This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.
Flaky Nutella pastry is rich and buttery and needs just minutes to make. It starts with shortcut store-bought crescent rolls or a homemade gluten free version. Then you’ll fill this decadent treat with a sweet-tangy cream cheese and Nutella swirl and finish with a drizzle of icing for an indulgent breakfast or dessert!
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free option
- Skill Level: Easy
This Nutella Pastry Is So Easy to Make
Similar in flavor to my decadent No-Bake Nutella Cheesecake, Nutella pastry showcases a chocolatey hazelnut spread that’s swirled into a tangy cream cheese filling and folded into flaky pastry. You can use my Gluten Free Crescent Rolls dough to make this an entirely homemade treat, or pick up a couple of cans of crescent dough to streamline the process if you aren’t gluten free.
Wonderful at breakfast or brunch, you could also serve slices topped with No-Churn Dulce de Leche Ice Cream or drizzled with Homemade Hot Fudge Sauce for dessert. A drizzle of icing adds a final sweet touch to this special pastry that needs just 15 minutes of active prep time to make!
- Easiest homemade pastry ever. Keep a double batch of gluten free crescent rolls dough in the freezer (or cans of crescent roll dough in the fridge for the gluten eaters) so you’ll always have it ready to make this recipe.
- Flavor contrast. Nutella is so rich and sweet that it plays wonderfully off of the slight tanginess from the cream cheese in the filling.
- Not your basic pastry! I love that the Nutella is a bit unexpected—we’ve all enjoyed chocolate croissants and apple turnovers, but you won’t find Nutella-inspired goodies on the bakery shelves.
- Gluten free but you won’t know it. I dare you to tell that this is gluten-free when you use my dough recipe! The tender pastry is nice and flaky, just as a good pastry should be, but without any gluten.
What You’ll Need
Take a look at the ingredients in this sweet pastry below, and make sure to scroll to the recipe card at the end of this post for the full ingredient amounts.
- Crescent Rolls Dough: Use my homemade gluten free dough linked above, or grab 2 packages of refrigerated crescent rolls if you aren’t gluten free. I haven’t tested it, but you can also try this recipe with two batches of dough from this gluten free mix.
- Cream Cheese: You can use regular or light block cream cheese.
- Powdered Sugar: Use sifted powdered sugar in the filling and for the icing.
- Egg
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste.
- Nutella: Brand name Nutella is the classic choice here, or try another chocolate hazelnut spread.
- Milk: A little whole milk helps to thin the icing.
How to Make a Nutella Pastry
There are a few steps that go into this recipe, but they are not difficult, and I’ve taken photos to guide you through the process. Make sure to check the recipe card lower down for the full instruction details.
- Prepare. Preheat oven to 350ºF. Roll out one and a half batches of dough into a round and cut a hole in the center.
- Finish the dough. Cut the remaining dough into strips.
- Make the filling. Combine the cream cheese, powdered sugar, egg, and vanilla and blend until smooth.
- Add filling. Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough.
- Swirl Nutella. Dollop on the Nutella and swirl it in.
- Add top layer of dough. Arrange the strips of dough evenly around the dough in a pattern and press down at the edges.
- Bake. Place in the oven and bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes.
- Make the glaze. Whisk together the powdered sugar and milk.
- Drizzle. Now drizzle the glaze over the warm pastry.
Tips and Variation Ideas
- Remember to thaw the dough! If using a frozen batch of my crescent rolls dough, make sure to thaw it in the fridge overnight so it’s ready to go when you want to make this recipe.
- Try an egg wash. Before popping the pastry into the oven to bake, use a pastry brush and brush a lightly beaten egg on the surfaces of the pastry so that it turns a beautiful golden brown while baking.
- Make ahead: See my instructions on how to store the pastry below. If you choose to freeze the unbaked pastry, you can bake it straight from frozen, but you will need to add in a longer baking time since it will be frozen.
- Add chocolate. While there’s already chocolate in the Nutella, if you want a bit more, feel free to add 1/2-1 cup of mini chocolate chips to the filling.
- Use this method for other flavors. To make another type of gluten-free sweet pastry, try adding your favorite jam to the cream cheese instead of the Nutella. You could also try another type of chocolate nut spread.
How to Store
This recipe calls for cream cheese, so I recommend storing it in the fridge so that it doesn’t spoil. You can easily reheat it when ready to eat. Here’s how:
- Fridge – Store the pastry in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer – You can store the pastry before or after baking it. To freeze it before baking, wrap the assembled pastry tightly in plastic wrap, then place it in a freezer-safe bag and store it in the freezer for up to 2 months. Or, transfer the cooled pastry to a freezer-safe bag and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw the pastry in the fridge before eating.
- To Reheat – Place the pastry on a baking sheet and rewarm it in a 300°F oven until heated through.
Nutella Pastry
Flaky regular or gluten-free Nutella pastry is rich and buttery, filled with a Nutella cream cheese swirl, and so easy to make!
Servings: 12 slices
Ingredients
For the danish:
- 2 batches Gluten Free Crescent Rolls dough or 2 packages of refrigerated crescent rolls
- 8 ounces softened cream cheese, regular or light
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 large egg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup Nutella or other chocolate hazelnut spread
For the glaze:
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 2 teaspoons milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- If using the Gluten Free Crescent Rolls dough: Use one and a half of the 2 batches Gluten Free Crescent Rolls, and on a round baking stone or pizza pan, press or roll it out into a 14-inch circle with a 2-3-inch hole in the center.
- If using refrigerated crescent rolls: Unroll the crescent dough and separate into triangles, setting aside four of the triangles for the top. On a round baking stone or pizza pan, arrange twelve of the triangles in a circle with the wide ends towards the outside and the points towards the center, leaving an open circle in the center. Using your fingers or a small roller, press the seams together and flatten to a 14-inch circle with a hole in the center.
- In a bowl, combine 8 ounces softened cream cheese,, ¼ cup powdered sugar, 1 large egg. and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract. Blend with a hand mixer on low speed until smooth.
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over dough to within 1/2 inch of edges. Dollop with the ¼ cup Nutella and swirl with the tip of a butter knife.
- With the remaining half batch of Gluten Free Crescent Rolls dough, roll it out into a rectangle and cut it into 12 strips. Or with the refrigerated crescent rolls, cut the remaining four triangles into thirds, starting at the wide end and cutting towards the point. Arrange the strips evenly around the dough in a pattern. Press down at the edges.
- Bake at 350°F for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Allow to cool.
- For the glaze, mix ¼ cup powdered sugar and 2 teaspoons milk until smooth, then drizzle over the pastry. Cut into slices and serve at room temperature or rewarm for a few seconds in the microwave.
Nutrition Facts
Nutella Pastry
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 211
Calories from Fat 90
% Daily Value*
Fat 10g15%
Saturated Fat 5g25%
Cholesterol 17mg6%
Sodium 438mg18%
Potassium 83mg2%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Sugar 13g14%
Protein 5g10%
Vitamin A 35IU1%
Calcium 76mg8%
Iron 0.9mg5%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Disclaimers: Please discuss your individual dietary needs (i.e. gluten free) with a physician. Even when not specified, be sure to verify all ingredients are gluten free, if needed, by reading labels on all packaging and/or confirming with the manufacturer this varies by brand and can change at any time. Nutrition information shown is an estimate and not guaranteed to be accurate.
Did you make this?
Leave a rating below and tag @cupcakesandkalechips on Instagram and hashtag it #cupcakesandkalechips
