If you're looking for a fun and festive holiday dessert, these Nutella Puff Pastries shaped like Christmas trees and gingerbread men are the perfect sweet treat.
Made with just a handful of ingredients, this is an easy dessert recipe that kids and adults will both love. The flaky pastry combined with a thick layer of Nutella creates buttery, chocolatey pastries that look as good as they taste.
Whether you make them for a party, add them to your holiday cookie tray, or enjoy them warm from the oven, these pastries will quickly become one of your favorite holiday bakes. The best part? They only take a few minutes to prep and about 20 minutes in the oven.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple ingredients - All you need are store-bought puff pastry sheets, Nutella, and an egg.
- Festive shapes - Use your favorite cookie cutters to make Christmas trees, gingerbread men, or even stars.
- Kid-friendly - A fun recipe to make together during the holiday season.
- Perfect holiday dessert - Looks festive and tastes amazing with the buttery flaky puff pastry and creamy Nutella.
Ingredients
- Puff pastry (thawed to room temperature)
- Nutella (or other creamy chocolate hazelnut spread)
- Egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
How to Make Nutella Puff Pastry
- Prep the pastry - Remove the pastry dough from the fridge and preheat the oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread the Nutella - On a lightly floured surface, roll out one sheet of pastry. Use an offset spatula or the back of a spoon to spread a thick layer of Nutella evenly. Place the second puff pastry sheet on top.
- Cut shapes - Using a gingerbread man cookie cutter and a Christmas tree cookie cutter, cut out shapes. A sharp knife or pizza cutter works for trimming excess pastry.
- Seal & prepare - Place cut-outs onto the prepared baking sheet. Seal the edges gently with a fork and prick the tops to allow steam to escape.
- Brush & bake - Whisk the large egg and brush over the tops with a pastry brush to create a golden crust. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the pastries have a beautiful golden brown color.
- Decorate - Once cooled slightly, dust with powdered sugar before serving.
Quick Tips
- Don't overfill - Too much Nutella can ooze out; a thin, even layer works best.
- Alternative fillings - Try raspberry jam, chocolate chips, or even a cinnamon-sugar mix for variety.
- Air fryer option - Bake at 350ºF for 15-20 minutes, keeping a close eye as pastries cook quickly.
- Storage - Keep leftovers in an airtight container for 3-5 days. Warm them up in the oven for that fresh, crispy pastry texture.
- Holiday fun - Use different cookie cutters to match the season. Use hearts for Valentine's Day, ghosts for Halloween, or stars for New Year's.
More Christmas Recipes
Looking for more festive desserts to bake this season? Try these delicious Christmas favorites:
- Shortbread Thumbprint Cookies- Buttery shortbread cookies filled with sweet jam, a simple yet elegant holiday treat.
- Peanut Butter Blossoms - A holiday classic with soft peanut butter cookies topped with a Hershey's Kiss.
- Crockpot Peanut Clusters - An easy slow cooker recipe with peanuts and chocolate that makes the perfect homemade gift.
- M&M Christmas Cookies - Chewy, festive cookies packed with colorful holiday M&Ms, perfect for cookie trays.
📖 Recipe
Nutella Puff Pastry
Ingredients
- 4 sheets puff pastry - store-bought or homemade puff pastry
- 1 cup Nutella
- 1 large egg - beaten
- Powdered sugar - for dusting
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Spread Nutella over one sheet of puff pastry. Top with a second sheet.
- Use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Transfer to baking sheet.
- Seal edges with a fork, prick tops, and brush with egg wash.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown. Dust with powdered sugar.
Notes
- Try raspberry jam, chocolate chips, or even a cinnamon-sugar mix for variety.
- Use different cookie cutters to match the season such as hearts for Valentine's Day or stars for New Year's.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is an estimate based on third-party calculations. Actual values may vary due to ingredients, measurements, and serving sizes.
© Popular Recipes
Dana is the lead recipe developer and photographer for PopularRecipes.com. With her 10+ years of experience creating, testing, and photographing recipes, she has become an artist in developing wholesome, family-friendly meals that are a hit with both kids and parents.
Susan says
Good morning Dana,
I’m new to your site and so glad I found it!
I want to make these but wanted to ask if they can be frozen after baking?
Many thanks for any help you can give me; it is greatly appreciated!
Susan
Hi Susan! You absolutely can freeze these. Just wrap them tightly and place them in a freezer-safe bag or container, and they can be frozen for up to 3 months! When you thaw them, let them come to room temperature before opening the bags to reduce condensation 🙂 I hope that helps!