Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (2024)

JUMP TO RECIPE

This Nutella puff pastry gingerbread man recipe makes the most delicious and easy Christmas sweet treat you can make. Unleash your creativity in the kitchen with this unconventional take on the classic gingerbread man. Turn your favorite gingerbread man into a show-stopping dessert with Nutella and puff pastry.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (1)

Calling all Nutella lovers! Get ready to experience pure bliss with this heavenly combination of Nutella and puff pastry in the form of a delightful gingerbread man. Your taste buds will thank you.

JUMP TO

Ingredients
How to make
Top tips
Serving suggestions
Equipment
Variations and substitutions
Storing/making ahead
FAQs
Other recipes you might like
Recipe

Why you’ll love this Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man recipe

The Nutella puff pastry gingerbread man mixes together all my favourite festive ingredients. The thick and chocolatey nutella and flaky golden pastry.

Gingerbread men are a staple in my house at this time of year. So swapping the spiced biscuit for a light pastry is perfect for those who want to see a gingerbread man but want to try something different.

Nutella pastry gingerbread man are perfect for making with the little ones! You can even add some decorations to them if you want. Just grab some coloured icing and get to work, give your puff pastry gingerbread man a face, a dress or even add a beard and red hat!

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (2)

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man 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 own 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 gingerbread man recipe.

Nutella

Chocolate spread is perfect for Christmas bakes, the rich hazelnutty flavour is a perfect complement to thick chocolate. When sandwiched between pastry you’re onto a winner. Think Puff Pastry Christmas Trees or Puff Pastry Nutella Snowflakes.

Egg

A simple egg wash helps your pastry to turn that gorgeous golden brown colour in the oven. You need to mix your egg together and brush each puff pastry gingerbread man. If you don’t want to use an egg, a bit of milk will work too.

Icing sugar / confectioners sugar

For a simple, fuss-free decoration sprinkle some icing sugar over your cooled Nutella pastry gingerbread men. They’ll look beautiful and like they’re covered in a fresh flurry of falling snow.

How to Make Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man – Step by Step

Keep scrolling to find the full printable instructions and ingredient quantities.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (3)

Spread the Nutella over half of the puff pastry.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (4)

Fold the puff pastry in half like a book.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (5)

Use a gingerbread man cutter to cut out as many gingerbread men as you can.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (6)

Lay the pieces on the baking tray, leaving a space between them.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (7)

Gently whisk the egg with a fork and using a pastry brush, brush the egg over the pastry.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Top Tips

Take the puff pastry out of the fridge 20 minutes or so before you need it as it’s easier to unroll (or roll out if you have a block).

Enjoy straight away with a cup of coffee. The warm pastry is heavenly and the Nutella melts a little too. Just be careful of it being too hot.

Mix your icing sugar with cinnamon to add some spiced warmth to the top of your bakes. I love doing this and using the cinnamon to carve out features on their little faces.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (9)

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe – Serving Suggestions

Afternoon tea

Take your tea and scones on a festive adventure and serve your Nutella pastry gingerbread men with a pot of tea while you watch the snow fall (I can dream of a white Christmas okay) or swap the tea for mulled wine and call it a Christmas bottomless brunch!

With ice cream

There are few things in this world that are as good as a warm pastry with cold ice cream. Create an icy scene for your gingerbread man climbing over mountains of vanilla ice cream.

Hot from the oven

If, like me, you can’t wait to serve your puff pastry nutella gingerbread men on a nice plate with toppies. Munch down on one while they are warm from the oven. It’s a treat for making something so delicious.

How did you serve your gingerbread men? I’d love to try your ideas so leave a comment below and I’ll try it!

Equipment

This list contains affiliate links

Substitutions and variations

Add dried fruit

Follow the puff pastry nutella gingerbread man recipe as normal but when you pop your layer of Nutella in, add some dried fruits. Personally, candied orange peel always works well here but you can go for dried cranberries too!

Cinnamon Sugar Topping

Mix equal parts cinnamon with your icing sugar and sprinkle across the top of your gingerbread men. Caster sugar also works really well.

Chopped nuts

Similar to the dried fruits, chopped nuts can add a wonderful crunch to your bake. Either add chopped nuts to your Nutella layer before baking or pick out a chunky chocolate spread with chopped hazelnuts.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (10)

Storing Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man / 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.

Once baked, your gingerbread men will not last very long because they will get eaten. If by some Christmas miracle, you do have leftovers, pop them in a Tupperware in the fridge for no more than 5 days as they start to go stale.

FAQS

  • Why do you glaze puff pastry with an egg?
  • Can you make puff pastry gingerbread men in advance?
  • What else can I add to Nutella and puff pastry?
  • How to make puff pastry puff up?
  • Why did my puff pastry gingerbread men not rise?
  • At what temperature do you cook puff pastry?
Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (11)

Why do you glaze puff pastry with an egg?

