These fun and festive treats are a quick and easy dessert recipe for the holidays! 3 ingredients is all you need to make these Puff Pastry Christmas Trees with Nutella. Use your favorite holiday cookie cutter if you don’t have a Christmas tree shape. Feel free to substitute the Nutella for another flavor or favorite spread. Yields 15 puff pastry treats.
Everyone needs that quick go-to recipe that can be easily whipped up for unexpected guests or when you need dessert recipes for potluck Christmas parties during the holiday season. This is that recipe.
Peppermint Puppy Chow is another quick and easy winner that makes a large amount for a crowd.
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Tips for success
The holidays can be a crazy time. A little bit of planning ahead will make things much easier.
- Take the sheets of puff pastry out of the freezer the night before and place in the fridge to bake the next day or remove it from the freezer one hour before you begin baking.
- Be sure you have two sheets of ready-made puff pastry. The brand I typically buy that contains two puff pastry sheets wasn't available recently so I grabbed another brand. The package only had one sheet in it. Luckily I had grabbed two packages just in case. Learn from my mistakes. Check the package to be sure it contains two, as you'll need both to create the top and bottom layers of puff pastry in this recipe.
- Use any type of filling you'd like. Just be sure it is not too solid or too runny. The consistency of Nutella may differ from other brands of chocolate hazelnut spread. Check out the photos below to see what the texture looks like. I microwave the Nutella for 15-20 seconds before using so it's spreadable but not too liquidy and runny. I have a recipe for a delicious chocolate spread that can be substituted here. PS this recipe is similar and makes for a show-stopping treat.
PPS Ready to try your hand at making your own homemade version of puff pastry? Try Chocolate Hazelnut Hand Pies.
Here's the ingredients you'll need to make this Nutella Puff Pastry Tree recipe
This recipe uses simple ingredients to make Christmas tree pastry shapes. If you do not have a Christmas tree cookie cutter, I recommend making star shapes or even using a sharp knife (or even a pizza cutter) to cut out the shape of a Christmas tree.
The best way to do this is to create a template in the shape of a Christmas tree using a piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or even printer paper. Place the template over top of the puff pastry and cut out your shapes.
- Store-bought puff pastry: you will need two sheets of puff pastry. Be sure it is thawed before you begin.
- Nutella: Only ½ cup is needed for this recipe.
- Egg: you will need one large egg at room temperature to make the egg wash to brush on top of the puff pastry. This helps create that beautiful golden brown shiny top when they are baked.
- Sparkling sugar, red or green sanding sugar: this is optional. I recommend using sparkling sugar instead of granulated sugar because the granules are bigger and retain their shape when baked. Granulated sugar will melt into the top of the puff pastry, creating a crunchy exterior but will not give you the same sparkly finish for an extra festive look.
See the recipe card below for exact amounts, instructions, and nutritional information.
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How to Make Puff Pastry Nutella Christmas Tree treats
Here's step-by-step instructions:
Step 1
Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
Step 2
Flour a clean work surface. Unroll one sheet of puff pastry and place it on the floured work surface. Using a rolling pin coated with flour, roll the puff pastry out to about double its size. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry.
Step 3
In a small glass measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl, melt the Nutella in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. You want the Nutella to be spreadable but not hot and runny.
Using Nutella that is too firm or stiff will cause the puff pastry to rip or tear when you try to spread it. This will cause the Nutella to leak out during baking. Not what we are going for here.
Step 4
Pour the Nutella onto one of the puff pastry sheets, spreading it into a thin layer almost to the edges.
Tip: spreading it all the way to the edges may result in the Nutella oozing out the sides when the Christmas tree shapes are cut out of the pastry, so leave a bit of room at the edges.
Step 5
Place the second puff pastry sheet on top of the Nutella, doing your best to line up the puff pastry sheets.
Step 6
Using a small Christmas tree cookie cutter, press through the puff pastry filled with Nutella to cut out as many Christmas trees as you can fit. Transfer the Christmas trees to the prepared baking sheet.
Tip: I like to bake the excess pastry as sweet treats for the chef!
Step 7
In a small bowl, add the egg and 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk lightly with a fork. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash on top of the Christmas trees.
Step 8
Sprinkle the tops with sparkling sugar or red or green sanding sugar, if desired.
Step 9
Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the tops and sides are golden brown and the puff pastry no longer looks raw.
If the tops of the Christmas trees fall over, gently and carefully replace them as soon as you remove them from the oven. Allow to cool on the baking sheets then serve.
FOR ALL MY FAVORITE BAKING TOOLS INCLUDING THOSE USED TO MAKE THIS RECIPE, CHECK OUT MY BAKING RESOURCES PAGE!
How to store delicious Nutella puff pastry trees
I have found these puff pastry treats are best consumed the day they are made.
If however you do have leftovers: to store, place cooled puff pastry christmas trees in an airtight container and store at room temperature for 2 days.
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Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry thawed
- ½ cup Nutella
- 1 large egg
- sparkling sugar, red or green sanding sugar optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF. Line a a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Flour a clean work surface. Unroll one sheet of puff pastry and place it on the floured work surface. Using a rolling pin coated with flour, roll the puff pastry out to about double its size. Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry.2 sheets puff pastry
- In a small glass measuring cup or microwave-safe bowl, melt the Nutella in the microwave for 20-30 seconds. You want the Nutella to be spreadable but not hot and runny.½ cup Nutella
- Pour the Nutella onto one of the puff pastry sheets, spreading it into a thin layer almost to the edges. Tip: spreading the Nutella all the way to the edges may result in the Nutella oozing out the sides when the Christmas tree shapes are cut out of the pastry, so leave a bit of room at the edges.
- Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the Nutella, doing your best to line up the puff pastry sheets.
- Using a small Christmas tree cookie cutter, press through the puff pastry filled with Nutella to cut out as many Christmas trees as you can fit. Transfer the Christmas trees to the prepared baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, add the egg and 1 tablespoon of water. Whisk lightly with a fork. Use a pastry brush to brush the egg wash on top of the Christmas trees.1 large egg
- Sprinkle the tops with sparkling sugar or red or green sanding sugar, if desired.sparkling sugar, red or green sanding sugar
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes or until the tops and sides are golden brown and the puff pastry no longer looks raw. If the tops of the Christmas trees fall over, gently and carefully replace them as soon as you remove them from the oven.
- Allow to cool on the baking sheets then serve.
Notes
- These puff pastry treats are best consumed the day they are made.
- To store, place cooled puff pastry Christmas trees in an airtight container and store at room temperature for 2 days.