You Have to Try This Cute Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree!

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One of the best parts of the holidays is that it's an excuse to add festive flair to just about anything. Christmas tree scented candles? Yes, please. Gingerbread shaped pillows? We'll take three. Most recently, the holiday bug has made its way to TikTok, where Christmas-shaped pastries are at the front and center of our "For You Page." In particular, the Nutella puff pastry Christmas tree recipe has captured the Internet's attention (and our appetite) once again.

There’s nothing we love more than a festive recipe that doesn’t require loads of time or ingredients, which is why this pull apart Nutella Christmas tree recipe is at the top of our easy and cozy winter dessert lineup. It features golden-brown puff pastry filled to the brim with warm, gooey Nutella and a dusting of sweet powdered sugar.

These simple puff pastry Christmas treats went viral on Instagram and TikTok in 2022 and are making a comeback online ahead of the 2023 holiday season. #puffpastrychristmastree has 6.1 million views on TikTok, and that's not even including the many renditions of the recipe on Instagram, such as this one by @justataste, who made hers in the shape of a snowflake.

nutella pull apart christmas tree snowflake — @justataste / Instagram

The fun part about this recipe is that it's customizable, as you can shape the dessert to look like cute Christmas trees, snowflakes, or even wreaths! Some creators, like @simshomekitchen, have even made savory versions of the recipe, swapping a cheesy garlic filling for the Nutella. Plus they're deceivingly easy to make!

To make this fun recipe, you'll need four ingredients: puff pastry dough, Nutella spread, eggs, and powdered sugar. Star shaped cookie cutters are an optional but fun addition that you can use to make puff pastry stars for the tree.

To begin, users like @beckyexcell and @fitwaffle recommend preheating your oven to 350°F and lining a baking sheet with parchment paper. Roll out one puff pastry sheet into a large rectangle and spread a generous layer of Nutella over it. Make sure to add lots of Nutella as the oven can dry it out! Then, roll out another sheet of puff pastry and place it over the top.

Use a knife or pizza cutter to cut out a large triangle in the shape of a Christmas tree (including the trunk!). For the branches, cut horizontal slits along each edge of the tree, leaving the center of the tree in tact. Twist each pair of branches away from you at least two times. If you choose to add stars to your tree, cut them out of the excess pastry and place them at the top of the tree.

To finish, brush the tree with egg wash and bake it until golden brown and puffy for about 15 to 20 minutes. Top it off with powdered sugar at the end as a light dusting of “snow” and enjoy!

To make a Nutella puff pastry snowflake, simply cut your rolled out dough into a large circle (you can use a mixing bowl or plate to trace the shape), and follow the above steps. Trace a smaller circle in the center of the large circle instead of the tree trunk, and make the points of your snowflake using the twisting method used to make the branches of the tree.

And there you have it: an easy, scrumptious Christmas dessert that looks way more complicated than it is to make! Just be sure to eat the pastry warm to enjoy peak gooeyness and crispness!