Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Recipe – Easy & Festive

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This Nutella and Dulce de Leche Puff Pastry Christmas Tree looks impressive, but it’s actually one of the easiest Christmas desserts you’ll ever make! Layers of rich Nutella and creamy dulce de leche sandwiched between flaky puff pastry! It tastes like pure holiday heaven.

A few years ago, puff pastry Christmas tree recipes started popping up everywhere, but I hadn’t seen one featuring Nutella and dulce de leche, so of course, I had to create my own!

A photo of perfectly baked golden Nutella dulce de leche Christmas tree sitting on a cooling rack.

Every Christmas Eve, my mom made homemade donuts. Honestly, I’ve never been a huge fan; they’re not quite sweet enough, yet somehow too rich at the same time. Don’t worry, she doesn’t love them either. Go figure.

Last Christmas, I wanted something that captured the nostalgia of those donuts without actually being one because deep frying is messy, smelly, and a bit of a hassle. That is how this adorable puff pastry Christmas tree was born!

Ingredients for This Recipe

This festive puff pastry tree comes together with just a handful of simple ingredients, and the result is the yummiest pull-apart Christmas Tree dessert. Here’s what you’ll need:

2 Sheets Puff Pastry, partially frozen: The base of the tree.
Nutella: For rich chocolate flavor.
Dulce de Leche: Adds creamy caramel sweetness.
Egg Yolk: Used as an egg wash to brush on the pastry for a glossy, golden finish.
Water: To mix with the egg yolk.
Unsalted Butter: Optional, brushed for extra richness.
Cinnamon Sugar: For sprinkling on top.

That’s it! Just a few ingredients for a dessert that looks impressive and tastes incredible. Now let’s get baking!

A photo of someone pulling a piece off a Nutella dulce de leche Christmas tree.

Other Fun Puff Pastry Christmas Tree Fillings To Try

This puff pastry tree is a versatile base for all kinds of delicious fillings! While we love the classic Nutella and Dulce de Leche version, you can easily swap in apricot jam, strawberry jam, raspberry jam, fig jam, or even chocolate sauce! Feeling savory? Try ham and cheese, pesto with chicken, or chicken and Parmesan for a flavor-packed alternative.

How to Make This Puff Pastry Christmas Tree?

These Christmas Trees look fancy but are surprisingly easy to make! Flaky puff pastry layered with rich Nutella and creamy dulce de leche makes a festive, show-stopping dessert everyone will love.

Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with a Silpat mat. (Parchment paper also works, but be warned: melted dulce de leche tends to stick more to parchment than to Silpat.)
Cut: Unfold the puff pastry sheets and stack them on top of each other. Using a sharp knife or pizza cutter, cut out a large Christmas tree shape, including the trunk. Separate the two sheets and place them side by side.
Fill: Spread Nutella evenly over one sheet and dulce de leche over the other. Flip one sheet on top of the other so the fillings face inward, creating a sandwich.
Shape: Transfer the layered tree to a prepared baking sheet. Cut slits about 1 inch apart along both sides, stopping just before the center. Twist each strip twice and press the ends down to form the “tree branches.”
Top: Using leftover pastry scraps, cut a star shape. Spread Nutella on one piece and dulce de leche on the other, press together, and place at the top of the tree.
Bake: Whisk together an egg yolk and a splash of water to make an egg wash. Brush the entire tree to help it bake golden. Bake 25–30 minutes until puffed and golden brown.
Finish: Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Serve: Enjoy warm, dipping pieces in Nutella, dulce de leche, or both!

Serve warm for the ultimate treat and watch as everyone dives in. This is sure to become a new favorite!

A photo of perfectly baked golden holiday dessert sitting on a cooling rack.

Puff Pastry Christmas Tree FAQ

Is puff pastry the same as crescent rolls?

No. Crescent rolls are yeast-raised and enriched with butter, while puff pastry is made with chilled butter and no yeast. Puff pastry rises from its many buttery layers.

Does puff pastry have eggs?

No, but it’s often brushed with an egg wash for a golden finish.

What can you substitute for puff pastry?

Crescent roll dough, phyllo dough, or pie crust.

How long will puff pastry keep?

Unbaked: 2–3 days in the fridge or up to 1 month in the freezer.
Baked: Best eaten the same day. Can be frozen 4–6 weeks in an airtight container.

Is dulce de leche the same as caramel?

Not exactly. Dulce de leche is made by heating sweetened condensed milk. Caramel is made with sugar, water, cream, and butter.

Can you substitute caramel for dulce de leche?

Yes, caramel can be used as a substitute.

A photo of someone dipping a piece of a baked good into chocolate sauce

This Puff Pastry Christmas Tree is the perfect pull-apart appetizer for any holiday gathering. And the taste? Absolute heaven. Oh Christmas tree, oh Christmas tree how I long to eat you! That’s the tune you will be singing when you try this Nutella and dulce de leche filled Christmas tree!

More Christmas Treats You’ll Love:

What How to Make This Puff Pastry Christmas Tree…

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Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
Line a baking sheet with a Silpat mat. Parchment is fine, but the caramel can stick to it more than a silpat.
Cut out both puff pastry sheets in the shape of a Christmas tree on the countertop including the trunk. Evenly spread Nutella on one sheet of pastry.On the other sheet spread the dulce de leche. Flip the nutella side onto the dulce de leche.

2 Sheets Puff Pastry, 2 Tablespoon Nutella, 2 Tablespoon Dulce de Leche
Transfer to baking sheet. Cut slits on both sides spacing them about 1-inch apart without cutting into the center.
Twist each strip of pastry twice, pressing the ends onto the baking sheet to help them to stay down. Cut out two star shapes with the leftover pastry, spread one with Nutella and the other with dulce de leche and put the two pieces together. Place the star on the top of the tree.
Brush pastry with egg yolk mixed with the water. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 400°F (200°C) until golden.

1 Egg Yolk, 1 teaspoon Water
Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Lightly brush pastry with the melted butter (you may not use it all), and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Serve immediately.

1 Tablespoon Unsalted Butter, 1 Tablespoon Cinnamon Sugar

Caramel can be used as a substitute for Dulce de Leche.

Serving: 1g, Calories: 388kcal, Carbohydrates: 32g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 27g, Saturated Fat: 8g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 14g, Trans Fat: 0.1g, Cholesterol: 28mg, Sodium: 156mg, Potassium: 59mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 77IU, Calcium: 14mg, Iron: 2mg