Make an easy Nutella Puff Pastry Xmas Tree with just three ingredients: store-bought puff pastry, Nutella, and an egg for the egg wash. Finish with a dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy look. Buttery, flaky, and perfect for holiday gatherings.
The combination of chocolate and hazelnut in Nutella is irresistible, and when paired with flaky puff pastry it becomes a spectacular holiday treat. This recipe is quick, uses minimal ingredients, and creates a festive centerpiece that guests can pull apart and enjoy.
⭐ Why I love it
- Simple ingredients — all are available at most grocery stores.
- Super quick — about 10 minutes of active prep time.
- Three ingredients — puff pastry, Nutella, and an egg for the wash.
🎄 Great holiday party recipe
This Nutella puff pastry tree looks impressive on a platter and is easy for guests to share. Serve it warm or at room temperature alongside other holiday favorites such as cookies or hot chocolate. A light dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of warmed Nutella adds a nice finishing touch.
🥘 Ingredients
- Puff pastry — one package (two sheets), thawed. Found in the freezer section.
- Nutella — about 3 tablespoons or your preferred chocolate-hazelnut spread.
- Egg yolk — for the egg wash to achieve a glossy, golden finish.
- Powdered sugar — optional, for dusting.
See the recipe card below for full details, including prep and cook times.
🍫 Serving ideas
This pastry is presentation-ready straight from the oven. Dust with powdered sugar for a snowy effect or drizzle with extra warm Nutella for an extra chocolatey finish. Fresh berries such as raspberries or sliced strawberries make great accompaniments.
📖 Variations
If you want to switch up the filling, try:
- Jam — use your favorite jam for a fruity version.
- Pesto — for a savory twist, spread pesto instead of Nutella.
- Nuts — sprinkle finely chopped hazelnuts or slivered almonds over the Nutella for added texture.
You can also shape the filled puff pastry differently: slice into strips and twist for individual branches or create small pocket pastries by sealing edges with a fork.
🔪 Step-by-step instructions
Making the Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree is straightforward and fun:
Photo 1: Thaw the puff pastry. Roll each sheet into a rectangle (about 10–11 x 13 inches) and cut both into a Christmas tree shape. Use a small star cutter on the scraps to make stars for the top.
Photo 2: Spread Nutella over one tree and a bit on one star. Place the second tree and star on top, pressing gently to seal.
Photo 3: Cut slits on both sides of the tree to form branches, leaving the center intact. Cut a small slit in the trunk area for stability if needed.
Photo 4: Twist each branch strip, ideally twice so they hold their shape while baking.
Photo 5: Whisk the egg yolk with a teaspoon or two of water and brush the tree evenly for a golden finish.
Photo 6: Bake until puffed and golden. Let cool briefly before dusting with powdered sugar and serving.
🍽 Leftovers and storage
The tree is best enjoyed fresh or warm. Store leftovers at room temperature in an airtight container for up to five days. Rewarm gently before serving if desired.
💭 Recipe tips
- Warm the Nutella for a few seconds in the microwave if it’s hard to spread.
- Thaw the puff pastry fully before rolling so it’s pliable and easy to work with.
- Roll gently into rectangles to prevent the pastry from puffing too high.
- Twist branches twice where possible so they hold their shape and don’t unravel while baking.
👩🍳 Recipe FAQs
Keep puff pastry cold until ready to use, thaw it properly, and roll on a lightly floured surface. Use a sharp knife and cut straight down for clean edges that create distinct layers.
If you prefer a flatter result, dock (poke) the pastry with a fork to allow steam to escape. For the tree shape, leaving the center intact preserves height and structure.
Yes. Brushing with an egg wash before baking produces a glossy, golden crust.
🍪 Related dessert recipes
Single Serve Pistachio Chocolate Chunk Cookie-
Fudgy Brownie Cookies
-
Single Serve Pumpkin Snickerdoodle (Small Batch)
-
Single Serve Blackberry Cobbler
Recipe
Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Make a festive Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree using thawed puff pastry, Nutella, and an egg yolk for brushing. Bake until golden, then dust with powdered sugar if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 13–18 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- 1 package (2 sheets) puff pastry, thawed
- 3 tablespoons Nutella
- 1 egg yolk
- Powdered sugar, optional for dusting
Instructions
- Prep: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
- Cut tree: Roll each thawed puff pastry sheet into a rectangle (about 10–11 x 13 inches). Cut both into Christmas tree shapes. Reserve scraps to cut two stars.
- Spread Nutella: Spread Nutella on one tree and a bit on one star. Top with the second tree and the star, pressing gently to seal.
- Cut branches and twist: Cut slits about 1 inch apart on both sides of the tree, leaving the center intact. Twist each branch strip, ideally twice.
- Egg wash: Whisk the egg yolk with 1–2 teaspoons of water and brush over the tree for a glossy finish.
- Bake: Bake for 13–18 minutes or until puffed and golden.
- Serve: Cool 5–10 minutes, dust with powdered sugar if desired, then serve warm or at room temperature.
Notes
Warm Nutella: Microwave briefly if it’s too firm to spread.
Thaw puff pastry: Thaw fully before rolling so it’s easy to shape.
Roll gently: Rolling into rectangles helps control how much the pastry puffs.
Twist branches twice: This helps them hold during baking and gives a defined twist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of tree
- Calories: 301
- Sugar: 4.3 g
- Sodium: 120.1 mg
- Fat: 20.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 25.4 g
- Fiber: 0.9 g
- Protein: 4.1 g
- Cholesterol: 24 mg