Nutella puff pastry reindeer are the ultimate festive treat that will have everyone talking. From their irresistible flavour to their adorable appearance, these reindeer-shaped pastries are the must-have dessert of the season. Perfect for kids and big kids too!
Learn how to make Nutella puff pastry reindeer that are not only tasty but also incredibly fun to make. This step-by-step guide will walk you through the process, from shaping the pastry to adding the finishing touches. Perfect for beginners, I will provide all the tips and tricks you need to create the cutest reindeer every time.
Why you’ll love this puff pastry reindeer recipe
They’re so cute! Every winter dessert table needs a red-nosed friend! You’ll love dishing these tasty puff pastry reindeer out to all your friends and family (the elves like them too!)
Super simple and quick to whip up, Nutella puff pastry reminders can be made with pre-rolled pastry. Meaning less time in the kitchen and more time singing carols.
Little hands (and I don’t mean the elves) love to get involved in decorating these reindeer desserts. Grab the grandchildren and children and start making funny reindeer faces for all the family.
Ingredients
For the full recipe and instructions scroll to the bottom of the page for the recipe card.
Puff Pastry
If you’re a bake-off expert you can make you’re on puff pastry but I like to cheat and use pre-made, ready-to-roll. It’s cheap from any supermarket and really speeds up your prep time in this Puff pastry nutella reindeer recipe.
Nutella
Chocolate spread is perfect for Christmas bakes, the rich hazelnut flavour is a perfect complement to the thick chocolate. When sandwiched between pastry you’re onto a real winning combination. Think Puff Pastry Christmas Trees or Puff Pastry Nutella Snowflakes or even try making some Nutella pastry gingerbread men!
Egg
You just need a little egg to make an egg wash. This helps your pastry go a gorgeous golden brown colour in the oven. Simply mix an egg together and brush over the top of your nutella puff pastry reindeers.
Edible Eyes
Tasty and perfect for making funny reindeer faces, edible eyes really bring these treats to life. Check your local supermarkets and cake-making shops, or you can buy edible eyes from Amazon. (affiliate link)
How to Make puff pastry reindeer – Step by Step
Keep scrolling to find the full printable instructions and ingredient quantities.
Spread the Nutella over half of the puff pastry.
Fold the puff pastry in half like a book.
Use a gingerbread man cutter to cut out as many gingerbread men as you can.
Lay the pieces on the baking tray, leaving a space between them. Cut down between the lefts to separate the antlers.
If you’re feeling fancy, twist the legs to make curly antlers. And don’t forget the egg wash.
Bake for 10-13 minutes until golden brown.
Top Tips
Take the puff pastry out of the fridge 20 minutes or so before you need it as it’s easier to un roll (or roll out if you have a block).
Enjoy these puff pastry twists straight away with a cup of coffee. These pastry reindeers are perfect when still warm form the oven.
Add edible eyes and red Smarties or M&Ms to bring your Nutella puff pastry reindeers to life. You can even get the whole family involved in the decoration and eating!
Puff pastry reindeer – Serving Suggestions
These puff pastry reindeer make for perfect Christmas Eve snacks, winter party foods or gift-wrapping energy bars.
Afternoon tea
Take the classic afternoon tea on a festive twist and add these Nutella puff pastry reindeers to the table, you can even include the gingerbread men too for a full Christmas feast.
With ice cream
Serve warm (20 seconds in the microwave should do it) with a big scoop of your favourite ice cream. Personally, I love salted caramel but chocolate, vanilla or even rum and raisin work wonderfully with these tasty treats.
Hot from the oven
To keep these easy puff pastry reindeer you can serve them warm from the oven. The soft pastry is heavenly and you add cream, melted chocolate or ice cream for a full dessert.
Equipment
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- Butter knife
- Knife
- 2 x Baking Tray
- Greaseproof paper / Baking parchment
Substitutions and variations
Add dried fruit
In between the two layers of pastry add some dried fruits. Cranberries, raisins or sultanas are great at this time of year. You could even include some candied orange peel too for a citrus kick.
Cinnamon Sugar Topping
Mix equal parts icing sugar and ground cinnamon together and dust over your easy puff pastry reindeer. The sweet and warm spiced topping is perfect with the nutella filling. A truly Christmas mix of flavours.
