Churro Nutella Christmas Tree is a stunning 5-ingredient centrepiece for your Christmas dessert table!
Churro meets the most popular Christmas dessert this year with this original Cafe Delites creation! Chocolate hazelnut Nutella is baked between two sheets of puff pastry, brushed with melted butter, then sprinkled with cinnamon sugar for the BEST and closest Churro Nutella Christmas Tree without any of the effort of making your own Churro dough, or bursting any piping bags. WIN.
Just like these Nutella Churro Donut Holes, this tree is gonna knock your Nutella lovin’ socks off.
Nutella Christmas Tree
You may have seen these Christmas Tree’s ALL OVER THE INTERNET by now. And if you haven’t? Welcome to the most easiest pastry on planet Earth.
This tree ticks off all the boxes you want on a hectic Christmas morning:
- Easy to make ✓
- Minimal ingredients ✓
- No chilling or rolling dough (or in this case pastry) ✓
- Have fun while you make it ✓
- STRESS FREE! ✓
How To Make A Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree?
EASY!
- Cut out your pastry into a tree shape, careful not to cut through your parchment paper if that’s what you’re using. Lay 2 frozen puff pastry sheets on top of each other and cut through them to get 2 of the same tree. Don’t have them sitting on top of each other for too long though, or they will soften into each other and are extremely difficult to peel apart!
- The MOST crucial step in this recipe is to lay your pastry on parchment paper or a Silpat mat like the one pictured below after you’ve cut out your tree outline (before the branches are cut).
- Take the top pastry off and spread the bottom sheet Nutella.
Ahhhhh, Nutella. The most sinful spread in the universe. If you don’t want to use store bought, you can use this homemade version instead!
Cutting your branches:
- Through lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of trial and error, (I mean, you should see the amount of trees we made, and how BAD they turned out the first TEN TIMES), I can tell you that the thicker you cut your ‘branches’, the better the end result. We preferred ours to be 1-inch wide. YES I measured. And YES OCD. By this stage, your pastry will have started to soften, making cutting so much easier. Just be patient and careful not to rip the pastry when lifting your knife out of these cuts.
- Twist your branches around twice if you can, and lightly press the ends into your baking sheet or mat.
- Make your star with a star-shaped cookie cutter, then sandwich with Nutella, because, Nutella. Place it at the top and BOOM! Christmas Tree.
Once it’s baked and all shiny and golden, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. WOW ’em all!
Serve it with Nutella, so your friends and family can rip off those branches and dunk them right in.
WATCH US MAKE THE Churro Nutella Christmas Tree RIGHT HERE!
More Christmas Desserts!
Best Fudgy Cocoa Brownies
Nutella Stuffed Deep Dish Gingerbread Cookie
Nutella Churro Donut Holes
Churro Nutella Christmas Tree (Pastry Tree)
AN ORIGINAL CAFE DELITES CREATION!
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry, semi-frozen
- 2 tablespoons 50g nutella
- 1 egg yolk
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar (or 1 tablespoon sugar mixed with 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon)
Instructions
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat mat.
- Cut out both puff pastry sheets in the shape of a Christmas tree. Evenly spread Nutella on one sheet of pastry. Place the other cut out sheet of puff pastry on top.
- Transfer to baking sheet. Cut slits on both sides spacing them about 1-inch apart (or about 2 cm), leaving the centre intact.
- Twist each strip of pastry twice, pressing the ends into the baking sheet. Cut out two star shapes with the leftover pastry, spread one with Nutella and place the other on top like a sandwich. Place the star on the top of the tree.
- Brush pastry with egg yolk mixed with a little water. Bake for 25-30 minutes at 400°F (200°C) until golden.
- Allow to cool for 5 minutes. Lightly brush pastry with the melted butter (you may not use it all), and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.
Daisy says
Hey, I love your recipe! I’m ecstatic to try it out. But I was wondering what size puff pastry sheets did you use?
Carrie says
Does this need to be warm to serve? Can I bake it in the morning and take it to a potluck for dinner? I only ask because we will be driving 2 hours and I won’t be able to cook it there. I’ve heard this is amazing and really want to try it!
Natalie says
Someone in our family has a nut allergy. Do you have any recipes for a chocolate spread that is nut free?
Luci R says
I’ve made this before, but not shaped into a tree. Cute. 400° for 20 minutes was too long for our oven. We have some burnt ends, and some frown faces. Will try again.
