This Crescent Roll Nutella Christmas Tree is a dessert guaranteed to impress family and friends at any holiday gathering.
Serve it for holiday breakfast, dessert, or even as a buffet centerpiece. With only a few ingredients and minimal prep, this show-stopping recipe delivers a bakery-worthy look in just minutes.
Check out all the other Crescent Roll Recipes to help you create something delicious this holiday season.
Recipe at a Glance
Prep: 20 min | Cook/Bake: 23 min | Chill Time: 15 min | Difficulty: Easy
What it is: A festive pull-apart Crescent Roll Nutella Christmas Tree made with flaky crescent roll sheet dough and rich, chocolate-hazelnut spread baked into a golden, shareable holiday treat.
Why you’ll love it: It looks bakery-worthy but comes together with just a few ingredients and simple steps. Kids and adults both love pulling apart the warm, chocolatey layers.
How to make it: Crescent roll sheet dough is rolled out and then layered with Nutella, shaped into a tree, and baked until golden and puffed. A light dusting of powdered sugar adds a snowy finishing touch.
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Table of Contents
- Recipe at a Glance
- Why I love this recipe and YOU will too!
- Recommended Kitchen Tools
- My Kitchen Tools Essentials
- Main Ingredients Needed
- Substitutions and Variations
- Step-by-Step Instructions
- Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
- Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Recipe FAQ's
- More Recipes You'll Love!
- LOVE this recipe? SAVE it for Later!
- 📖 Recipe Card
- 💬 Comments
Why I love this recipe and YOU will too!
This Crescent Roll Nutella Christmas Tree delivers a big bakery-style wow with simple ingredients and very little effort.
It’s quick to prep, fun to serve, and always a hit for Christmas morning, holiday parties, or any festive gathering where you want an easy showstopper dessert.
Recommended Kitchen Tools
For a full list of kitchen tools used in this recipe, be sure to check the recipe card below. You can also browse my Favorite Kitchen Tools by clicking the photo below.
Check out my list...
My Kitchen Tools Essentials
Tools that will make your time easier and faster in the kitchen!
Main Ingredients Needed
Here's a quick overview of the ingredients for this recipe. For exact amounts and to easily shop for everything, click the Instacart button in the recipe card below to add the ingredients straight to your cart!
Substitutions and Variations
Swap the dough: You could swap the crescent dough out for puff pastry like in my Nutella Puff Pastry Christmas Tree for a flakier, more buttery texture.
Make it savory: Turn this into a savory crescent dough tree by replacing the Nutella with spinach dip or pesto like in my Christmas Tree Puff Pastry with Pesto Sauce for a fun holiday appetizer.
Use a different spread: Swap the Nutella for peanut butter, cookie butter, or almond butter for a fun flavor twist.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Roll the crescent dough sheets out on parchment paper. I like to use a pastry roller instead of a rolling pin.
Step 2: Spread Nutella evenly on one dough sheet. These sheet pans work great!
Step 3: Place the other sheet of dough on top of the Nutella. Press them together slightly.
Step 4: Cut a tree shape out of the dough with a knife. You could also use a pizza cutter.
Step 5: Use a star cookie cutter to cut a star out for the top of the tree. Put it aside while you work on the other shapes.
Step 6: Use other Christmas cookie cutters to make shapes out of the remaining dough. I used a gingerbread cookie cutter.
Step 7: Start making cuts up the sides of the triangle. Make sure you use a sharp knife or the pizza cutter.
Step 8: Continue making cuts being sure to leave the center in tact. I like to use a ruler to make sure everything is even on both sides.
Step 9: Take each branch and gently twist to show the Nutella. Make sure you press the edges down.
Step 10: Place the star on top of the tree and the other cut outs around it. Chill the dough for about 15 minutes then brush the top with an egg wash before baking.
Step 11: Bake at 375°F for 23 minutes or until golden brown. Transfer it off of the baking tray.
Step 12: Once the pastry has slightly cooled, dust with powdered sugar.
Insider Tips from My Kitchen to Yours
✔️ DO chill the crescent dough slightly before shaping so it’s easier to cut and twist into a clean tree shape.
❌ DO NOT overfill with Nutella, as too much filling can cause the layers to slide apart and leak while baking.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat before serving for the best texture.
Freezer: I do not recommend freezing, as the crescent dough can become soggy and lose its flaky texture once thawed.
Reheat: If refrigerated, reheat individual pieces in the microwave for 10–15 seconds or warm the whole tree in a 300°F oven until heated through.
Serving Tips: Dust with powdered sugar just before serving for a fresh snowy look, or drizzle with melted chocolate for an extra-decadent finish.
Recipe FAQ's
To view the answers, simply click on the down arrow (⬇) next to each question. If you have any other questions not answered here, please leave a comment!
Yes, you can assemble the Crescent Roll Nutella Christmas Tree the night before, cover it tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Bake it in the morning as directed, waiting to add powdered sugar or glaze until after it’s baked.
To prevent the Nutella from leaking out, use a thin, even layer and avoid spreading it all the way to the edges. Chilling the assembled tree for 10–15 minutes before baking also helps the filling stay in place as the dough puffs.
More Recipes You'll Love!
Looking for more Christmas Breakfast Recipes for the holidays? Try my collection of Christmas Shaped Cinnamon Rolls or my Magical Christmas Breakfast Charcuterie Board.
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📖 Recipe Card
Crescent Roll Nutella Christmas Tree
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F and line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Unroll the two refrigerated crescent dough sheets and lay them flat on the parchment paper.
- Spread a generous layer of Nutella evenly over the entire surface of one slab of dough. Then place the second layer of crescent dough on top of the Nutella.
- Use the knife to cut the dough into a tree shape, creating a large triangle and then a trunk at the bottom. Use Christmas themed cookie cutters to cut out stars or gingerbread men with the excess dough on the sides of the tree.
- Once the tree shape is cut, make small cuts along the sides of the triangle to create branches.
- Gently twist the cut pieces outward to form the tree branches, ensuring the Nutella is visible.
- Once assembled, refrigerate the shaped tree for 15 minutes before baking to help the dough hold its shape and prevent the Nutella from leaking as it bakes.
- Brush the pastry with an egg beaten with a tablespoon of water before baking in the preheated oven for about 23 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown.
- Remove from the oven and let cool slightly.
- Dust the top of the Nutella tree with powdered sugar for a festive touch.
- Slice and serve warm.
Nutrition
Notes
Tips
- Spread a thin, even layer of Nutella to prevent leaking during baking.
- Chill the assembled tree in the refrigerator for 15 minutes before baking to help it hold its shape and bake evenly.
- Use a sharp knife or pizza cutter for clean cuts when shaping the tree.
Storage & Make Ahead
- Assemble the tree up to 1 day in advance, cover tightly, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheat individual pieces briefly in the microwave or warm in a low oven before serving.
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