Some recipes look like they took hours and this puff pastry Nutella Christmas tree is the most iconic example of that. It sits on a holiday table and people genuinely stop and stare before they reach for a piece and then you tell them it is two ingredients plus an egg wash and watch their faces completely change. Store bought puff pastry and Nutella. That is the whole thing. Buttery, flaky, chocolatey, twisted into the most beautiful Christmas tree shape that looks like serious effort and takes about ten minutes to assemble.
The technique is easier than it looks and once you understand the steps it makes complete sense. Two sheets of puff pastry sandwiched around a generous layer of Nutella, cut into a tree shape with a small paring knife, and then the branches are made by cutting lines about an inch apart on each side and twisting each section gently. The twist is what creates those beautiful layered spirals that fan out like actual branches and look so impressive coming out of the oven. Go slow on the twisting, be gentle so the layers do not separate, and the pastry will do the rest of the work in the oven.
The egg wash is the step that gives you that stunning golden finish that makes this look bakery professional. Brush it evenly over the entire tree before it goes in and bake at 350 for twenty minutes until it is puffed and deeply golden. The Nutella melts into all those flaky layers as it bakes and the smell coming out of the oven is genuinely one of the best things about December. Dust generously with powdered sugar right when it comes out and serve it immediately while it is still warm and the pastry is at peak flakiness.
One more tip worth mentioning — do not throw away the scraps. Cut out little stars, ornaments, or any shapes you love with cookie cutters from the leftover pastry pieces, brush them with egg wash, and bake them alongside the tree. They make the most adorable little bonus treats and kids love decorating them with extra powdered sugar. This is the holiday recipe that makes everyone at the table feel like they are somewhere really special. Make it every December.
Puff Pastry Nutella Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry thawed (usually 1 box)
- Nutella
- 1 egg
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350℉.
- On a large baking sheet, lay out one sheet of puff pastry.
- Spread an even layer of Nutella over the entire surface.
- Top with the other sheet of puff pastry.
- Using a small paring knife, cut out the shape of a christmas tree (a triangle with a rectangle base at the bottom)
- Cut lines about 1″ apart on each side of the christmas tree going up to the tip, being careful not to cut all the way to the center.
- Take each section that you cut and gently tug and twist. Repeat for all the sections.
- Crack and beat the egg into a small bowl, add a little bit of water and brush on the top of the tree.
- Optional: Cut shapes out of the scrapes with cookie cutters and use those to decorate your tree or bake alongside your tree.
- Bake for 20 min until puff pastry is golden brown.
- Dust with powdered sugar and enjoy immediately!
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