These Easy Christmas Vol-au-Vents with tomato, mozzarella and basil are a simple 20-minute Christmas appetiser. With just four ingredients, they're perfect for last-minute entertaining, Christmas parties or an easy bring-a-plate.
You'll also find a selection of other quick and easy filling ideas from mushroom & cream cheese to chicken, salmon & brie (& a few sweet ideas too!).
You might also enjoy our Caramelised Onion and Blue Cheese Sausage Rolls or our Feta Chicken Pastries.
Quick look at Easy Christmas Vol-au-vent Recipe With Tomato + Cheese
- ⏲️ 20 mins start to finish
- 🛒 Ingredients: Just 4!
- 🍽️ Makes: As many as you like. Feed the family or a crowd.
- 🧑🍳 Difficulty: Super simple, kid-friendly (with oven help)
- 🗃️ Make ahead: Prepare the ingredients ahead, then assemble and bake just before serving.
This is probably the simplest recipe that I have on the blog.
It is incredibly simple, fast to make, delicious and looks very festive on a Christmas party platter.
Plus, you can have all the ingredients on hand during the party season to whip together at a moment's notice.
Why Make This Easy Christmas Vol-au-vent Recipe
- DELICIOUS - Seriously. When you pop one in your mouth you will wonder how something so incredibly simple can be so yum!
- QUICK - These are last-min-Christmas-event approved. Just 20 minutes start to eating (maybe let them cool a little first) - even quicker if you're a fast chopper.
- SIMPLE - Just 4 ingredients. 4! Plus you could keep them all on hand through the holidays so you always have an idea at the ready for bring-a-plate.
- FESTIVE - The red tomatoes, green basil and white mozarella make them a festive addition to any holiday spread.
What Are Vol Au Vents
A vol-au-vent is the French word for 'windblown' - because they're so light.
They are hollow puff pastry cases.
You can make your own vol au vent pastry shells or you can buy them. In this case I actually prefer to buy them (see below for how to make your own).
Jump to:
Quick and Easy Vol-au-vent Filling Ideas
Vol-au-vents are such a simple last minute appetizer for the potential crazy time of the year. We love our quick Christmas recipe below but here are some more delicious ideas.
You can fill them with savoury fillings or make a sweet version for a mini holiday dessert.
Vol-au-vents can also make a delicious main course if you use/make bigger shells.
Our favourite filling for a main meal would be our Simple Tarragon Chicken. You could make it in advance and freeze then just thaw & heat in shells to serve. How's that for easy holiday entertaining.
Savoury fillings for vol au vents
- Mushroom vol-au-vents - mushrooms, cream cheese and chopped chives
- Brie and cranberry sauce - super festive for the holiday season
- Tarragon chicken - just dice it up smaller for mini vol-au-vents
- Salmon, cream cheese and dill
- Ham, cheddar and pineapple
- Blue cheese and caramelised onion (like our Caramelised Onion Sausage Rolls)
Sweet fillings for vol au vents
- Whipped cream, chopped strawberries and chocolate shavings
- Nutella with a raspberry on top
- Stewed cinnamon apples
- Whipped cream and Homemade Strawberry Jam.
Recipe Ingredients
You can make this easy appetizer using just a a few simple ingredients:
- Vol-au-vent shells (or puff-pastry to make them - instructions below)
- Mozzarella (or any other cheese that melts well)
- Cherry tomatoes
- Fresh basil - fresh really makes these. Dried would work but not be anywhere near as pretty or tasty.
How To Make Christmas Vol-au-vents
Step 1 - Place the vol-au-vent shells on a lined baking tray. In each one, place a leaf of basil so it sticks out the top, a wedge of tomato and cheese. Spray with a tiny bit of olive oil.
Step 2 - Bake at 180C fan-forced until the cheese has melted (about 10 minute) then serve right away.
For a fancy serving idea - arrange the Christmas vol-au-vents in a thick circle on a serving plate like a wreath.
Use fresh herbs to decorate at the top of the vol-au-vent wreath.
How To Make Vol-au-vent Pastry Shells
If you can't get your hands on them, you can make your own puff pastry shells with store-bought puff pastry sheets (it's best to use regular puff pastry not butter puff pastry as it is harder to work with, especially in Aussie Christmas heat).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut pastry discs using a round cookie cutter.
- Cut a smaller circle out of half the pastry circles and place them on top of the full ones.
- Place on the tray, brush with egg wash and bake according to the instructions on the packet.
You may need to use weights to stop it puffing too much.
Leave them to cool on a wire rack then either continue with the recipe or store in an airtight container until you're ready to use.
Looking for more ideas? Browse all our Simple Christmas Party Food Recipes.
Recipe FAQs
They sure can. You will need to re-heat them in the oven for about the same time it takes to cook them though. Another alternative is to assemble them the day before and then cook before serving.
You can use whichever cheese you like that will melt. A gouda would also be delicious in these.
You can indeed. Reheat them in the oven at 180C (watch them!) or in the air-fryer. Avoid reheating in the microwave as they will go soggy.
Recipe
Christmas vol au vents
Ingredients
- 10 vol au vent cases
- 10 basil leaves
- 50 g mozzarella
- 3 cherry tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon oil for spraying
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 180C (360F) fan-forced and line a baking tray with baking paper.
- Lay out the vol au vent cases on the tray (as many as you need). Line each one with a basil leaf so that it sticks out the top. Place a piece of mozzarella then a quarter of a cherry tomato inside each one and spray with oil.
- Bake until the cheese is melted (about 10 minutes).
Lorraine @ Not Quite Nigella says
Ooh very Christmassy indeed! I luuurve vol au vents-anything that gets me closer to pastry... :P
Claire says
My grandma used to make puff pastry triangles. They were just pieces of baked puff pastry but oh they were soooo good!
molly kelly says
I am testament to the fact that they were very yummy and very festive looking!
Mum x
Claire says
Thanks mum!