This pesto pastry Christmas tree is so easy to do and tastes delicious. The pesto is super yummy but if you prefer you can use a store brought version if you wish. It will look great on the table at Christmas or for you Christmas themed morning tea.

Ingredients:

• 2 sheets puff pastry
• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 C fresh basil
• 1/2 C parsley
• 1 crushed garlic clove
• 1/4 C peanuts
• 1/4 C grated parmesan
• 1/3 C grapeseed oil
• juice of half a lemon
• Salt and pepper

Method:

1. Roughly chop basil, parsley and peanuts and place in a bowl.
2. Add garlic and parmesan.
3. Whizz with hand blender until combined.
4. Slowly add grapeseed oil and whizz until it comes together.
5. Stir in lemon just and add salt and pepper.
6. Place baking paper onto an oven tray.
7. Cut both pieces of pastry into a triangle shape (see pictures) and place a small rectangle at the bottom to be the tree trunk.
8. Place one of the pastry triangles onto the baking paper and cover in pesto.
9. Place second pastry on top.
10. Using a sharp knife cut slits along the sides of the pastry leaving a 1-2cm gap in the middle as the tree trunk.
11. Twist these segments.
12. Cut a star shape out of pastry and place at the top of the tree.
13. Whisk egg and brush over tree.
14. Sprinkle with sesame seeds.
15. Bake pastry at 200°C for approximately 15 minutes.