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Get ready to make the most delicious and stunning 5-ingredient centrepiece for your Christmas dessert table- this Churro Nutella Christmas Tree, especially when paired with other festive treats like fudgy peppermint brownie bars.
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. I actually got inspired to make this recipe after the success of my Cinnamon Star Bread– and of course- a LOT of trial and error, I finally perfected it.
Why this Recipe Works
Just 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes of prep time is all you need to make this magnificent Churro Nutella Christmas tree. 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! ✓
It’s the perfect speedy last minute dessert that you can put together when you’re hosting, and it is sure to be a total crowd pleaser.
Pair it with some classic Christmas Sugar Cookies or an Easy Christmas Crack and dessert is sorted.
What Goes into this Recipe
- Puff pastry: Use your favorite brand of puff pastry. You’ll need 2 sheets.
- Nutella: The OG chocolate hazelnut spread. Make sure it is at room temperature before you use it for the recipe.
- Egg yolk: To brush on the puff pastry, and get that glossy, golden brown color.
- Butter: To brush over the pastry after baking- this helps the cinnamon sugar stick to the pastry.
- Cinnamon sugar: For that sweet, Christmas-sy flavor.
Note: please see recipe card at the bottom for list of full ingredients and measurements
How to Make Churro Nutella Christmas Tree
To make the Churro Nutella Christmas tree, start by lining your baking sheet with parchment paper or Silpat mat and preheating the oven at 200°C.
- Shape the tree: Cut out both the puff pastry sheets in the shape of a Christmas tree. Spread Nutella evenly on the top of one of the trees, and carefully place the second tree on the top. Transfer to the lined baking sheet. Use a sharp knife to make slits on either side of the puff pastry tree as shown, about 1 inch thick, leaving the center intact.
- Time to twist: Twist each of these strips twice, and press the ends onto the baking sheet. Use the leftover puff pastry to cut stars using a star shaped cookie cutter, and place on the top of the tree.
- Brush and bake: Whisk the egg yolk with a little water, and brush this mixture all over the puff pastry tree. Pop it in the oven and bake for about 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- Finish up and serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool down for about 5 minutes. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over it generously. Serve with some Nutella (for dipping) or vanilla ice cream.
Feature this Churro Nutella Christmas tree along with some other Christmas appetizers like Caprese Christmas Wreath, Antipasto Cheese Ball Christmas Tree or a Bacon Cheese Ball Wreath or some sweet treats like Rum Balls, Candy Cane Christmas S’mores Dip or some Peanut Butter Blossoms.
You can also try making some No Bake Eggnog Berry Cheesecakes to go with it if you have a bit of extra time.
Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, you can. Simply use a mix of vegan butter and any plant based milk to brush over the ‘tree’ instead of the egg, and use a vegan Nutella or chocolate spread instead of regular Nutella.
I wouldn’t recommend that. Freezing and thawing can cause condensation, which will affect the texture and crispiness of the Nutella Christmas tree.
Yes, you can. Simply choose gluten-free puff pastry as the base, and you’re sorted.
Watch It Being Made
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Churro Nutella Christmas Tree (Pastry Tree)
Ingredients
- 2 puff pastry sheets, semi-frozen
- 2 tablespoons 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.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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.
Try 350 degrees, and check after 15 minutes
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!!!
Hi Karina,
If I don’t have a Silpat mat, can I still put it on baking paper and on a tray?
Hi Mel, absolutely!
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!
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
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!!
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.
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.
You can add a Tablespoon of coconut oil to chocolate chips and melt them. They will be perfect for this.
I can’t find pastry sheets that are the right size. Can I roll smaller sheets together to get the size I need?
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
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.
Oh Karina. I am so excited to try this – it looks beautiful, and with ingredients like these, how can it not taste beautiful!?
Hey, I have someone who is allergic to cinnamon, can I leave it out or is churros usually made with it?
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
Maybe just powered sugar would work
I did see this on a recipe sprinkled with powdered sugar instead of cinnamon sugar.