Chopped nuts
If the Nutella isn’t enough for you add some crunch to your reindeer by popping some chopped nuts in between the layers of pastry on top of your Nutella spread.
Frozen puff pastry reindeer
A great way to make these in advance is by assembling them, cutting out the shapes and then freezing them.
I would suggest laying them between pieces of greaseproof paper so they don’t stick together. Then cook them from frozen when you are ready. Frozen puff pastry reindeer are a great way to get ahead with fun Christmas baking.
Storing puff pastry reindeer / Making ahead of time options
You can assemble the puff pastry and Nutella, cut out the shapes and store them in the fridge until you need to cook them. I would recommend cooking them within 2 days from assembling.
Cooked puff pastry will last in the fridge for up to 5 days or the freezer for a month.
FAQS
- Why do you glaze puff pastry with an egg?
- Can you make puff pastry gingerbread reindeer in advance?
- What else can I add to Nutella and puff pastry?
- At what temperature do you cook puff pastry?
- Where do you get edible eyes from?
Why do you glaze puff pastry with an egg?
Glazing puff pastry with an egg helps it to have that shiny sheen for that signature golden colour and adds an extra layer of flakiness.
Can you make puff pastry gingerbread reindeer in advance?
Yes you can make puff pastry gingerbread reindeer in advance is a great way to save time on Christmas day. Simply whip them and pop them in the fridge before baking. I suggest baking and eating them within 5 days of assembly.
What else can I add to Nutella and puff pastry?
You can add chopped nuts, dried fruits or even festive spices to your Nutella and puff pastry. Sweet jams add a fruit kick, whereas crunch hazelnuts bring an interesting texture.
At what temperature do you cook puff pastry?
Puff pastry should be cooked at 200 degrees celsius. This will ensure it cooks through fully and gets that gorgeous golden brown colour on top. If your oven isn’t hot enough you may be faced with the horror of a soggy bottom.
Where do you get edible eyes from?
Edible eyes can be picked up from most supermarkets and specialised cake-making shops. Even Amazon is a great place to pick them up. (Affiliate link).
Other Recipes you might like
Jam Puff Pastry Candy Canes
Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe
Cranberry Puff Pastry Rolls
Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls
Puff Pastry Mincemeat Pinwheels
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Recipe
Puff Pastry Reindeer
Equipment
- Butter knife
- 2 x Baking Tray
Ingredients
- 1 sheet Puff pastry
- Nutella
Glaze and Decoration
- 1 egg
- edible eyes
- M&Ms (Red for the nose)
Instructions
- Remove the puff pastry from the fridge and preheat the oven to 200ºC / 400ºF / Gas mark 6.
- Dust the work top with flour and unroll the puff pastry.
- Spread the Nutella over half of the puff pastry.
- Fold the puff pastry in half like a book.
- Use a large gingerbread man cutter upside down to cut out as many gingerbread men as you can.
- Lay the pieces on the baking tray, leaving a space between them.
- You can either cook the reindeer shapes as is or cut the antlers and twist them to make them more fun.
- Gently whisk the egg with a fork and using a pastry brush, brush the egg over the pastry.
- Bake for 10-13 minutes until golden brown.
- Enjoy them straight away or allow them to cool.
- Use a little melted chocolate or a small blob of Nutella to secure the edible eyes and red M&M nose.
Cooking puff pastry in the air fryer
- Preheat the air fryer to 200ºC / 400ºF / Gas mark 6. Cook a few puff pastry gingerbread men at a time making sure there is space for them to spread and rise.
- Bake in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes until golden brown.
Notes
- You can make them small or even make 1 giant gingerbread man to share with your guests. Adjust the times accordingly.
- You can add chopped nuts, ground cinnamon or even some dried fruits.
Nutrition
Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
How cute are these? My kids loved baking them (any recipe with Nutella) and your idea of using a gingerbreadman cutter is genius!
I love all your Christmas treats and these reindeer were so easy to make with the gingerbread man cutter. They are going to become a new tradition in our house.
As soon as I saw these I had to make them! They are so incredibly cute and as a nutella fanatic I didn’t need much convincing. So simple but they look so impressive.
I’ve never seen anything so cute! This big kid is all over them! Can’t go wrong with pastry and nutella!