Chocolate Hazelnut Christmas Tree

I Double Dare you NOT to lick your spreading knife while making this!

Chocolate. Hazelnut. Gooey. Puff. Pastry. Heaven! Oh yes! That’s what I’m talking about! Ok, I might be part way through a vat of eggnog right now, but I am not kidding you when I say this is heaven! Ahem. It’s kid heaven. It’s for, you know, kids. As I say every Christmas time, YOU are the master of your own jeans size. Proceed with caution.

You will need:

2 ready rolled puff pastry sheets

A jar of chocolate hazelnut spread such as Nutella

A large handful of chopped toasted hazelnuts (optional)

1 egg for the wash

4 tablespoon of icing sugar

To make:

Lay both sheets of puff pastry one on top of the other on parchment paper. With a sharp knife, score out a Christmas tree shape- a long triangle with a square tree stand at the bottom. Cut this shape through both sheets. Tear away the excess pastry and set aside. Peel off the top layer of pastry Christmas tree and set it aside.

Spread a thin (not too thin!) layer of chocolate and hazelnut spread to cover the entire surface of the pastry. Evenly sprinkle over the hazelnuts.

Replace the other layer of pastry to line up perfectly over the chocolate layer. Now you have something like a chocolate hazelnut pastry sandwich!

Now using a sharp knife, carefully cut ‘tree limbs’ about 2 cm wide from the center of the tree out towards the edges. Leave a finger’s width or so intact down the middle of the tree.

Once you’ve cut all the limbs, carefully twist each one twice over.

With the leftover pastry cut out a star shape for the top and stick on.

Lightly beat one small egg and brush over with a pastry brush to coat the entire tree.

Bake for 18–20min in a preheated oven at 180C.

Remove from the oven and sprinkle with icing sugar. Tear and share!