Quick Nutella Puff Pastry Snowflake

If you ask me, puff pastry snowflakes are a brilliant way to dress up Nutella.

This pull-apart pastry brings together flaky, golden layers with warm, chocolatey Nutella spread in a fun, star-shaped design. Each point breaks off easily, making it perfect for sharing at breakfast or dessert.

The twisted layers create little pockets of Nutella throughout, and a light dusting of powdered sugar on top gives it that winter wonderland look. It’s simpler to make than it looks – just spread, fold, and twist.

It’s a crowd-friendly treat that works just as well for holiday gatherings as it does for casual weekend brunches.

What Kind of Puff Pastry Should I Use?

For this recipe, you’ll find both store-bought and homemade puff pastry work well, though store-bought is definitely the easier option. Most grocery stores carry brands like Pepperidge Farm or Dufour in the freezer section – Dufour is made with all butter and gives amazing results, while Pepperidge Farm is more widely available and budget-friendly. Just make sure to thaw your puff pastry in the refrigerator overnight rather than on the counter, as room temperature thawing can make the dough sticky and hard to work with. When working with the pastry, keep it cold until you’re ready to use it, and if it starts to feel too soft while you’re shaping, pop it in the fridge for a few minutes to firm up.

Options for Substitutions

Let’s talk about what you can swap in this recipe while still getting great results:

• Puff pastry: This is the foundation of the recipe and really can’t be substituted – store-bought or homemade both work great, but you need real puff pastry for that flaky, layered effect.
• Chocolate hazelnut spread: While Nutella is the go-to choice, you can use any chocolate spread you like. Try cookie butter, peanut butter mixed with melted chocolate, or even plain chocolate spread. Just make sure it’s not too runny!
• Orange zest: No orange? Lemon zest works nicely too, or you can skip the citrus altogether. You could also add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon or vanilla extract for a different flavor boost.
• Egg wash: If you need an egg-free option, brush with milk or cream instead. The shine won’t be quite as golden, but it’ll still work to seal the pastry.
• Powdered sugar: This is just for decoration, so you can skip it, or try cocoa powder or cinnamon sugar for dusting instead.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when working with puff pastry is temperature control – if it gets too warm, it becomes sticky and impossible to handle, while too cold pastry will crack and break when you try to shape it. Keep your pastry chilled but workable by letting it thaw in the fridge overnight, and work quickly once it’s at room temperature.

Another common mistake is spreading the Nutella too thick or too close to the edges, which can cause it to leak during baking and prevent the layers from puffing properly – aim for a thin, even layer and leave a 1-inch border around the edges.

To achieve those crispy, flaky layers, make sure your oven is fully preheated to the right temperature before baking, as a too-cool oven will result in a dense, greasy pastry instead of light and airy layers.

For the perfect finish, don’t skip the egg wash, but apply it gently with a pastry brush to avoid crushing the delicate edges of your cuts, and wait until the pastry is completely cool before dusting with powdered sugar.

What to Serve With Nutella Puff Pastry Snowflake?

This sweet and flaky pastry is perfect for serving at breakfast or as an afternoon treat with a hot drink. A cup of coffee or hot chocolate makes the perfect match, helping to balance out the richness of the Nutella and buttery pastry. If you’re serving this for dessert, try adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side – the warm pastry and cold ice cream combo is so good! You could also add some fresh berries on the plate to add a bit of tartness that works really well with the chocolate-hazelnut flavor.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: Once baked, your Nutella puff pastry snowflake is best enjoyed the same day while the pastry is crispy and the chocolate filling is just right. If you need to save it, place it in an airtight container and keep it at room temperature for up to 2 days. Just know that the pastry might lose some of its crispiness over time.

Make Ahead: Want to prep this treat in advance? You can assemble the whole snowflake, cover it with plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. Just remember to brush with the egg wash right before it goes in the oven, not ahead of time.

Refresh: If your pastry has softened after storage, pop it in a preheated oven at 325°F for about 5 minutes to crisp it up again. Keep an eye on it though – you don’t want the Nutella to get too melty!

Preparation Time	20-30 minutes
Cooking Time	30-35 minutes
Total Time	50-65 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Medium

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 800-900
• Protein: 10-15 g
• Fat: 50-60 g
• Carbohydrates: 80-90 g

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp powdered sugar
• 2 sheets puff pastry (thawed, 9-inch circles work best)
• zest from 1 orange (use a microplane for fine zest)
• 1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread (I like Nutella brand)
• 1 beaten egg

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Sheet and Puff Pastry

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.

Place the first round of puff pastry onto the prepared baking sheet.

Using an offset spatula, spread Nutella over the pastry, ensuring you leave a 1/4-inch rim around the outside uncovered.

Zest an orange over the Nutella for a fresh, citrusy aroma.

Step 2: Assemble the Pastry Layers

Place the second round of puff pastry on top of the Nutella-covered pastry.

Press gently around the edges to seal them together.

Mark the center of the circle gently so you know where the center of your “snowflake” will be.

Step 3: Cut and Twist the Snowflake

Using a pastry wheel or pizza cutter, cut the circle into quarters, leaving about a half inch of uncut dough in the center.

Further divide each quarter into halves, creating eighths, and then again, dividing each eighth into two to make sixteenths.

You should end up with sixteen sections.

Take two adjacent sections and twist them away from each other three times.

Press the ends together to form a point.

Repeat this process until you form 8 points or “arms.”

Step 4: Egg Wash and Bake

Once your “arms” are formed, lightly brush the entire puff pastry snowflake with an egg wash to give it a golden, glossy finish when baked.

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the snowflake is golden brown and fully cooked.

Step 5: Cool, Decorate, and Serve

After removing the snowflake from the oven, allow it to cool on the baking sheet for about 20 minutes.

If desired, dust the cooled pastry with powdered sugar for an elegant presentation.

Serve and enjoy this delightful treat!