Nutella Christmas Trees Recipe

Introduction

Nutella Christmas Trees are a festive and delightful treat perfect for the holiday season. These flaky puff pastry trees filled with creamy Nutella and topped with colorful candies are sure to impress both kids and adults. Easy to make and fun to decorate, they bring holiday cheer to your table.

Ingredients

• 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
• ½ cup Nutella
• 1 egg
• ¼ cup icing sugar
• 12 jube jubes (or colored chewy candy of choice)

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375˚F with racks in the upper and lower thirds. Line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper. Alternatively, preheat your air fryer to 375˚F.
2. Step 2: Unroll 1 sheet of thawed puff pastry onto a lightly floured surface and evenly spread the Nutella over it. Place the second sheet of thawed puff pastry on top and gently press to stick them together, removing any air bubbles.
3. Step 3: Mark where you will cut the dough into strips to make about 12 trees. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to carefully slice the dough into strips.
4. Step 4: (Optional) If you want to make pastry stars as tree toppers, save one strip of dough to cut out stars with a small star cookie cutter. This will yield 11 tree pastries instead of 12.
5. Step 5: Shape each dough strip into a tree by folding it in a zig-zag pattern, starting with a large section at the base and folding shorter sections as you move upward to mimic a tree shape.
6. Step 6: Insert a skewer through the center of each tree and place them on the prepared baking sheets or air fryer basket, leaving a small portion of the skewer exposed at the top for attaching the topper later.
7. Step 7: If you made pastry stars, attach one to the top of each tree on the skewer now.
8. Step 8: Whisk the egg in a small bowl and brush it over the tops and sides of each tree for a golden finish.
9. Step 9: Oven method: Bake for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown, rotating the pans halfway through. Air fryer method: Cook in batches (2–3 trees at a time) for 10–12 minutes until puff pastry is golden and cooked through.
10. Step 10: After the trees have cooled, attach a candy tree topper (such as a jube jube or jelly bean) to the exposed skewer portion.
11. Step 11: Dust the trees with icing sugar for a snowy effect and enjoy your festive Nutella Christmas Trees!

Tips & Variations

• Use other chocolate spreads or fruit preserves in place of Nutella for a different flavor.
• Swap jube jubes for small star-shaped candies or edible pearls as tree toppers.
• Make the trees gluten-free by using gluten-free puff pastry available at specialty stores.
• For extra sparkle, brush the trees gently with a light sugar syrup before baking.

Storage

Store leftover Nutella Christmas Trees in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days to maintain their flakiness. Avoid refrigeration as it may soften the puff pastry. Reheat gently in a warm oven for a few minutes to regain crispiness before serving.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I prepare these Nutella Christmas Trees ahead of time?

Yes, you can assemble the trees up to folding the strips and keep them refrigerated on the baking sheets for a few hours before baking. Just brush with egg wash right before baking for best results.

What can I use instead of a skewer for shaping the trees?

If you don’t have skewers, you can use thin wooden sticks or even small cinnamon sticks for added flavor and presentation. Just ensure they are safe for baking.

Nutella Christmas Trees Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.6 from 134 reviews

Delightful and festive Nutella Christmas Trees made with flaky puff pastry, rich Nutella spread, and colorful candy toppers. This easy-to-make holiday treat combines the crispy, buttery texture of puff pastry with the creamy chocolate-hazelnut filling, perfect for celebrating the season with a fun and delicious twist.

• Author: Daniel
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20-25 minutes (oven) or 10-12 minutes per batch (air fryer)
• Total Time: 40 minutes
• Yield: 12 Nutella Christmas Trees 1x
• Category: Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Puff Pastry Layers

• 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
• ½ cup Nutella
• 1 egg (for egg wash)

Decorations

• ¼ cup icing sugar (for dusting)
• 12 jube jubes (or colored chewy candy of choice for tree toppers)

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven or Air Fryer: Preheat your oven to 375˚F with racks placed in the upper and lower thirds, and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. Alternatively, preheat your air fryer to 375˚F for an option that uses air frying.
2. Prepare Puff Pastry and Nutella Layers: On a lightly floured surface, unroll one sheet of thawed puff pastry. Spread the Nutella evenly over the entire pastry surface. Then, place the second puff pastry sheet on top, pressing gently to stick them together and remove any air bubbles.
3. Cut Dough Into Strips: Mark evenly where you will make about 12 cuts to form 12 strips. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, carefully slice the dough into strips.
4. Optional Star Cutouts: If you prefer, save one strip of dough to cut star shapes using a small star cookie cutter for tree toppers. This will reduce the number of tree pastries to 11 but adds a decorative pastry topper option.
5. Shape the Trees: Fold each dough strip back and forth in a zig-zag motion, starting with a large section at the base and making each subsequent fold shorter to shape the dough into a Christmas tree form.
6. Insert Skewers and Arrange: Insert a skewer through the center of each tree, leaving a small portion protruding to later attach toppers. Place the trees on the prepared baking sheets.
7. Attach Pastry Stars (If Using): For those using pastry star toppers, gently slide the star onto the exposed skewer at the top of each tree.
8. Apply Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk the egg and brush the tops and sides of each tree to promote a golden-brown finish during baking or air frying.
9. Cook the Trees: Oven method: Bake for 20-25 minutes, rotating and switching pans halfway through for even cooking, until golden brown. Air fryer method: In batches of 2-3 trees depending on the size of your air fryer, cook at 375˚F for 10-12 minutes until puff pastry is fully cooked and golden.
10. Add Candy Toppers: Once trees have cooled, attach a jube jube or other chewy candy onto the skewer poking out from the top of each tree.
11. Garnish and Serve: Dust each Nutella Christmas Tree generously with icing sugar for a snowy festive effect and enjoy your holiday treat!

Notes

• Ensure puff pastry is fully thawed before use to avoid cracking during shaping.
• Use a light dusting of flour on the surface to prevent the dough from sticking while unrolling.
• You can substitute jube jubes with gumdrops, jelly beans, or any small round soft candy for tree toppers.
• For a dairy-free version, use dairy-free puff pastry and a suitable egg substitute for the wash.
• Watch closely if using the air fryer; cooking times may vary depending on the model and the number of trees cooked per batch.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days for best texture.

Keywords: Nutella, Christmas Trees, Puff Pastry, Holiday Dessert, Festive Treat, Easy Holiday Recipe, Nutella Pastries, Christmas Baking