Michael St. John says
Hi Karina,
I love your site and your recipes! I will be making the Churro Nutella Christmas Tree for Christmas this year.
This is an especially great Christmas, because my wife and I will be spending it with my daughter and son-in-law. He is a pilot in the Air Force and we are following them from base to base.
Thank you again for all your recipes and ideas and have a Very Merry Christmas!!!
Mel says
Hi Karina,
If I don’t have a Silpat mat, can I still put it on baking paper and on a tray?
Karina says
Hi Mel, absolutely!
Saundra says
Instead of carrying apple pie, we decided to carry this for a Christmas potluck. It was a great success and if your membership increases significantly, we’ll take the credit as we were singing your praises!
Saundra says
Instead if carrying an apple pie (as usual) to a Christmas pot luck, we carried this and it was a great success! If your membership increases significantly, we’ll take the credit! LOL! We were happy to give all of the credit to you;-D
Saundra says
Instead of carrying an apple pie (what we usually do) for a Christmas pot luck, we carried this. It was a great success! Thank you!!
Mike says
Hello, I wanted to make this but substitute the nutella for a different kind of chocolate spread. Something with chocolate morsels. Is there anything I need to add to the morsels when melting them before I would spread the chocolate on the puff pastry? So that the filling is soft like Nutella.
Karina says
Hello Mike!
I have heard that you can add heavy cream or light corn syrup to melted chocolate and it will help keep is smooth and spreadable. I have not tried this so please let me know how it turns out for you. Thanks for following along.
Theresa says
I can’t find pastry sheets that are the right size. Can I roll smaller sheets together to get the size I need?
Karina says
Hi Theresa!
Yes, you should be able to use the smaller sheet together. Please let me know how it works out. Thanks for following along with me!! xo
Ellen says
This recipe showed up in Finnish as well, and I made it from that recipe last year. The difference was that this recipe called for dates (stones removed) to be cooked for three minutes then added to the Nutella. I think it’s brilliant! I also sprinkled roughly chopped almonds inside.
Alexandra says
Oh Karina. I am so excited to try this – it looks beautiful, and with ingredients like these, how can it not taste beautiful!?
Cindie says
Hey, I have someone who is allergic to cinnamon, can I leave it out or is churros usually made with it?
Karina says
Churros are usually always made with the cinnamon and sugar mixture. You are welcome to try leaving it out but I am not sure it will taste as sweet as you would like. Thanks for asking and following along with me! XO
Annette says
Maybe just powered sugar would work
Marlene Van Eckoute says
I did see this on a recipe sprinkled with powdered sugar instead of cinnamon sugar.
Mariella says
So easy and delicious! Not to mention beautiful! Thank you !
Dannie says
Nutella Xmas tree
Marisa says
What size pastry sheets do you use and what brand?
Karina says
I use Coles brand in Australia. They are 30cm x 30cm sheets (12″x12″).
Heather says
Could this be prepped before hand, up to cutting/twisting branches, but then keeping in the fridge for a few hour and applying egg yolk wash prior to baking?
Karina says
YES! We have prepared it the night before baking with great results.
Julie says
We just finished this and everyone demanded we make 2 more! You know it’s good when people want more. I swear you make me look like a chef. Fantastic recipe Karina thank you!
Marsha says
Can this be prepped the. Ignite before and refrigerated?
Karina says
Hi Marsha. Yes it can! Bake and decorate the day of serving. You could also bake it the day before, cover with plastic wrap and keep refrigerated. Then warm it up in the oven the day of serving and decorate it.
Daun says
Could you use a friut spread instead? My family doesnt like nutella.
Karina says
Hi Daun, yes definitely!
lisa says
This looks fantastic; I know what I’m taking to the Christmas Party tomorrow, thank you!
Pam says
Is this gluten free by any chance?
Portia says
I think you just saved me Katrina! Christmas might be more fun than stressful! Yay! Thank you so much for all this hope!
Karina says
You’re welcome Portia!
Michael says
Hi again Karina!
I was thinking it might be fun to try to make these trees with Dulce De Leche caramel sauce, that you can make yourself… Just simmer 1-2 cans of sweetened condensed milk in a 3-4 quart saucepan with about 1-2 inches of water above the top of the sideways can(s) and simmer for about 2-3 hours…making sure to keep the can tops covered with water.. 2 hours yields a light-medium brown sauce, 3 hours a medium-darker brown sauce…yummy stuff…
Thanks for the tree! it looks fantastical!
Karina says
Michael it’s on my list for next year! Great minds think alike haha!