Nutella Stuffed Pastry Gingerbread Men
Delicious and visually stunning gingerbread men made with flaky puff pastry and a molten Nutella center. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a thoughtful gift.
Ingredients
Essentials
- 1 sheet ready roll puff pastry Keep chilled until ready to work.
- 1 cup Nutella or preferred chocolate-hazelnut spread Smooth, spreadable filling is key.
- 1 small egg For egg wash to give a glossy finish.
- 1 tsp milk or water To loosen the egg wash for easier brushing.
Optional Add-ons
- to taste tsp granulated sugar For a light sprinkle before baking.
- to taste tsp icing sugar For dusting after baking.
- to taste tsp finely grated orange zest For a festive citrus note.
- pinch ground ginger or cinnamon To flavor the egg wash.
- to taste tsp toasted chopped hazelnuts For a crunchy garnish.
Instructions
Preparation
- Preheat your oven according to the puff pastry package instructions.
- Lightly flour a clean surface and gently roll the chilled puff pastry to smooth any creases.
- Use a gingerbread man cookie cutter to stamp shapes from the pastry, ensuring to cut an even number of shapes.
Assembling the Pastries
- Place a small spoonful of Nutella in the center of half the cutouts, leaving a border.
- Whisk the small egg with milk or water and brush around the edges of each Nutella-topped shape.
- Gently place the plain cutouts on top and press the edges together to seal.
- Crimp the edges with a fork or spoon, and poke a vent if desired.
- Lightly sprinkle granulated sugar on top if using.
Baking
- Transfer the pastries to a parchment-lined baking sheet.
- Bake according to the puff pastry instructions or until golden and crisp, usually 12–18 minutes.
Cooling and Finishing Touches
- Let the pastries cool on the sheet and dust with icing sugar before serving.
Notes
Serve on a platter with extra Nutella for dipping or sprinkled with toasted hazelnuts for added texture. Can be frozen unbaked and baked later.