recurse_children.js

var data = [{
  id: 1,
  children: [{
    id: 2,
    children: [{
      id: 3,
      children: [{
        id: 4,
        children: []
      }]
    }]
  }]
}, {
  id: 5,
  children: [{
    id: 6,
    children: [{
      id: 7,
      children: []
    }]
  }]
}, {
  id: 8,
  children: [{
    id: 9,
    children: [{
      id: 10,
      children: []
    }]
  }]
}];


function getRecurse() {
  var path = [];
  var found = false;
  return recurse;

  function recurse(collection, target) {
    collection.forEach(function(item) {
      if (target == item.id){
        found = true;
        path.push(item.id);
      }

      if (item.children.length) {
        if(!found){
          path.push(item.id)
          recurse(item.children, target)
        }
        
        if(!found)
          path.pop();
      }
    });

    return path;
  }
}