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Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

How to make a Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, a quick, showstopping dessert with golden pastry, hazelnut spread and powdered sugar.
Recipe Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
  • Difficulty Medium
  • Preparation 15 minutes
  • Cooking 22 minutes
  • Servings for 6-8 people

When the holidays arrive, there’s nothing better than surprising your loved ones with a dessert that combines simplicity, flavor and a touch of magic: here is how to make an irresistible Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree. This sweet Christmas tree recipe is the perfect solution when you want to serve an easy dessert with a big wow factor, ideal for filling the house with fragrance and cheer even when time is short. The few ingredients and the quick method let you make an easy Nutella dessert in no time, one that stands out for its striking shape and wins people over at first sight.

The lightness of the golden pastry twisted with the chocolate spread creates a play of soft and crisp textures, making this showstopping holiday dessert the undisputed star of any Christmas buffet. All you have to do is shape the pastry, fill it generously, twist the branches and let it turn golden in the oven. Once it’s ready, finish your Nutella-filled puff pastry tree with a dusting of powdered sugar for an elegant touch that will make the eyes of grown-ups and kids alike light up.

Would you like to round out your holiday menu with more sweet puff pastry ideas? Also try Nutella Puff Pastry Roses, Nutella Puff Pastry Bundles or Nutella Puff Pastry Pinwheels for your buffet. This Christmas dessert with Nutella and puff pastry easily turns into a sweet appetizer for a Christmas buffet, pleasing everyone thanks to its versatility and its ability to create a festive mood even at the last minute. Find out how to make a puff pastry tree and make every occasion special with a quick Christmas recipe everyone will remember for its taste and beauty.

Ingredients for 6-8 people

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Method

  1. To make the Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, unroll the first sheet of puff pastry and lay it on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Using a cardboard template shaped like a simple Christmas tree and a sharp knife, lightly score the surface of the pastry. Remove the template and spread a generous layer of Nutella on top, distributing it evenly over the whole surface.
    Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, step 1: Nutella spread over a sheet of puff pastry
  2. Cover with the second sheet of puff pastry and press lightly with your hands so the two layers stick together. Mark the corners of the first layer with small cuts as a guide for putting the cardboard template back in place. Place the template on top again and, with a sharp knife, carefully cut out the Christmas tree shape.
    Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, step 2: Christmas tree shape cut from the two layers of pastry
  3. Working from the center outward, make horizontal cuts about 2 cm (3/4 inch) apart on both sides, leaving a central trunk about 3 cm (1 1/4 inches) wide intact. These cuts are essential for creating the decorative branch effect.
    Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, step 3: horizontal cuts on both sides of the central trunk
  4. Take each strip of pastry made by the cuts and gently twist it on itself, from one end to the other, to create a twisted, three-dimensional branch. Repeat with all the strips.
    Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, step 4: pastry strips twisted into branches
  5. Brush the whole surface of the tree with the beaten egg yolk, spreading it evenly so it browns evenly as it bakes.
  6. Bake in a preheated conventional oven at 180 °C (350 °F) for 20-25 minutes, or until the tree is well puffed and golden. The time may vary slightly depending on your oven, so check it regularly during the last few minutes.
  7. Take the Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree out of the oven and let it cool slightly on a wire rack. While it is still warm but not hot, dust it generously with powdered sugar for an elegant snowy effect that will make it even more striking and festive. Finally, remember to download our App with exclusive content and fewer ads!

Variations and Alternatives

You can decorate the puff pastry Christmas tree with different ingredients depending on your taste and what you have on hand. Add colorful Smarties to look like Christmas ornaments, or use candied cherries, toasted almonds or hazelnuts. Dust it with shredded coconut instead of powdered sugar for a different snowy effect, or with pearl sugar for a shinier surface. For an even richer version, add Nutella mascarpone to the filling, or replace the Nutella entirely with a different hazelnut spread. For an interesting savory variation, use cooked ham and cheese instead of Nutella. You can also make two trees of different sizes and stack them for a more impressive effect. Add a wooden skewer at the base to turn it into an elegant place card for the Christmas table.

Tips

For the best results, use good-quality puff pastry and keep it cold until you use it. If you want the Nutella to stay softer and not dry out during baking, you can add a tablespoon of mascarpone to the spread to make it creamier. If your puff pastry tends to puff up a lot in the oven, prick it lightly with a fork before spreading the Nutella. Cut the cardboard template carefully to get a perfect outline. If you don’t have a template, you can draw the tree shape on a sheet of paper and use it as a guide. For an even more striking effect, decorate the tree with little puff pastry stars cut out with cookie cutters, or add drops of Nutella on the tips of the branches after baking.

Storage

Store the Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2-3 days. If you prefer to keep it fresher, you can refrigerate it for up to 4-5 days. Avoid freezing it, as the puff pastry could lose its crispness once thawed. Ideally, eat it within 24 hours of making it to enjoy the pastry at its crispest.

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