Bring a touch of Christmas magic into your kitchen and let yourself be captivated by this recipe that smells of festivity, tradition, and deliciousness.
Christmas holidays are the perfect time to bring delicious and scenic desserts to the table, and the Puff Pastry Christmas Tree with hazelnut cream is the ideal dessert to amaze with simplicity. Imagine a crispy, fragrant, and golden pastry that encloses a soft hazelnut-flavored filling, ready to become the star of your Christmas snack or festive table.
This dessert is not only beautiful to look at but also very easy to prepare, perfect for those who want to make a Christmas dessert with few ingredients and in no time. It’s a brilliant idea to enrich the Christmas sweet buffet or to accompany a cup of hot chocolate while unwrapping gifts.
The puff pastry tree is so versatile that you can customize it with other spreads, jams, or preserves to suit your tastes or those of your family. Additionally, its Christmas-themed design makes it perfect as a sweet centerpiece during festive dinners or as a last-minute sweet to surprise your guests.
Continue reading to discover all the secrets to preparing the perfect Puff Pastry Christmas Tree, a dessert that cannot be missing from your Christmas recipes!
If you are looking for other ideas, take a look here:
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 6 People
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: Autumn, Winter, Christmas
Ingredients
- 2 sheets of puff pastry
- 5.3 oz hazelnut spread
- as needed colored sprinkles
Tools
- Cookie Cutters
- Cookie Cutters
Steps
Prepare the tree base
Roll out a sheet of puff pastry onto a baking tray lined with parchment paper. Spread the hazelnut cream evenly in the center, leaving the edges free. Cover with the second sheet of puff pastry, gently sealing the edges.
Draw and cut the tree
Using a sharp knife, sketch the shape of a Christmas tree on the pastry: a wide base tapering upwards into a point. Cut out the shape and set aside the pastry scraps for decorations.
Create the tree branches
Cut parallel strips on both sides of the tree, starting from the base up, but leaving the center intact. Each branch should be about 1 inch wide. Once the branches are cut, gently twist them on themselves to create a braided effect.
Decorate with scraps
With the leftover puff pastry scraps, use cookie cutters to create stars, little Santas, or other Christmas decorations. Place the shapes on top of the tree, fixing them to the pastry with a brush of milk.
Bake the Christmas tree
Preheat the oven to 355°F (fan) or 390°F (conventional). Bake the tree for about 20-25 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden and crispy.
Decorate the tree
Once baked and slightly cooled, decorate the tree with chocolate or colored sprinkles, simulating Christmas balls.
Advice, Storage
You can customize the tree with other spreads, such as pistachio or white chocolate, or add a dusting of powdered sugar for a snow effect.
The sweet puff pastry Christmas tree can be stored for up to 2 days at room temperature, in an airtight container, or covered with aluminum foil, to preserve its fragrance and crunchiness.
If you prefer, you can prepare it a day in advance and store it without decorations (such as sprinkles or powdered sugar), adding them just before serving to keep it perfect and scenic!
