Pull Apart Christmas Tree Bread
This Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread is the ultimate holiday appetizer. Made with pizza dough, stuffed with gooey mozzarella, and brushed with garlic butter, it bakes into a festive tree shape that’s perfect for Christmas parties and family gatherings.
Servings: 24 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb pizza dough store-bought or homemade
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- Optional: pepperoni slices or cooked sausage crumbles for extra filling
- Optional: fresh parsley springs or rosemary for garnish, cherry tomatoes or small red peppers for "ornaments"
- Optional: Marinara or pizza sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375ºF. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.1 lb pizza dough
- Cut the dough into approximately 24 squares.
- Place a cube of mozzarella in the center of each square. Add optional fillings if desired.8 ounces mozzarella cheese, Optional: pepperoni slices or cooked sausage crumbles for extra filling
- Pinch the edges of the dough together tightly to form a ball, enclosing the cheese completely.
- Place the dough balls seam side down on the baking sheet, arranging them into the shape of a Christmas tree (start with one ball at the top, two underneath, then three, and so on until you reach the base). Leave a small gap between each ball to allow for rising.
- In a small bowl, mix the melted butter, garlic, Italian seasoning, fresh parsley, and Parmesan cheese.4 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
- Generously brush the garlic butter over the dough balls.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Once out of the oven, garnish with fresh parsley or rosemary for a "tree" effect. Place cherry tomatoes or small pred peppers as "ornaments".Optional: fresh parsley springs or rosemary for garnish, cherry tomatoes or small red peppers for "ornaments"
- Serve warm with a bowl of marinara or pizza sauce for dipping.Optional: Marinara or pizza sauce for dipping
Notes
- Make Ahead: Assemble the dough balls up to 6 hours in advance, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. Brush with garlic butter just before baking.
- Freezer Option: Freeze unbaked dough balls on a baking sheet until solid, then transfer to a freezer bag for up to 2 months. Bake straight from frozen, adding 5–7 minutes to the bake time.
- Reheating: Warm leftovers in the oven at 325ºF until heated through. This keeps the bread soft inside and golden outside.
Nutrition
Serving: 1stuffed ball | Calories: 94kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 13mg | Sodium: 204mg | Potassium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.3g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 141IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg