Keto Puff Pastry Trees
Published December 20, 2023 • Updated May 19, 2025
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These viral Puff Pastry Christmas trees are all over social media! The perfect fun, festive appetizer for the holiday season, these trees can easily be made sweet or savory and low-carb. Of course, I opted for a pizza version.
What makes this keto?
- Fathead dough – Traditional refrigerated puff pastry dough contains a lot carbs and is not keto approved. Instead of sandwiching the filling in between sheets of puff pastry, this recipe makes fathead dough – a keto pizza dough and solution to low-carb puff pastry. The dough is keto friendly since it mostly made up of almond flour and melted mozzarella cheese.
- Keto pizza sauce – Although you can use store bought marinara for pizza sauce in this recipe, do make sure you check the label on the jar and look for one with no or low added sugars. Many brands like to add sugar to their sauce to help with flavor. Of course, the best course is to just make your own pizza sauce since you can control the ingredients.
- Cheese, cheese, more cheese – Not implying that cheese makes something keto, but it does help with flavor and plays a roll in making the low-carb puff pastry. Melted mozzarella cheese in the dough works similar to gluten in regular pizza dough. It makes the dough elastic and moldable so you can shape it and roll it into various shapes.
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Keto Pastry Dough Ingredients
20 oz (7 cups) shredded mozzarella cheese -
3 cups almond flour
-
2 teaspoon baking powder
-
1 teaspoon salt
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2 eggs
Pizza Toppings Ingredients
-
1/4 cup marinara sauce
-
12 slices provolone cheese
-
48 slices pepperoni
-
Italian seasoning
-
wooden skewers
Step by Step Instructions
Step by Step Instructions
Melt mozzarella cheese
Add shredded mozzarella cheese to a large bowl. Melt in the microwave at 60 second intervals, stirring in between, until completely melted.
- 20 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
Dry ingredients
While cheese is melting, add almond flour, baking powder and salt to a food processor. Pulse to combine.
- 3 cups almond flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
Make dough
Add melted mozzarella cheese and eggs to the food processor. Pulse until a dough ball forms and cheese is fully incorporated into the other ingredients. A food processor works best; however, an electric mixer can be used or you can knead the melted cheese and egg into the dry ingredients using your hands.
Roll it out
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Divide the dough into two equal sized balls. Place one ball in between two sheets of parchment paper. Flatten the dough out with the palm of your hand to form a square block. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle shape sheet that is about 15 x 12 inch and 1/8 inch thick. Repeat with other dough ball.
Add pizza toppings
Starting with one sheet of dough, remove the top layer of parchment paper. Spread marinara sauce from edge to edge. Layer down provolone cheese and pepperoni slices. To the other dough sheet, remove the bottom parchment sheet. Place the dough sheet on top like a sandwich and remove the top parchment sheet. Lightly press to adhere.
- 1/4 cup marinara sauce
- 12 slices provolone cheese
- 48 slices pepperoni
Cut into strips
Using a pizza cutter or a knife, cut into 1 inch thick strips with the long end facing you.
Fold the trees
Working one at a time, fold strips back and forth in a zig-zag motion, making each layer slightly narrower than the last to create a tree shape. Add a skewer to the tree from the bottom through the top. Place on a parchment lined baking tray. Sprinkle Italian seasoning on top before baking.
Nutrition disclaimer
The nutrition information provided is an estimate and is for informational purposes only. I am a Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.); however, this content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your physician or other qualified health provider before making any lifestyle changes or beginning a new nutrition program.
These came out so good! I made a few with extra cheese and they were a hit. The dough was easier to work with than I expected.
I could only wish my friends would appreciate the work that went into these. Then I would try them. Maybe some time, I will just make them for me. I deserve to make the effort for me.