Nutella Puff Pastry Trees (Printer-Friendly)

Flaky puff pastry with creamy Nutella, baked to golden crispness for a festive treat.

# What You Need:

→ Pastry

01 - 2 sheets puff pastry (about 8.8 oz each), thawed if frozen

→ Filling

02 - 4.2 oz Nutella or chocolate-hazelnut spread

→ Finish

03 - 1 egg, beaten for egg wash
04 - 1 tbsp powdered sugar, optional for dusting

# How to Cook:

01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Unroll both sheets of puff pastry and spread Nutella evenly over one sheet, leaving about a 0.4-inch border.
03 - Place the second puff pastry sheet on top of the Nutella-covered sheet to create a sandwich.
04 - Using a sharp knife or tree-shaped cookie cutter, cut out tree shapes approximately 5–6 inches tall. Re-roll pastry scraps to cut additional shapes if desired.
05 - Transfer the tree shapes to the prepared baking tray. Carefully cut horizontal slits on both sides of each tree to form branches, leaving the central trunk intact. Twist each branch gently for a decorative effect.
06 - Brush the top of each pastry tree with the beaten egg to achieve a golden finish.
07 - Bake for 16 to 18 minutes until the puff pastry is golden and crisp.
08 - Allow pastries to cool slightly, then dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm or at room temperature.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • They look incredibly impressive but take less than 40 minutes from start to finish.
  • The contrast of flaky, buttery pastry with creamy chocolate-hazelnut filling is genuinely addictive.
  • Kids can help cut and twist the branches, turning baking into a whole family moment.
02 -
  • Don't skip the egg wash—I learned this the hard way when my first batch came out pale and looked unfinished, but brushing them properly gives you that professional bakery shine.
  • The branches need to be twisted gently enough that you don't tear the pastry, but firmly enough that they hold their shape when they puff up in the oven.
03 -
  • Keep your pastry cold before and during prep—warm pastry is forgiving until it's not, then it tears and sticks and everything falls apart.
  • The most impressive part costs nothing: taking your time to twist each branch with intention, which is what makes people's eyes light up when they see them on the plate.
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