These Puff Pastry Christmas Trees are so simple to make but oh so good! Flaky, light puff pastry filled with chocolate, jam, or anything you like, then cut into the shape of little Christmas trees.
Mini Puff Pastry Christmas Trees >
These puff pastry Christmas trees are my go-to when I want something festive without doing, you know… actual work. The recipe only calls for two ingredients, store-bought puff pastry and whatever filling you’re craving. Nutella, Biscoff, strawberry jam, even pesto if you want to go savory, literally anything works! They look cute, festive, but so simple to make. Minimal effort, maximum cuteness!
I first saw this puff pastry Christmas tree on Pinterest a few years back, and of course I had to try it. I ended up making a batch for a Christmas dinner with my besties and they didn’t even survive long enough for a decent photo. So, if you’re looking for a quick, no-stress dessert to bring to gatherings, or just want something cozy to snack on while watching holiday movies, this one’s perfect!
WHY YOU’LL LOVE THESE PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREES
- You’ll just need store bought puff pastry and whatever filling you like. I love nutella, biscoff, or pesto.
- Super simple to make and so fun!
- They look so cute and perfect for Christmas.
BAKING TOOLS & EQUIPMENT YOU’LL NEED
- Rolling Pin
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- Offset spatula
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THESE MINI PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREES
What you’ll need:
- Two sheets puff pastry, thawed
- 1/4-1/3 cup nutella spread, jam, tahini, or pesto
- Powdered sugar for dusting, optional
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, set aside. Start by unraveling the thawed puff pastries on a lightly floured work surface, then roll slightly to make them a little thinner. Make sure both have the same size.
Evenly spread the filling of your choice onto one of the puff pastry sheets, then place the second sheet of puff pastry on top of the filling. Now you have two layers of puff pastry, with filling in the middle like a sandwich.
Use a sharp knife or a pizza cutter to make about 1 inch wide strips. Reserve one large strip to make the stars. Carefully fold a strip to form a little Christmas tree, then press a long skewer through the pastry.
Repeat with the rest of the strips, then arrange them on the prepared baking tray, about 2 inches apart. Use a small cookie cutter to create the stars out of the reserved strip, then use clean water to stick the stars on top of the trees.
Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375°F. Take the trees out of the fridge and immediately bake for about 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from the oven, let them cool slightly, dust with powdered sugar, and enjoy!
HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THIS LARGE PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREE
What you’ll need:
- Two sheets puff pastry, thawed
- 1/2 cup pesto, chocolate spread, or jam
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon milk
Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper, set aside. Roll out the puff pastry sheets on a lightly floured work surface to make them a little thinner.
Transfer 1 sheet of puff pastry onto the prepared baking sheet, spread the filling of your choice on top, then place the second sheet of puff pastry over the filling. Press down gently. Now you have two layers of puff pastry, with filling in the middle like a sandwich.
By using a sharp knife, cut out the shape of a Christmas tree and trunk into the puff pastry sandwich. Remove the excess pastry and retain it for later to make the stars. You can use it to make some fun shapes, too.
Lightly score two lines down the center of the tree to form the trunk, then cut about 3/4-inch wide horizontal lines on both sides of the triangle to make the tree branches. Make sure to leave the center intact, about 1.25-inch wide, from the tip of the triangle down to the bottom, so it will look like a tree trunk.
Starting from the top of the tree, carefully twist each branch twice and lay ends flat onto the baking sheet. Work all the way down the tree to form all the branches. Then, use a star cookie cutter to create a star for the top of the tree out of the extra scrap and place it on top of the tree by using water as a glue.
Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and refrigerate for about 15 minutes while you preheat the oven to 375°F. Beat 1 egg with 1 teaspoon milk to create an egg wash, then remove the tree from the fridge and brush the tree branches, trunk, and star with the egg wash.
Bake in Preheated oven for about 20 minutes or until golden brown and puffed up. Enjoy warm!
TIPS FOR MAKING THE BEST PUFF PASTRY CHRISTMAS TREES
- Bring the pastry to room temperature 30–40 minutes before rolling it.
- Roll the puff pastries on a lightly floured work surface to avoid the dough from sticking. You can also roll your puff pastry in between parchment paper, this makes cleanup easier.
- After shaping your puff pastry Christmas trees, let them rest in the fridge before baking. Keep the pastry cold to avoid butter leak.
- Use a sharp knife to make clean cuts and avoid serrated knives.
HERE’S HOW TO STORE THE LEFTOVERS
These puff pastry trees are best served the day it’s made. They have the best texture on the first day. You can store the leftovers covered in the fridge for up to a week or freezer for up to a month!