Pesto Puff Pastry Wreath

5 from 10 votes

Dec 14, 2021, Updated Nov 20, 2023

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Made with buttery puff pastry and sun-dried tomato pesto, this easy Pesto Puff Pastry Wreath, aka Tarte Soleil, is a festive and delicious holiday appetizer that’s truly stunning!

puff pastry dough shaped into a star with sixteen rays and stuffed with pesto and garnished with pomegranate arils.

Occasionally, you might find yourself in the mood to create an absolutely stunning dish like a perfect whole roast turkey, a fancy decorated layer cake, or maybe this beautiful puff pastry wreath! It’s a holiday favorite that’s not only full of flavor but full of charm, thanks to the traditional tarte soleil styling. Tangy, fragrant pesto goes well with buttery puff pastry and is so well-balanced that you really don’t need any other ingredients!

What Is a Tarte Soleil?

This wreath is basically a holiday version of the classic French Tarte Soleil, which is an elegant puff pastry appetizer made by making cuts in a circle of filled puff pastry, so to look like rays of light around the sun. These “rays” are twisted before baking to create a pretty effect and showcase the pastry layers and filling. The rays are then eaten pull-apart style, for a festive and lovely appetizer.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Puff Pastry: 2 sheets puff pastry
Pesto: ¼ cup store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto or basil pesto.
Egg: 1 egg, beaten
Coarse Salt: Optional, for sprinkling.
Optional Garnishes: Pomegranate arils and chopped fresh basil or parsley make the perfect garnishes.

How to Make Puff Pastry Wreath

a round dinner plate set over puff pastry dough

sun dried tomato pesto spread over puff pastry dough.

Prepare. Preheat the oven to 400˚F. Line a rimless cookie sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the Puff Pastry Circles. Open the puff pastry and roll out the sheets. Cut out two 10-inch circles from the puff pastry. It’s easy to do this if you place a large dinner plate on the puff pastry and cut around it with a sharp knife. See the above pics.
Fill the Puff Pastry with Pesto. Place one of the puff pastry circles on your parchment-lined cookie sheet. Spoon the pesto onto the middle of the puff pastry, and use the back of a large spoon to spread the pesto into an even layer, leaving a 1-inch border all the way around. Do not overfill. Then, place the second puff pastry circle on top.
Cut and Twist the “Rays.” Gently press a drinking glass in the center of the wreath, to create a round indentation. Set the glass aside. Using a sharp knife, cut 16 slices all around, leaving the center circle intact. Place the cookie sheet in the freezer for about 5 minutes to firm up. Then twist each ray two or three times to the right, working your way around the entire wreath.
Bake. Brush the top of the wreath and each ray with the beaten egg, and sprinkle with coarse salt, if you are using it. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until golden and puffed up.
Enjoy! Garnish your wreath with pomegranate arils and chopped basil (or parsley) before serving.

raw puff pastry dough shaped into a star with sixteen rays.

Recipe Tips And Variations

Clockwise Cutting: To make cutting the rays easier, envision the wreath as a clock. Make your first cuts at twelve, three, six, and nine. Now make three evenly-spaced cuts in each quarter. Done!
Imperfections Are Fine: Puff pastry is very forgiving, so don’t worry if your unbaked wreath looks a little crooked or imperfect. Once it bakes, the golden-brown puff pastry looks amazing!
Sweet Version 1: You can make a fabulous sweet version of this tart with a filling of Nutella! Garnish with slivered almonds and a drizzle of melted dark or white chocolate.
Sweet Version 2: Cream cheese mixed with cranberry jam is another great sweet filling for a tarte soleil wreath! It’s a nice balance: less sweet than Nutella, but still dessert-like.

side shot of a puff pastry stuffed with pesto

Serving Suggestions

This puff pastry appetizer is a perfect starter, but I also love to serve it with this fresh and creamy Breakfast Fruit Pizza! Classic Overnight Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole is also wonderful, as are these sweet Pancake Bites.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

To store leftovers, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, or cut into slices and place them in airtight containers or food storage bags. Refrigerate for up to 2 days.
To make in advance, assemble the wreath up to one day in advance! Just refrigerate it, unbaked, and covered loosely with plastic wrap. Bake it as directed on the day of. You may have to add a minute or two to the baking time.
To reheat, bake again at 400˚F for about 5 minutes, or until heated through.

Festive Appetizer Recipes

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5 from 10 votes