You glaze puff pastry with an egg because the protein helps your pastry to achieve that gorgeous golden brown colour. It also enhances the flakiness of your puff pastry.

Can you make puff pastry gingerbread men in advance?

Yes, you can make puff pastry gingerbread men up to 2 days before you need to bake them if you keep them in the fridge but it you want to freeze them then I suggest making and baking your pastry treats and popping them in the freezer for up to 1 month. Allow them to fully defrost and heat in the microwave for 30 second bursts.

What else can I add to Nutella and puff pastry?

You can add lots of things to Nutella and puff pastry. Try festive spices, chopped fruits and nuts, peanut butter and more. Your mind is your only limit so have fun!

How to make puff pastry puff up?

You make puff pastry puff up by following a good puff pastry recipe and by placing your bake into a piping hot oven. Puff pastry is made of layers of butter that when heated cause the pastry to puff up. So getting your laminations just right is crucial to a puffy puff pastry.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (12)

Why did my puff pastry gingerbread men not rise?

Sometimes puff pastry gingerbread men don’t rise because your oven was not at the right temperature, so the butter melted and didn’t puff up. Keep an eye on your oven temperature and try shop-bought puff pastry if it proves difficult

At what temperature do you cook puff pastry?

You cook puff pastry at 200 degrees Celsius. This is hot enough for your flaky puff pastry to puff up and cook but not so hot that it burns. Keep an eye on your pastry and take it out of the oven when it starts to go a lovely golden brown.

Other Recipes you might like

Cranberry Puff Pastry Rolls

These cranberry puff pastry rolls are so sweet and one of the best easy Christmas party foods you can make. A lot of gorgeous flaky puff pastry with cinnamon sugar and dried cranberries. It brings together the perfect Christmas flavours for a quick and easy cranberry puff pastry dessert. This is my take on cranberry twists. There are so many ways to use up leftover puff pastry including this sweet cranberry puff pastry pinwheels recipe.

Cinnamon Puff Pastry Swirls

This cinnamon puff pastry swirls recipe combines the best of cinnamon sugar and flaky puff pastry. Puff pastry cinnamon swirls are quick to make and the results are delicious. Perfect for a sugary snack, as a party nibble or even as part of an afternoon tea. The cinnamon sugar really works with a cup of tea. It can definitely go into the category of easy puff pastry desserts as it uses ready rolled puff pastry. It is also a great leftover puff pastry recipe.

Puff Pastry Mincemeat Pinwheels

If you love mince pies or you're looking for ideas with what to do with a leftover jar of mincemeat, then you need this puff pastry mincemeat pinwheels recipe. It combines the best of the Christmas mince pie flavours with flaky puff pastry to create an easy Christmas party food while being so delicious. Mince pie swirls are a great easy Christmas sweet treat which is perfect for family baking, making as a Christmas party food or just having with a cup of tea. These puff pastry mincemeat twists pair very well with a mulled wine too.

Pin this Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man recipe to enjoy later

Pin me for later or follow me @sewwhiteblog on Pinterest for my latest recipes and to discover my others.

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (18)
Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (19)
Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (20)
Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (21)

Recipe

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (22)

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe

Sisley White

This Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man recipe makes the most delicious and easy Christmas sweet treat you can make. Unleash your creativity in the kitchen with this unconventional take on the classic gingerbread man. Turn your favorite gingerbread man into a show-stopping dessert with Nutella and puff pastry.

5 from 6 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 22 minutes mins

Course Nibbles, Party Food, picnic food, Sweet Treats

Cuisine American, British, International

Servings 15 gingerbread men

Calories 94 kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 sheet Puff pastry
  • Nutella

Glaze and Decoration

  • 1 egg
  • Icing sugar / confectioners sugar (optional)

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.

    Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (23)

  • Fold the puff pastry in half like a book.

    Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (24)

  • Use a gingerbread man cutter to cut out as many gingerbread men as you can.

    Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (25)

  • Lay the pieces on the baking tray, leaving a space between them.

    Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (26)

  • Gently whisk the egg with a fork and using a pastry brush, brush the egg over the pastry.

    Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (27)

  • Bake for 10-13 minutes until golden brown.

    Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (28)

  • Enjoy them straight away or allow them to cool.

  • For extra flair add a dusting of icing sugar.

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

Calories: 94kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.001gCholesterol: 11mgSodium: 45mgPotassium: 14mgFiber: 0.2gSugar: 0.1gVitamin A: 16IUCalcium: 3mgIron: 0.5mg

Please note that the nutrition information provided above is approximate and meant as a guideline only.

