Festive Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree: An Easy & Delightful Holiday Treat
Get ready to elevate your holiday spread with this absolutely stunning and incredibly delicious WW Puff Pastry Christmas Tree! It’s the ultimate showstopper, guaranteed to impress all your guests with its charming, festive appearance and irresistible flavor. Crafted from delicate puff pastry dough, beautifully shaped into a tree, this treat features twisted strands that are not only decorative but also perfectly pull-apart, making it a fun and interactive experience for everyone. Tucked between the flaky layers of pastry is a luscious spread of jam or preserves, offering a burst of sweet flavor and a vibrant pop of color that truly brings the Christmas spirit to life. The best part? Each generous serving of this delightful creation is only 6 Weight Watchers points, allowing you to enjoy the holiday cheer without compromising your goals.
This versatile pull-apart Christmas tree is much more than just a dessert; it’s a flexible delight that can be enjoyed in various ways. Imagine serving it as a sweet, celebratory treat to conclude a festive meal, its golden-brown branches inviting eager hands. Alternatively, consider it a standout centerpiece on a lavish cheese and charcuterie board. The delicate sweetness of the pastry and jam pairs exquisitely with a range of savory cheeses, creating a sophisticated balance of flavors. Despite its intricate look, the entire process from start to finish takes approximately one hour, a remarkably short time for such a unique and impressive dish. It truly appears to demand much more effort than it actually does, leaving you with more time to mingle and enjoy your holiday party!
Should you be seeking additional delightful snacks to complement this incredible puff pastry Christmas tree, I invite you to explore my extensive snack recipe collection. You’ll find a plethora of Weight Watchers-friendly ideas perfect for any gathering. From crispy homemade Tostitos chips that are perfect for dipping, to a savory and satisfying crescent roll veggie pizza, there are countless fantastic party foods designed to be both delicious and aligned with your wellness journey. Preparing a spread of festive, healthy options has never been easier or more enjoyable.
Why This Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree is a Must-Try
- It Serves a Crowd Generously. This spectacular puff pastry delight is designed to serve a remarkable 15 people, making it an absolutely ideal choice for any large holiday gathering, family reunion, or festive office party. Instead of spending hours preparing multiple small dishes, this single show-stopping treat ensures everyone gets a delicious share, fostering a wonderful sense of community and celebration around the table. It’s truly effortless entertaining at its finest.
- It’s a Fun and Creative Baking Project. Beyond its delicious outcome, this recipe offers a wonderfully engaging baking experience. You have the creative freedom to shape the tree precisely how you envision it, crafting a unique star for the top and even using any leftover dough to make delightful mini ornaments. It’s a fantastic activity to involve children or friends, turning baking into a memorable part of your holiday traditions. The process itself is almost as enjoyable as savoring the final product.
- Only a Few Simple Ingredients Are Needed. Forget long, complicated shopping lists! This recipe boasts a remarkably short and accessible ingredient list, simplifying your grocery run and prep time significantly. In fact, if you’re like many home bakers who already keep staple items like puff pastry and your favorite jam on hand, you’re practically ready to begin. This simplicity ensures that creating such an impressive holiday treat is stress-free and manageable, even during the busiest festive season.
Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree: Recipe Overview
This quick and easy recipe is perfect for those looking for maximum festive impact with minimal fuss. Here’s a snapshot of what to expect:
- Serving Size: A satisfying 44g per portion, perfectly balanced for your Weight Watchers plan.
- Number of Servings: This recipe yields 15 individual servings, making it ideal for large gatherings and holiday feasts.
- Time to Cook: A swift 25-30 minutes in the oven, meaning less waiting and more enjoying.
- WW Points Per Recipe: Each delicious serving is just 6 WW points, with the entire recipe totaling 87 points. For seamless tracking and personalized adjustments, click here to view the recipe directly in the WW app (a Weight Watchers login is required).
Essential Ingredients for Your Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Crafting this festive masterpiece requires just a handful of readily available ingredients. Opting for no-sugar-added preserves not only aligns perfectly with Weight Watchers principles but also allows the natural fruit flavor to shine through beautifully. The egg white provides that gorgeous golden sheen, making your tree truly sparkle!
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed to a pliable state (usually takes about 30-40 minutes at room temperature, or overnight in the fridge).
- 6 oz No-sugar-added strawberry preserves/jam (or your preferred flavor like raspberry, apricot, or cherry for another burst of color).
