Nutella Puff Pastry Trees (Printable)

Flaky puff pastry with Nutella, twisted into festive tree shapes and baked to golden crispness.

# Components:

→ Pastry

01 - 2 sheets puff pastry (each approximately 8.8 oz), thawed if frozen

→ Filling

02 - 4.2 oz Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread

→ Finish

03 - 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
04 - 1 tablespoon powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)

# Method:

01 - Set oven temperature to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Unroll both puff pastry sheets. Spread Nutella evenly over one sheet, leaving a 0.4-inch border around the edges.
03 - Place the second puff pastry sheet on top to sandwich the Nutella filling evenly.
04 - Using a sharp knife or tree-shaped cookie cutter, cut tree shapes approximately 5–6 inches tall. Re-roll scraps to create additional shapes if desired.
05 - Transfer tree shapes to the lined baking tray. Carefully cut horizontal slits along each side of the tree to create branches, leaving the central trunk intact. Twist each branch gently for visual effect.
06 - Brush each tree evenly with beaten egg to enhance browning.
07 - Bake in the preheated oven for 16 to 18 minutes until the pastry is puffed and golden brown.
08 - Allow pastries to cool slightly. Optionally dust with powdered sugar. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look absolutely stunning on a plate but require almost no baking experience to pull off.
  • The combination of flaky pastry and creamy Nutella creates that perfect textural contrast your guests will keep talking about.
  • You can have warm, golden trees on the table in under 40 minutes from start to finish.
02 -
  • If your puff pastry sheets are still cold when you try to spread the Nutella, they'll crack and tear—thaw them completely for smooth, easy layering.
  • Those twisted branches look delicate but they're surprisingly sturdy once baked, so don't be timid when twisting them outward.
  • The egg wash makes all the difference in that beautiful golden color, so don't skip it even though it feels like an extra step.
03 -
  • If you don't have a tree-shaped cookie cutter, a simple tall triangle cut with a sharp knife looks just as lovely and gives you complete control over the size.
  • The twisted branches are the showstopper detail—twist them a little more generously than feels natural, because they'll relax slightly as they bake and cool.
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