatoes, cut stars from the cream cheese using a zip-top bag with the star-shaped tip and corner cut off, sprinkle with small basil leaves and decorate with gouda stars (optional (small star-shaped cookie cutter).

Puff Pastry Christmas Snack: Cranberry and Brie Wreath

Composition

• 1 sheet of thawed puff pastry
• 2-3 tablespoons of cranberry sauce
• 200g sliced ​​brie
• 2 tablespoons of coarsely chopped pistachios
• 1 beaten egg

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 200ºC and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. Roll out the dough to a thickness of about 5 mm and cut out a large circle.

3. Put the dough in the prepared baking pan.

4. Draw a circle with a medium-sized bowl and cut 4 notches in the middle circle with a sharp knife.

5. Spread the cranberry sauce around the center star, then top with the brini and pistachios.

6. Bring one point of the central star over the filling, as well as the outer edge of the dough. Press the two together and continue until you have a crown.

7. Brush with beaten egg, then place in the oven and bake for 15 minutes until the pastry is golden and cooked through.

8. Remove the Christmas puff from the oven, let it stand for 5 minutes and cut it into slices.

Sources : indulgenteats.com

daily-delicious.com

simple-delicious-food.com