The Easiest Late-Night Holiday Sweet Treat (Made With Puff Pastry!)

If you ever find yourself craving something warm, sweet, and festive way past bedtime, same. And this little holiday hack using puff pastry and Nutella is officially my new go-to. It’s cozy, it’s adorable, and it takes less time to make than it does to scroll through TikTok trying to decide what to bake.

These mini puff-pastry gingerbread men are crispy, chocolatey, and so fun for kids, parties, or late-night “just one more bite” moments. Here’s how to make them!

What You’ll Need

• 1 box Pepperidge Farm Puff Pastry Sheets
• Nutella (or any chocolate hazelnut spread)
• Gingerbread-man cookie cutters
• 1 egg (for egg wash)
• Powdered sugar (optional, but makes them extra cute!)

Step 1: Prep Your Puff Pastry

Start by opening your puff pastry sheets and laying them out flat on a cutting board. You want to let them soften for just a few minutes so they’re easy to unfold without cracking.

Step 2: Spread the Nutella

Use a spoon to spread a thin layer of Nutella across one of the sheets. It doesn’t need to be perfect — once these bake, the Nutella melts into the flakiest, most delicious center.

Pro tip: Keep the edges clean so the pastry seals better.

Step 3: Create Your “Sandwich”

Place the second puff pastry sheet directly on top of the first one — just like making a giant Nutella sandwich. Gently press down so the layers stick together.

Step 4: Cut Out Your Shapes

Using a gingerbread-man cookie cutter, press firmly into the layered pastry. You’ll get the cutest little two-layer chocolate-filled gingerbread men.

Place each cut-out onto a baking sheet.

Step 5: Add Egg Wash

Brush the tops with a quick egg wash. This gives them that golden, bakery-style shine when they come out of the oven.

Step 6: Bake + Dust

Bake until the tops are beautifully golden and the pastry has puffed up (usually around 12–15 minutes at 400°F!).

Once they’re out of the oven, sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top for a snowy holiday touch.

And That’s It!

Perfect for:

• Late-night snacks
• Holiday parties
• Kids’ baking activities
• Cookie boxes
• Teacher treats
• Cocoa-and-Christmas-movie nights

Save this one for the nights you want something sweet without making a mess or waiting forever. Trust me, these disappear fast!