This post may contain affiliate links.
Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread is a festive way to celebrate the holidays! It makes a fun centerpiece for dinner and a delicious appetizer for parties. Serve it with warm marinara sauce, and watch everyone dig in.
The holiday season has arrived with all our favorite flavors, seasonal eats, and themed recipes! Whether you’re planning a Christmas Day Menu, a holiday party, or a family get-together, this festive appetizer will be a hit with any crowd!
Made with just 8 common ingredients, Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread is a shortcut recipe that’s super easy to make and filled with warm, comforting flavors. Fluffy and buttery on the outside, with an ooey-gooey cheesy filling, this pull-apart bread is then topped with a flavorful herb butter for a starter that everyone will love.
This adorable, hearty finger food is ready to serve in less than 45 minutes; it’s destined to be a family favorite in no time. Whether you’re searching for a last-minute appetizer or something simple to cook with your kids, this pull-apart bread is perfect!
Ingredients Needed To Make Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
- Pizza Dough – I use canned; you can also make your own
- Mozzarella Cheese Sticks – you can find them individually wrapped
- Butter
- Italian Seasoning
- Garlic Powder
- Grated Parmesan Cheese
- Egg
- Store-bought Marinara Sauce – for dipping, optional.
PRO TIP: Sprinkling fresh chopped parsley over the top will give your Pull-Apart Bread a beautiful green garnish making it look even more similar to a Christmas tree.
How To Make Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and then line a large baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
- Cut all the cheese sticks into 4 pieces, making 32 pieces total, then set aside. On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough until slightly thin. Cut dough into 2″ squares, creating 32 squares in total.
- Take one dough square and wrap it around a piece of mozzarella, forming a tightly sealed ball. Repeat this process with all 32 pieces of dough and cheese. Place the balls seam-side down on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree; they should be touching.
- Whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water in a small bowl to create an egg wash. Brush the egg wash on all the dough balls. Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake until all the dough balls are golden about 15 to 20 minutes.
- While it’s baking, add Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and melted butter to a small bowl and stir to combine. Remove the baked dough balls from the oven, brush the butter mixture over the top, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with warm marinara sauce, and enjoy!
Delicious Additions and Substitutions
There are all kinds of delicious ways to personalize this recipe to perfectly suit your tastes! Here are a couple of my favorite additions and substitutions to make…
Additions To The Filling
- Red Pepper Chili Flakes
- Fresh grated Garlic
- Pesto
- Kalamata Olives
Substitutions
- Use mini fresh mozzarella balls instead of cheese sticks
- Use fresh basil, oregano, rosemary or thyme instead of Italian seasoning
How To Serve Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
This is such a fun, festive recipe, so there are so many options for serving! Usually, when I make this dish, I take it out of the oven and transfer it to a nicer cutting board and serve it off of that.
Another fun serving idea is to create little ‘Christmas tree ornaments using the marinara sauce. You can either spoon the sauce directly onto the bread, or you can place it into small ramequins around the bread to serve as ornaments.
How To Store The Leftovers
I honestly doubt that there will be any leftovers, but if there are you can store this bread in an airtight container in the fridge and it’ll keep for 3-4 days.
More Holiday Appetizers You’ll Love…
- Best Pigs In A Blanket
- Hot Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Baked Brie In Puffed Pastry
- Best Cream Cheese Sausage Balls
- Stuffed Party Mushrooms
Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 can Pizza Dough
- 8 Mozzarella sticks – individually packed cheese sticks
- 1/2 cup Butter – melted
- 1.5 tablespoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese – grated
- 1 Egg
- 2 cups Marinara Sauce – store bought or homemade sauce for dipping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and then line a large baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
- Cut all of the cheese sticks into 4 individual pieces, making 32 pieces total, then set aside. On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough until slightly thin. Cut dough into 2" squares, creating 32 squares in total.
- Take one dough square and wrap it around a piece of mozzarella, forming a tightly sealed ball. Repeat this process with all 32 pieces of dough and cheese. Place the balls seam-side down on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree, they should be touching.
- In a small bowl, whisk together 1 egg and 1 tablespoon of water to create an egg wash. Brush the egg wash on all the dough balls. Place the baking sheet into the oven and bake until all the dough balls are golden, about 15 to 20 minutes.
- While it's baking, add Italian seasoning, garlic powder and melted butter to a small bowl and stir to combine. Remove the baked dough balls from the oven and brush the butter mixture over the top then sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Serve with warm marinara sauce and enjoy!
Leave a Reply