Cinnamon Sugar Puff Pastry Christmas Tree with Cream Cheese Glaze

Tree Remove your frozen puff pastry from the freezer and place in the refrigerator overnight or 1 day prior to when you plan to use it. Preheat oven to 350F degrees. In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon and flour. Place 1 sheet of thawed, yet still chilled, puff pastry onto a parchment lined surface. Spread 2 tbsp of the softened butter evenly over the entire surface. Sprinkle with 1/2 of the cinnamon sugar mixture. Place the second sheet of puff pastry on top and repeat the process. Spread with remaining 2 tbsp of butter, and sprinkle with remaining cinnamon sugar. Place the final sheet of puff pastry on top and gently press down over the surface. Use a sharp knife to free form the shape of a Christmas tree, including a stump at the bottom. Place the excess pieces onto a separate parchment lined baking sheet to bake, as they will still be delicious, and you don’t want to waste them. Next use the tip of your knife to trace a guideline from the top of the trunk to the top of the tree on each side– you are not trying to cut through here, just making yourself a guide for cutting the tree branches along the trunk of the tree. Next, use your knife to slice the branches. Start at the base of your tree, and slice branches that are about 3/4 to 1 inch thick. This is where the tree trunk guide comes in handy, as you will only want to slice through to the point of that tree trunk guide on either side. Next working one branch at a time, begin to twist the branches 2-3 times each, working your way up to the top. Once you have twisted all the branches, brush the tree with your egg wash using a pastry brush. Gently lift the parchment onto a baking sheet and bake the tree for 20-25 minutes or until it is golden brown. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes before glazing. Cream Cheese Glaze In a medium bowl, beat your cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and there are no lumps. Add in vanilla and 1 tbsp of milk; beat until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar 1 /2 cup at a time, mixing on low until smooth. If your glaze is too stiff, add another 1 tbsp of milk. Drizzle glaze over baked puff pastry tree & decorate with sugared cranberries if desired. Enjoy!