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A show-stopping festive bake that’s super simple: this Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree is golden, crisp and oozing with warm hazelnut-chocolate goodness. Made with just three main ingredients – puff pastry, Nutella, and an egg – it’s the perfect pull-apart treat for Christmas gatherings.
A puff pastry Christmas tree is a simple festive bake made from two layers of pastry, sandwiched with sweet or savoury filling. The top layer is cut into branches and twisted to resemble a Christmas tree shape before baking to golden perfection. This version uses Nutella for a gooey, chocolate-hazelnut centre. This post has an easy recipe, tips, make-ahead ideas and variations.
Table of Contents
Why you will love this recipe:
- Just 3 ingredients – store-bought puff pastry, Nutella, and an egg. Easy, no fuss.
- Looks impressive but takes only about 30 minutes to make.
- Fun for families and groups as everyone can twist off their own branches.
- Perfect for sharing – a crowd-pleaser for breakfast, dessert, or festive entertaining.
Ingredients:
Full recipe can be found in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post, just scroll down!
Puff pastry – using sheets of pre-rolled puff pastry makes this really easy, but a chilled block you roll yourself also works. You do need four sheets of puff, which is a lot but it’s worth it!
Nutella – this is a chocolate and hazelnut spread, very sweet and rich, but it melts nicely without burning. You can use any brand, but I love this puff pastry Christmas tree with Nutella.
Substitutions and Variations:
Nutella – use a different spread, such as pistachio cream, hazelnut spread, peanut butter (I would avoid the natural, 100% peanuts kind here), or chocolate spread.
Dips – I think it’s nice to serve this with a dip for the nutella puff pastry branches to dunk in. Some whipped vanilla cream is so good, or custard!
Crunch – sprinkle crushed roasted hazelnuts at the end or over the nutella for some crunch.
Here’s how to make a Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree:
Here’s a step by step guide for what you need to do, but you can find the full recipe at the bottom of the page for detailed instructions.
ONE: Roll out the two sheets of puff pastry to make them a little larger than how they come. Lay one sheet flat on the tray. Spread a generous layer of Nutella evenly over the first pastry sheet, leaving a small border around the edges.
TWO: Place the second sheet of pastry on top to sandwich the Nutella layer. Press gently down to seal. Using a sharp knife, cut out a large triangle shape (this will be your Christmas tree) with a small rectangular base for the trunk. Remove the excess pastry from around the edges.
THREE: Starting from the base of the tree (triangle), make horizontal cuts about 2 cm apart on both sides of the triangle, leaving a central “trunk” uncut in the middle.
FOUR: Twist each strip gently 3 times to form the tree branches.
FIVE: With the excess pastry, cut out a few decorations such as stars for the top of the tree. Place on the main tree as you like.
SIX: Brush the entire tree with beaten egg. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until puffed and deep golden brown.
Cooking Tips:
Prevent leaking: Chill the assembled Nutella puff pastry tree for 10 minutes before baking so the pastry firms up. This helps seal the edges and keeps the Nutella inside.
Crispy base: If you have a weak oven, preheat your baking tray before placing the tree on it to encourage a crispy base.
Clean edges: Use a pizza cutter for smooth, even branches and for an easy way to cut out the triangle shape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can easily make a Nutella puff pastry tree ahead of time. Assemble up to 12 hours in advance, cover, and refrigerate. Or freeze the unbaked tree and bake straight from frozen, adding 5–8 minutes to the baking time.
Chill the assembled tree before baking, don’t spread Nutella right to the edge, but also don’t worry too much if it does leak out, it will still taste delicious.
Yes, you can make mini trees. Follow the same steps but cut out small triangles from the sandwiched sheets of puff pasrty. For mini trees, bake at 200°C for 10-12 minutes.
Other recipes you might enjoy:
If you like this Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree but want it in a different shape, you will love my Nutella puff pastry star. For savoury, try my pesto & cheese sun tart, also made with puff pastry, or my brie cranberry bites. For something sweet and festive, my Christmas pretzel crack is delicious.
Puddings
Apple Crumble Cheesecake
Easy Dessert Recipes
Apple and Blackberry Crumble
Easy Baking Recipes
Triple Chocolate Chunk Cookies
If you tried this Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree or any other recipe on the site, please do leave a rating or comment and let us know how it went!
Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 2 pre-rolled puff pastry sheets, or 1 large block of puff pastry
- 250 g Nutella
- 1 egg, to egg wash
- Icing sugar, optional, to dust
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 200°C (180°C fan) and line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Roll out the two sheets of puff pastry to make them a little larger than how they come. If you are using a block, roll out two large rectangles so they’re roughly the same size. Lay one sheet flat on the tray.
- Spread a generous layer of Nutella evenly over the first pastry sheet, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Place the second sheet of pastry on top to sandwich the Nutella layer. Press gently down to seal.
- Using a sharp knife, cut out a large triangle shape (this will be your Christmas tree) with a small rectangular base for the trunk. Remove the excess pastry from around the edges. Set aside.
- Starting from the base of the tree (triangle), make horizontal cuts about 2 cm apart on both sides of the triangle, leaving a central “trunk” uncut in the middle. Twist each strip gently 3 times to form the tree branches.
- With the excess pastry, cut out a few decorations such as stars for the top of the tree or some circles to look like baubles. Place on the main tree as you like.
- Brush the entire tree with beaten egg.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until puffed and deep golden brown.
- Once cooled very slightly, dust with icing sugar. Serve warm.
- The video below will help with this recipe.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