Keyword gingerbread man, gingerbread men, leftover puff pastry recipes, Nutella, puff pastry

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Puff Pastry Gingerbread Man Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the dark history of gingerbread? ›

​Superstitions about gingerbread flourished in the 17th century. Witches supposedly made gingerbread figures, ate them, and thereby caused the death of their enemies. Dutch magistrates went so far as to declare baking or eating molded cookies illegal.

What are the three types of Puff Pastry? ›

The terms full, three-quarter and half are used when describing the amount of fat in the pastry. Full has equal weight of fat and flour, three-quarter has three-quarters of the weight of fat to flour, and half has half the weight of fat to flour. More fat makes the pastry softer to eat but reduces its height.

How to make Puff Pastry puff up? ›

Always preheat your oven for a minimum of 15-20 minutes before baking, because Puff Pastry depends on even heat to rise and puff. Place pastries 1 inch apart. If you want a flaky thin and crispy pastry that's not very puffy, prick the unbaked Puff Pastry all over with a fork, which lets steam escape while baking.

Can you bake Puff Pastry on its own? ›

You can bake Puff Pastry on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. For a more even rise, place a sheet of parchment paper on top of your pastry as well. How to tell if Puff Pastry is done baking? Take a sharp knife and nick off a teensy piece to test for crispness and flakiness.

Why was gingerbread illegal? ›

A fear that gingerbread men could be the agents of the devil also spread throughout Europe. In 1607, the superstitious magistrates of Delft in the Netherlands made it illegal to either bake or eat any of these molded and spiced cookies. This was also a time of religious upheaval.

What is the oldest version of The Gingerbread Man? ›

History and Variations

This story originally appeared in print in an 1875 issue of St. Nicholas Magazine, a popular monthly American children's publication, under the title “The Gingerbread Boy.”

What things should we avoid with puff pastry? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid with Puff Pastry
  1. Unfolding frozen puff pastry before it's fully thawed. ...
  2. Leaving the puff pastry at room temperature too long. ...
  3. Not flouring your work surface. ...
  4. Handling the dough too much. ...
  5. Setting the oven temperature too low.

Is phyllo dough the same as puff pastry? ›

The main differences between puff pastry and phyllo dough are their fat content and preparation. Puff pastry is a laminated dough that gets its signature airy puff from layers of butter, while phyllo dough is comparatively low-fat. Phyllo dough is mostly flour and water and can dry out easily.

Should I bake puff pastry before filling it? ›

Partially cooking your pastry before adding moist fillings will seal the surface and result in a crisp pastry case – it's necessary, because it means your precious pastry won't turn soggy when it's filled and baked.

Can you put two sheets of puff pastry together? ›

For a crisp, layered puff pastry base, I layer two sheets together and bake with another baking sheet on top to weight the pastry and keep it flat for half the cooking time. Then remove so it becomes golden.

Why do you chill puff pastry before baking? ›

The keys to ensuring that you get crisp, flaky layers from your pastry are concerned with temperature and handling. Pastry should be at room temperature for rolling (to make it more pliable), but chilled before baking (so the buttery layers remain separate).

Is store bought puff pastry as good as homemade? ›

In all honesty, I think most of us would be hard-pressed to tell the difference between store-bought and homemade in this case. Homemade puff pastry will usually puff a little more impressively and have a more delicate texture — but the difference is surprisingly small.

What is the story behind gingerbread? ›

Food historians trace the origins of gingerbread back to the ancient Egyptians, who used it for ceremonial purposes. The ancient Greeks followed suit with the first known recipe for gingerbread around 2400 B.C.

What does gingerbread symbolize? ›

As gingerbread's popularity grew, Queen Elizabeth I decided to bestow these cookies as gifts upon dignitaries. Edged in gold leaf and appearing in many different shapes, these cookies became a symbol of wealth and stature.

What is the true story of The Gingerbread Man? ›

Another rumor is that these iconic little humanoid cookies date all the way back to Queen Elizabeth I of England. Allegedly, she had them baked to resemble her likeness. There's also a story that desperate women ate the sugary-sweet men-like treats to try and boost their chances of attracting a suitor.

What is the moral of The Gingerbread Man story? ›

Moral Of The Story

The gingerbread man was very confident that he could run fast and escape from everyone. However, he was proved wrong when the sly fox caught him. Secondly, “we should never trust anyone blindly”. The gingerbread man believed the fox offered him and was not at all tempted to eat him.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Moshe Kshlerin

Last Updated:

Views: 5802

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (57 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Moshe Kshlerin

Birthday: 1994-01-25

Address: Suite 609 315 Lupita Unions, Ronnieburgh, MI 62697

Phone: +2424755286529

Job: District Education Designer

Hobby: Yoga, Gunsmithing, Singing, 3D printing, Nordic skating, Soapmaking, Juggling

Introduction: My name is Moshe Kshlerin, I am a gleaming, attractive, outstanding, pleasant, delightful, outstanding, famous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.