Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Christmas Tree

Name: Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 sheets puff pastry dough (thawed, 17.3 oz (US) or 450 g (Canada)); 2 tbsp butter (softened); ½ cup brown sugar; 2 tsp cinnamon; ¼ cup butter (melted); ¼ cup powdered sugar (optional)

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Try something a little bit different this holiday season with this delicious and festive dessert - Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Christmas Trees! This mouthwatering sweet treat is made from layers of buttery puff pastry dough filled with cinnamon sugar filling. This quick recipe takes less than 30 minutes to make and tastes delicious!

Cinnamon sugar puff pastry christmas trees on a white countertop, topped with small star sugar cookies.

Christmas is just around the corner, and there's no better way to get in the holiday spirit than with this delicious, festive treat! This is the ultimate holiday must-have!

The flaky layers of puff pastry are filled with a gooey mixture of butter and cinnamon sugar, then baked until golden brown. The result? A delicious and beautiful tree that looks just as good as it tastes!

This delicious, enchanting treat will leave your family with the sweetest memories.

Everyone will love how you can transform sheets of puff pastry and yummy cinnamon sugar filling into festive trees that look like they belong on a holiday dessert table!

Topped with powdered icing sugar as if it were snow, there's something magical about these holiday treats!

Serve them on a Christmas dessert table with Christmas Fudge, Christmas Crack, Chocolate Crinkle Cookies, Air Fryer Sugar Cookies, Ginger Snap Cookies, and Peanut Brittle.

Don't forget to have a bowl of Smoked Chex Mix and Christmas Muddy Buddies beside it! Or even serve it with Baked Brie with Honey

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💗 Why you will love this recipe
📋 Ingredients
🥧 Variations
🥣 How to make cinnamon sugar puff pastry Christmas tree
💭 Expert Tips
🧾 Recipe FAQs
👩🏻‍🍳 More sweet treats
📋 Recipe

💗 Why you will love this recipe

Delicious. The combination of sugar, cinnamon, and pastry is amazing. There's nothing quite like biting into a flaky piece of deliciousness with the perfect balance of sweetness. It's like eating a little slice of heaven!
Easy. This recipe is so easy to make! All you need is store-bought puff pastry dough that you stuff with simple ingredients.
Beautiful and Festive. The golden-brown puff pastry shines with a dusting of powdered sugar, making it look like the star of the show on any holiday table. Plus, its unique shape makes it a fun addition to any party!
Perfect for place settings. Place the bottom of the skewer in a chocolate candy and set one at every place setting for your guests! They will love it!

📋 Ingredients

You can find the simple ingredients to make these festive trees at your local grocery store.

Butter. Use softened butter so that it's easy to spread.
Store-bought puff pastry sheets. I used ready-made puff pastry sheets. Make sure to thaw them in the fridge before using them if they are frozen. You could also use homemade puff pastry if desired.
Brown sugar. I used light brown sugar, but you could also use dark brown sugar.
Star cookies, optional, to place on the top of the tree. You can make star cookies from Sugar Cookie Dough, or cut out star shapes with some extra pastry dough, and bake for 10 minutes.

See the printable recipe card for quantities and a complete list of ingredients.

🥧 Variations

You can use different fillings in this puff pastry Christmas tree recipe. Some good ones to try are:

Sprinkle ¼ cup of chopped pecans on the cinnamon and sugar mixture.
Spread Nutella on the pastry dough instead of the butter mixture.
Some savory filling options are: Spread the pastry with pesto and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.
Use dipping sauce like chocolate spread, cream cheese glaze, or jam.

🥣 How to make cinnamon sugar puff pastry Christmas tree

Step 1: To begin, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a sheet of parchment paper on a large baking sheet.

Step 2: Melt the butter in the microwave or a saucepan and set it aside to cool slightly.

Step 3: Unroll the sheet of puff pastry onto parchment paper or a lightly floured surface.

Step 4: Spread the butter evenly over the pastry sheet. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the top. Gently pat down the cinnamon and sugar topping.

The pastry sheet covered with a thin layer of butter.

The pastry covered with a layer of brown sugar and cinnamon over the butter.

Step 5: Carefully place the second sheet of puff pastry over the top. Smooth it down with a rolling pin.

The second layer of puff pastry placed over top of the first layer.

A rolling pin smoothing out the second layer of pastry dough.

Step 6: Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter to cut the pastry into 1-inch wide strips. You will get ten strips.

Pro Tip: Use a tape measure to mark out every inch on the top and bottom of the pastry. This will help you cut a straight line. (Well, it helps me anyway). 😉

A tape measure being used to mark out every inch on the pastry dough.

A pizza cutter cutting the puff pastry into strips.

Step 7: Pick up a strip and carefully fold it accordion-style into the shape of a Christmas tree. Thread a wooden skewer from the base of the tree, through all the layers, and out to the top. Place them on the prepared baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining pastry strips. Using a small cookie cutter, you can also make little stars out of the excess pastry.

A hand folding up the pastry strip into the shape of a Christmas tree.

A hand pushing a wooden skewer through the tree shape to hold it in place.

Step 8: Brush the trees, including the sides of the tree, with melted butter.

Step 8: Bake them in the oven for 12-15 minutes, until puffy and golden brown. If you make stars, they will be cooked in about 8-10 minutes.

The pastry christmas trees on a parchment paper lined baking sheet.

Step 10: Remove from the oven. Sprinkle powdered sugar over the trees if desired. Place a star cookie on top of the trees. Place the skewer in a sturdy piece of chocolate to hold it upright if desired.

Step 11: Enjoy!

The puff pastry Christmas trees on a cookie sheet after they are cooked.

💭 Expert Tips

Thaw store-bought puff pastry ahead of time.
Cut each sheet of puff pastry into ten strips.
Brush the pieces with melted butter before baking.
Sprinkle icing sugar on top for extra sweetness.
Don't overbake. Just bake until they are a light golden brown.
Use sturdy chocolates for the tree trunk to hold the trees up.

🧾 Recipe FAQs

What is puff pastry?

Puff pastry is a type of light and flaky pastry dough. It's made with layers of butter and dough that are folded together. The result is a pastry that puffs up in the oven due to the steam created between the layers of butter and dough. Puff pastry can be used to make both sweet and savory dishes.

Where can I buy puff pastry?

Puff pastry can be found in most major grocery stores, usually near the frozen crusts and desserts section.

What size puff pastry do you use?

Generally, puff pastry is sold in 17.3-ounce packages (US) or 450 g packages (Canada). Each box contains two sheets of dough that measure approximately 10 x 10 inches when completely thawed.

Can you use white sugar instead of brown sugar?

Yes, you can use white sugar instead. However, keep in mind that brown sugar has a higher moisture content and will add more sweetness than white sugar.

How do you store these treats?

Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. For best results, store them in a single layer and keep them away from moisture and heat. If you need to store them for a longer period of time, consider freezing them.

👩🏻‍🍳 More sweet treats

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