With just one layer of vegan puff pastry and a few cupboard ingredients you can make this festive puff pastry Christmas tree. A thick and healthier version of a chocolate spread is baked on a sheet of puff pastry, brushed with soy milk for that beautiful brown color. It basically doesn’t require any talent, but it is an eye-catcher on the table. I mean melted chocolate and puff pastry. Who can resist that?
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Puff pastry trees seem to be a popular thing online these days. Since it’s 2020 and we don’t want to make things any more complicated than strictly necessary I can totally understand the hype.
This is without a doubt the easiest and most straight forward Christmas recipe I’ve ever made. And also, the easiest pastry recipe ever. Yet, it’s so delicious!
A few reasons why you should also jump on the puff pastry Christmas tree trend:
I dare to guarantee to everyone above the age of 10 can make this.
You only need a few ingredients: one store-bought and the others ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.
You don’t need to roll any dough. All you need to do is let the puff pastry come to room temperature.
It’s fun, stress free and looks amazing on any Christmas table.
How To Make A Vegan Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
The process is pretty straightforward and just be watching my video on this you could make this recipe.
Start by taking out the puff pastry from the fridge about pastry 10-15 minutes before you begin making your Christmas tree. That’s a great moment to make the chocolate spread which requires a few ingredients and a minute to whisk everything in a bowl.
Draft a tree shape in the pastry and then with a knife, but be careful not to cut through the parchment paper.
Apply a generous layer of the chocolate spread on the tree and start twisting and decorating with (leftover) pastry.
It looks absolutely delightful, but in fact it’s not that over the top since we are only using one layer of puff pastry and made our own refined sugar free chocolate spread.
Decorate Your Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
This is the fun part. Nothing is melting, nothing is burning (while decorating), nothing needs precision, just take your time and start decorating the tree. You can make extra branches and twigs or use star shaped cookie cutters to use any leftover pastry.
If you want to make sure you have some leftover pastry, buy the biggest size puff pastry you can find in the store.
The only thing you need to keep in mind is that whatever you decorate the tree with, don’t use anything too thin. So don’t roll the pastry in thin twigs. They will instantly burn. So, the bigger the branches are, the better.
Twist the branches about twice and not too tightly. Like I said, no stress. Chill.
Before you can say Christmas tree you actually made a chocolate puff pastry Christmas tree. Once the decoration is on the tree it actually already looks so beautiful!
After it’s baked and all golden brown and shiny, you can (again) decorate and serve this tree however you wish. Serve it as it is for breakfast (it tastes a bit like croissants!). Or add a sprinkle of sugar (xylitol, coconut sugar or stevia). You could also add some sliced almonds or berries. Whatever floats your boat.
Now everyone can rip off the branches and enjoy!
Looking for more Christmas recipes? I got you covered!
- Gluten-Free Almond Butter Christmas cookies
- Christmas Smoothie
- Gingerbread Bites
- Sweet Potato Chocolate Bundt Cake
- Vegan Lentil Loaf
Vegan Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 15
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 12 small portions 1x
- Category: dessert, breakfast, brunch
- Method: oven
- Diet: Vegan
Description
This Puff Pastry Christmas Tree is a beautiful and easy 5-ingredient breakfast, snack or holiday dessert. It’s vegan and the chocolate spread is free from refined sugars and nuts. An absolute 100% stress free Christmas recipe.
Ingredients
- store bought vegan puff pastry or make it from scratch
- 1/3 cup cacao powder
- 3 tbsp water
- 1/3 cup maple syrup or date syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 3–4 drops bitter almond extract (optional)
- about 4 tbsp soy milk (as a vegan egg wash)
Instructions
Take the puff pastry out of the fridge and let set to room temperature.
Chocolate spread
In a medium mixing bowl add the cacao powder, with the sweetener (it needs to be a syrup such as maple syrup or date syrup) and stir to combine. Slowly add in the other ingredients being careful with the water. Take your time and stir for about 1 minute. If it’s still not a paste add a splash of water if it’s too thick or add more cacao powder if it’s too runny. Set aside for later.
Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Roll out the puff pastry (buy the largest size). It should be rolled in a heat resistant paper. If not -or if you are not sure- roll the puff pastry out on parchment paper.
Draft a tree in the pastry. Then with a sharp knife follow up and cut the tree, but be gently. Don’t cut through the parchment paper. Also cut out the branches.
Evenly spread a thick layer of the chocolate spread on the sheet of pastry.
Gently twist each strip of pastry twice to form branches.
With the leftover pastry cut out a few stars (depending how many pastry is left) with a cookies cutter. Place a star on the top of the tree for an extra Christmassy look.
Brush the pastry with soy milk.
Bake for 10-15 minutes at 400°F (200°C) until golden brown and shiny. Keep an eye on the decoration. Since they are smaller they can burn.
Before serving, allow to cool for 5 minutes.
Serve or sprinkle with a sugar of choice (such as coconut sugar, xylitol, or stevia) and/or decorate with sliced almonds, cinnamon or berries.
Notes
For a festive tree that you can decorate buy the largest puff pastry you can find.
Use any leftover chocolate spread as a dip for the Christmas tree.
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