Charming Festive Puff Trees

Featured in Quick and Easy Appetizers.

These charming holiday tree-shaped treats layer flaky puff pastry with sweet cinnamon sugar, making a delightful seasonal dessert that looks fancy but comes together quickly.

Emily Watson
Updated on Thu, 13 Mar 2025 05:20:39 GMT
A decorative pastry resembling a Christmas tree, dusted with powdered sugar, is prominently displayed with smaller similar pastries in the background. Pin it
A decorative pastry resembling a Christmas tree, dusted with powdered sugar, is prominently displayed with smaller similar pastries in the background. | thefamilycooks.com

I gotta tell you about my go-to holiday showpiece - these cute puff pastry Christmas trees that always get everyone smiling. They look super fancy but they're actually dead simple to make. The buttery, flaky texture works for both sweet and savory cravings, and they always end up being the talk of any holiday party.

The Magic Behind These Treats

The thing I really dig about these trees is how flexible they are. You just need five things to make them, and they work great as starters or sweet treats. Dip them in pesto or add some chocolate drizzle - folks always love them. They're also super easy to tweak for anyone who can't have gluten!

What You'll Need

  • Puff Pastry: Grab it from the store to keep things easy!
  • Melted Butter: This gives you that beautiful gold color.
  • Sugar and Cinnamon: Great for when you want them sweet.
  • Powdered Sugar: Makes them look covered in snow.
  • Rolo Candies: These help your trees stand upright.

Creating Your Holiday Trees

First Steps
Using parchment paper will save you tons of cleanup time.
Stack Your Layers
Adding butter and spices between pastry layers creates something really wonderful.
Fold With Precision
The accordion technique is actually quite enjoyable!
Cool Them Down
You really can't skip putting them in the freezer first.
Finishing Touches
Those Rolo bottoms are both adorable and functional.

Tricks I've Learned

I've made these so many times now and picked up some handy tips. The pastry works way better at room temperature, but if it starts feeling too warm, just stick it back in the fridge. And freezing them briefly before they go in the oven? That's the key to getting those perfect shapes.

Two Tasty Options

I'm always changing these up! For a sweet version, mix cinnamon and sugar and serve with Nutella for dipping. Want savory instead? Try some garlic powder and herbs - they taste amazing with pesto or even a spinach dip.

Storage Advice

These little trees taste best when you eat them right away while they're still warm and crunchy. You can keep any extras in a sealed container for a day or two, but between us, they usually get gobbled up pretty fast!

Things People Ask

I'm always telling people where to find puff pastry - just look in the freezer area near the desserts at your grocery store. And yes, you can totally make them savory! Just leave out the sweet ingredients and use your preferred herbs instead.

Three pastry Christmas trees dusted with powdered sugar are displayed on a brown parchment paper, surrounded by small hazelnuts and festive greenery. Pin it
Three pastry Christmas trees dusted with powdered sugar are displayed on a brown parchment paper, surrounded by small hazelnuts and festive greenery. | thefamilycooks.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why does the puff pastry need to be room temperature?

Puff pastry that's warmed to room temperature bends easier without breaking. You'll find it much harder to work with cold pastry as it tends to crack and split.

→ What's the point of freezing before baking?

Putting them in the freezer for 10 minutes helps the butter layers firm up, which means better puffing and your trees won't lose their shape while baking.

→ How can I get my trees to stand upright?

Just stick a Rolo candy at the bottom of each skewer to create a base. You might want to cut the skewers shorter for better balance.

→ How soon should I eat these?

Try to enjoy them within a day of baking. The puff pastry starts to get less crispy after about 24 hours.

→ Can I make a gluten-free version?

Absolutely! Just grab some gluten-free puff pastry sheets at the store. Everything else in the recipe doesn't have gluten anyway.

Conclusion

These charming holiday tree-shaped treats layer flaky puff pastry with sweet cinnamon sugar, making a delightful seasonal dessert that looks fancy but comes together quickly.

Festive Puff Trees

Adorable tree-shaped goodies crafted from flaky buttery puff pastry layers with sweet cinnamon sugar. A quick yet eye-catching holiday nibble.

Prep Time
20 Minutes
Cook Time
20 Minutes
Total Time
40 Minutes

Category: Appetizers

Difficulty: Intermediate

Cuisine: Continental

Yield: 8 Servings (8 trees)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 2 sheets of flaky puff pastry, standard or gluten free variety.
02 1/4 cup unsalted butter, completely melted.
03 1/4 cup white sugar.
04 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
05 Dusting of powdered sugar to finish.
06 8 wooden skewers.
07 8 Rolo chocolate caramels (if desired).

Instructions

Step 01

Warm your oven to 350°F. Put parchment on your baking tray. Mix the cinnamon and white sugar together in a little bowl.

Step 02

Lay the first puff pastry sheet on your parchment. Drizzle half the melted butter on top, then sprinkle some cinnamon sugar mixture. Add the second pastry sheet over it.

Step 03

Slice the layered pastry into 1-inch wide strips using a pizza cutter. Fold each strip back and forth like an accordion. Slide a wooden skewer through the middle of each folded piece.

Step 04

Brush the tops with your leftover butter. Stick them in the freezer for 10 minutes before they go in the oven.

Step 05

Pop them in the oven for 15-20 minutes until they puff up and turn light golden. Sprinkle powdered sugar on top. If you want, stick a Rolo candy at the bottom of each skewer.

Notes

  1. Make sure your pastry isn't cold from the fridge.
  2. They're tastiest when eaten the same day.
  3. You can cut the skewers shorter if needed.

Tools You'll Need

  • Flat baking tray.
  • Sheet of parchment paper.
  • Sharp pizza cutter.
  • Wood skewers.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains milk products.
  • Has wheat if you don't use gluten free pastry.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 388
  • Total Fat: 28 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 30 g
  • Protein: 5 g