Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

When you place this Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree on the table, they’ll be no doubt in anyone’s minds that it’s the centrepiece. Full of golden, flaky layers of buttery pastry and molten chocolate hazelnut spread oozing from every pull-apart branch, it’s festive and feast-worthy

If only I could capture the magic of the Christmas season in words!

The sound of children’s laughter and the chimes of bells echo in the air as their little feet run to catch up with Santa’s sleigh, driving through the cobbled streets; the first snowfall, crisp and white (I remember waiting by the radio to see if it meant a day off school!); watching families lug six foot trees onto buses on their way home; wrapping gifts under the tree, with a mug of hot chocolate on the side …

For me, the Holiday begins when we buy a real tree. I always aim to have it standing pretty by the first of December, but I invariably end up late.

The fresh, piney scent of a tree is as essential to Christmas for me as carols, roast dinner, or Father Christmas’s cookies and milk.

This year, once I’d finished decorating the tree (Mum sent over some ornaments from my childhood, which really hit me with nostalgia), I marked the occasion with this puff pastry version of my tree (complete with a star on top!).

The Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree would make a fantastically easy Christmas Day centrepiece, but it’s equally as good for ramping up the festive spirit on the run-up to the big day.

Plus, the tear-and-share style dessert that brings the whole family together is what Christmas is really about.

As soon as you put this on the table, you’ll have people crowding to pull off a branch, getting chocolate all over their fingers, and racing for the last piece (it disappears fast!).

The brilliant thing is how little effort it actually takes. Store-bought Nutella spread onto store-bought puff pastry. Then, a few minutes of cutting and twisting, before the oven does the magic of baking it into a buttery, sweet, flaky treat.

You may have been up since dawn, wrapping gifts, but baking? Absolutely not!

🍫What Ingredients You’ll Need For a Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

This is one of those brilliant recipes where the ingredient list is so short (you just need four things!) you’ll double-check you haven’t missed something. You haven’t. It really is this simple.

• Puff pastry (ready-rolled sheets): Ready-rolled sheets are a time-saver and give you perfectly even layers. If you want buttery, flaky indulgence, hunt out all-butter puff pastry. Otherwise, standard grocery store stuff is fine (and usually accidentally vegan).
• Nutella spread: The star ingredient! It melts into a heavenly, gooey, chocolatey layer once baked. To save money, you can use off-brand chocolate hazelnut spreads, or, if you’re feeling industrious, make your own.
• Icing sugar (powdered/confectioner’s sugar): Just a light dusting over the top for that fresh-snowfall effect! It also adds a touch more sweetness.
• Egg: An egg wash always gives pastry a gorgeous golden shine.

Adapting This Recipe For Allergies and Dietary Requirements

Making this Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree vegan is straightforward: use a non-butter puff pastry (Jus-Rol is accidentally vegan, but always check the ingredients) and plant-based Nutella (yes, the company has made a vegan version!).

To substitute the egg wash, try either aquafaba (chickpea water) or plant milk mixed with maple syrup.

To make a nut-free version, omit Nutella and use a nut-free chocolate spread, such as SUNFLY chocolate sunflower seed spread.

Or, go rogue with something like Biscoff, for a different flavour profile. Now, that gives me ideas … perhaps a new recipe incoming?

Gluten-free puff pastry is slightly less flaky (and more expensive!) than the regular version, but it is easy enough to find in supermarkets (Gluten Free Jus-Rol does a decent job). The recipe works in the same way, but be extra gentle when handling the pastry.

🎄How to Make a Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree (Step-by-Step Photos)

⭐ Secrets for Success (From My Kitchen)

• Work quickly with the pastry. If puff pastry becomes too warm, it won’t rise as well in the oven. If it does get warm, place it in the fridge for a few minutes before baking.
• A sharp knife makes the work easier. It cuts clean and won’t drag the pastry around.
• Use the offcuts! I didn’t take photos, but I shaped all my offcuts into Nutella twists and swirls. Nobody else needs to know about these … eating them is part of your Head Chef privileges!
• Egg wash generously. A proper egg wash makes the Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree look like it’s come from a bakery.

What If My Tree Looks Wonky?

It probably will, and I say — so what!

My tree definitely looks wonky (the stars are rather abstract), but that’s part of the charm. Once it’s baked golden and dusted with icing sugar, it’s barely noticeable.

The delicious flavour is too distracting to worry much once it’s been served!

❄️ Storing Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

A Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree is best eaten warm from the oven or at room temperature on the same day. The Nutella will still be slightly melty, then!

If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. The pastry will soften slightly, but you can crisp it up again in the oven (at a low temperature, for just five minutes or so) if you like.

Freezing: This Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree freezes well. Freeze the assembled but unbaked tree directly on the baking sheet until solid, then wrap in foil and place in a large freezer bag. Freeze for up to three months.

Bake from frozen, but add an extra five to ten minutes onto the cooking time specified in the recipe. It’s excellent for Christmas prep.

I don’t recommend refrigeration after baking, as it makes the pastry turn soggy.

🍨 Serving and Decorating a Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

For a festive breakfast treat, place this in the centre of the table alongside proper coffee (or hot chocolate), croissants, and whatever other treats you’d like! No plates necessary.

You could also serve it after the Christmas dinner, as-is or with whipped cream spiked with Baileys (or Chantilly cream, for a non-alcoholic option).

I’ve got a few other Christmas treats fit for the job too, like pinecone brownies and profiterole cheesecake.

To decorate the tree with baubles, you can scatter sugared cranberries, crushed pistachios, fresh berries, or even vegan sweets atop the tree.