- 1 Beaten egg white for brushing (this gives the pastry a beautiful golden-brown finish and a slight crispness).
- Optional: powdered sugar or a sugar substitute for dusting, adding a delicate, snowy finish.
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Your Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Follow these simple steps to create a show-stopping holiday centerpiece that’s as fun to make as it is to eat. Precision with the pastry and a gentle touch will yield the best results.
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lay out both sheets of thawed puff pastry on separate pieces of parchment paper. Gently roll out each sheet just enough to ensure they fit your baking sheet (a standard 11×17 inch pan works perfectly). Using a sharp knife or a pizza cutter, carefully score each sheet into a distinct Christmas tree shape. This doesn’t need to be perfect, but aim for a recognizable outline.
2. If you find that the corners of your puff pastry sheets don’t quite provide enough dough to complete your desired tree shape, don’t worry! You can smartly use the scraps. Simply gather any trimmed edges, gently press them together, and flip them over to patch any areas to complete the tree outline. (Refer to the image provided for a visual guide). The key here is to create two identical tree shapes. To ensure uniformity, cut your first tree, then carefully place it over the second pastry sheet and trace around it to achieve an exact match in size and shape.
3. Now for the delicious filling! Carefully spread your chosen jam or preserves in a single, even layer over one of the puff pastry tree shapes, ensuring you leave a small border (about half an inch) around the edges. This prevents the jam from oozing out excessively during baking. Gently place the second puff pastry tree on top, carefully aligning the edges. Take any leftover dough scraps and get creative – use small cookie cutters to make festive Christmas shapes (like stars or miniature trees) to bake alongside your main tree. You can also craft a decorative star for the very top of your tree and a small trunk for the base, just like in the images. With a sharp knife, make horizontal cuts on each side of the main tree, stopping just short of the center line, creating strips that will become the branches. Carefully twist each strip a few times to form the iconic pull-apart branches of your Christmas tree.
4. Once assembled, lightly brush the entire surface of the puff pastry tree (and any accompanying shapes) with the beaten egg white. This egg wash will give your pastry a beautiful, glossy, golden-brown finish as it bakes. Carefully transfer the parchment paper with your tree to the preheated oven. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the pastry is thoroughly baked through, puffed up, and boasts a rich, golden-brown color. The twisted branches will crisp up beautifully, allowing them to pull off easily, just like pull-apart bread. After baking, let it cool slightly on the baking sheet before transferring to a wire rack. Once cool enough to handle, dust generously with powdered sugar or your preferred sugar substitute for a snowy effect, or drizzle with a simple glaze made from powdered sugar and a touch of milk or lemon juice.
Creative Variations & Delicious Substitutions for Your Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
One of the best things about this Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree is its adaptability. Feel free to get creative and customize it to suit your taste or dietary needs. These variations can transform it from a sweet dessert to a savory appetizer, making it suitable for any festive occasion.
- Puff Pastry Christmas Tree with Nutella: For a decadent, chocolatey twist that will delight any chocoholic, simply swap out the jam for a rich layer of Nutella or your favorite chocolate-hazelnut spread. The warm, gooey chocolate combined with flaky pastry is truly heavenly. Just remember that using Nutella will significantly alter the Weight Watchers points, so be sure to recalculate them accurately using the recipe builder in your WW app.
- Savory Puff Pastry Christmas Tree: If you prefer a savory appetizer or a unique addition to your holiday brunch, this tree can easily be adapted. Instead of jam, spread a layer of light cream cheese, or a combination of cream cheese and shredded cheddar or mozzarella between the pastry layers. You can even elevate it further by adding finely chopped fresh herbs like chives or dill, a sprinkle of garlic powder, or thin slices of lean ham or turkey for a delicious ham and cheese version. This savory option is surprisingly versatile and always a crowd-plepleaser.
- Decorate the Tree Extravagantly: The fun doesn’t stop after baking! Once your beautiful tree has cooled, unleash your inner artist and decorate it to make it even more festive. While a simple dusting of powdered sugar creates a lovely snowy effect, you can go further. Add a few small, colorful candies for “ornaments,” edible glitter for sparkle, fresh basil leaves or rosemary sprigs for a more natural, aromatic touch, or even small fresh berries like raspberries or pomegranate seeds for bursts of color. Consider drizzling a simple icing or a light lemon glaze for extra sweetness and visual appeal.
