Recipe: Pull Apart Christmas Tree
A 10-Minute Christmas Tree That'll Make Your Season Sparkle {v,nf}
December descends like a glitter bomb of expectations - each day a whirlwind of tinsel-strewn to-do lists and ambitious hosting plans. But amid the festive frenzy, there's a moment of pure kitchen magic waiting to unfold: a Christmas tree-shaped creation that transforms simple puff pastry into something rather spectacular, without sending you into a midnight baking meltdown and only taking only 10 minutes to prepare.
This little bit of culinary theatre is properly lovely - a bit special without being precious about it. The secret lies in letting really good cheese take centre stage. Imagine properly ripe Brie oozing gently, creamy goat's cheese lending its subtle tang, or a Camembert that's reached that perfect moment of ripeness. Pair that with the sweet-sharp kick of cranberry jam (though redcurrant jelly works a treat too, and over here in Sweden, we're positively swimming in lingonberry jam which does the job brilliantly).
Fancy a bit of creative liberty? You could go cheese-only for the purists, or venture into more adventurous territory with some proper grainy mustard and a good mature cheese - think proper tangy Cheddar, or something continental like Gruyère or Comté if you're feeling fancy. Whatever you choose, it'll sit there looking rather splendid on your Christmas spread, quietly collecting compliments while you smile knowingly, fully aware it took less time to assemble than it did to untangle last year's fairy lights.