- Mini Christmas Trees: For individual servings or a charming display of varying flavors, consider creating mini Christmas trees. Simply cut each thawed puff pastry sheet in half widthwise, then shape each half into a smaller tree. You’ll then stack these halves and proceed with the instructions as usual, but on a smaller scale. This allows you to experiment with different fillings for each mini tree – perhaps one with strawberry jam, another with Nutella, and a third with a savory cheese blend! They are adorable and perfectly portioned.
Expert Tips & Tricks for a Perfect Weight Watchers Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Achieving a picture-perfect and delicious puff pastry Christmas tree is easy with a few insider tips. These suggestions will help ensure your holiday treat turns out beautifully, every single time.
- Don’t Stress About Jam Ooze! It’s completely normal if some of the jam or preserves melts and leaks out from the pastry edges during baking. This is a common occurrence with fruit fillings. Most of it will caramelize slightly on the parchment paper, creating a delicious, sticky, and sweet crust that still adheres to the pastry. The crucial step is to gently loosen the entire tree from the parchment paper as soon as it comes out of the oven, while it’s still warm. This prevents the caramelized jam from sticking firmly to the paper as it cools, making it much easier to transfer later.
- Accuracy for WW Points. The exact shape of your Christmas tree might vary slightly each time you make it, and that’s perfectly fine – it adds to its homemade charm! However, when calculating Weight Watchers points, it’s essential to be accurate. Make sure to use all of your dough scraps in the recipe (for instance, by making a star, a trunk, or small ornaments), or carefully subtract the weight of any dough you don’t use. This ensures your WW points per serving remain accurate and aligned with your plan.
- Choose Your Favorite Jam Flavor. While a vibrant red jam like strawberry or raspberry is often preferred for its festive, Christmassy look, feel free to use any flavor of jam or preserves that you love! Apricot, cherry, or even a mixed berry jam will work beautifully and provide a delicious, colorful filling. Experiment with different flavors to find your family’s favorite.
- Seal the Star’s Seam. If you opt to make a star for the top of your tree and decide to fill it with jam (as depicted in some images), it’s important to properly close the seam of the star before baking. Pinch the edges firmly together, or use a fork to gently crimp them. This will help prevent the jam from leaking out during baking, ensuring your star remains intact and filled with deliciousness.
- Thawing Puff Pastry Properly. For best results, ensure your puff pastry is properly thawed but still cold. If it’s too warm, it becomes difficult to handle and shape. If it’s still frozen, it will crack when you try to roll it. Generally, about 30-40 minutes at room temperature or overnight in the refrigerator is sufficient.
- Don’t Overwork the Dough. Puff pastry gets its flakiness from layers of butter and dough. Handle it gently and avoid overworking it, as this can compress the layers and prevent it from puffing up properly in the oven.
- Check for Doneness. A perfectly baked puff pastry tree will be golden brown and visibly puffed. The branches should feel firm, not soft. If it’s browning too quickly, you can loosely tent it with aluminum foil for the last few minutes of baking.
- Storing Leftovers. If you happen to have any leftovers (which is rare!), store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat gently in the oven for a few minutes to regain some crispness.
Strawberry Puff Pastry Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 2 sheets puff pastry, thawed
- 6 oz No-sugar-added strawberry preserves, or preferred flavor
- 1 Beaten egg white for brushing
- Powdered sugar or substitute, for dusting
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400F. Roll out both puff pastry sheets on parchment paper to fit your baking sheet (I used an 11×17 pan). Score each sheet into a Christmas tree shape.
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If there’s not enough dough in the corner, you can use and flip the scraps to complete the tree shape (refer to image). Make two identical trees with the sheets by cutting one and placing it over the other to trace the exact size.
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Fill the bottom tree with jam, spreading it in a single layer, leaving space around the edges. Place the other tree on top. (Cut leftover dough with cookie cutters to make Christmas shapes to bake alongside the tree. You can also make a star and tree trunk like I did). Cut strips down each side and twist the flaps to create the branches.
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Brush the dough with beaten egg white. Bake the Christmas tree and any other loose shapes for 25-30 minutes or until thoroughly baked and golden brown. Once cool, dust with powdered sugar or substitute or make a glaze to drizzle over the top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
More Delightful Puff Pastry & Holiday Treats
If you’ve fallen in love with the versatility and ease of puff pastry, or simply want more delicious Weight Watchers-friendly holiday ideas, be sure to check out these other fantastic recipes:
Puff Pastry Fruit Tart
Chocolate Banana Puff Pastry Braid
Mini Cherry Pies