Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Appetizer Recipe

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is shaped like a festive tree and filled with gooey mozzarella, making it a hit with both kids and adults during the holiday season. The dough bakes up golden brown and the herbs add a wonderful aroma. It’s perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or just a cozy night in by the fire. This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a fun and festive appetizer that’s surprisingly simple to make. You’ll love how the cheesy, herby dough bakes up into a beautiful edible centerpiece. It truly brings the holiday spirit to your table without requiring advanced baking skills. The aroma alone, with fresh parsley, rosemary, and basil, will get everyone excited. For this recipe, you’ll need a can of refrigerated pizza dough, mozzarella cheese sticks, an egg, melted butter, grated parmesan, fresh herbs, and garlic. Grab your favorite marinara or pesto for dipping, too.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a fun and festive appetizer that’s surprisingly simple to make. It’s shaped like a Christmas tree and filled with gooey mozzarella, making it a hit with both kids and adults during the holiday season. The dough bakes up golden brown and the herbs add a wonderful aroma. It’s perfect for holiday parties, family gatherings, or just a cozy night in by the fire.

Ingredients:

• 13 ounce canned refrigerator pizza dough
• parchment paper (for lining baking sheet)
• 6-7 mozzarella cheese sticks
• 1 large egg (+ 1 tablespoon water for egg wash)
• 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh basil (finely chopped)
• 1 clove garlic (grated)
• 1 jar marinara and/or pesto (for dipping)

Preparing the Dough and Cheese

1. Preheat your oven and prepare your workspace. Before you start assembling the bread, preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). This ensures that your oven is at the correct temperature when the bread is ready to bake, leading to even cooking. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This is important because it prevents the dough from sticking to the baking sheet, making cleanup much easier and ensuring the bottom of your tree doesn’t get over-browned or burnt. Unroll the 13-ounce can of refrigerator pizza dough. You’ll want to let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes before unrolling to make it more pliable and less likely to tear. Gently unroll it onto your prepared parchment-lined baking sheet. If it’s a bit stubborn, don’t force it; let it relax a little longer.
2. Shape the tree and add the cheese. You’ll want to shape the pizza dough into a rough triangle shape. Imagine a Christmas tree silhouette. Start by making the base wider and then tapering it towards the top. It doesn’t need to be perfect; a slightly rustic shape adds to the charm. Once you have your triangle shape, carefully cut the 6-7 mozzarella cheese sticks in half or thirds, depending on their length, so they can be laid out in rows along the “branches” of your tree. Place the cheese pieces horizontally across the wider base of the triangle, and then gradually place fewer pieces as you move up towards the point of the tree. Leave about a 1-inch border around the edges of the dough so the cheese doesn’t ooze out too much during baking.

Assembling the Flavor and Baking

1. Enclose the cheese and prepare the topping. Now it’s time to enclose the mozzarella. Take the top layer of pizza dough and carefully fold it over the cheese sticks, pressing down around the edges to seal. You want to make sure the cheese is fully covered. You can then trim any excess dough around the edges if you like, or just press it down firmly. Next, let’s make the flavorful topping that will give our tree its golden sheen and herbaceous notes. In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, the 1 large egg and 1 tablespoon of water (this is your egg wash), and half of the grated parmesan cheese. Add the finely chopped fresh parsley, rosemary, and basil, along with the grated clove of garlic. Stir everything together until it’s well combined. This mixture will add a wonderful savory flavor and a beautiful golden-brown color to the bread as it bakes.
2. Brush with herb butter and bake. Using a pastry brush, generously brush the entire surface of the dough triangle with the prepared herb and garlic butter mixture. Make sure to get into all the nooks and crannies. This butter mixture is where a lot of the flavor comes from, so don’t be shy with it. Now, it’s time to bake. Place the baking sheet with the prepared tree bread into your preheated oven. Bake for approximately 15-20 minutes, or until the dough is golden brown and puffed up, and the cheese inside is melted and gooey. Keep an eye on it, as oven temperatures can vary. You want it to be beautifully golden, not burnt.
3. Finish with parmesan and serve. Once the Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is baked to perfection, remove it from the oven. While it’s still hot, sprinkle the remaining half of the grated parmesan cheese over the top. The heat from the bread will help the cheese adhere and melt slightly, adding another layer of cheesy goodness. Let the bread cool for a few minutes on the baking sheet before attempting to transfer it. This allows the cheese inside to set up a little more and prevents the bread from falling apart. To serve, carefully slide a spatula underneath the tree and transfer it to a serving platter. Serve immediately with your favorite marinara sauce and/or pesto for dipping. The warm, gooey cheese combined with the fragrant herbs and crispy dough is truly delightful. It’s a festive centerpiece that’s as fun to look at as it is to eat. Enjoy this delicious holiday treat!

Conclusion:

This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a fantastic, fun way to celebrate the holidays. It’s a crowd-pleaser that looks as good as it tastes, and the process is straightforward enough for even beginner bakers. Serving it warm with marinara or pesto for dipping makes it an irresistible appetizer for any holiday gathering. You can also try different cheeses inside, like a bit of cheddar or provolone mixed with the mozzarella for extra flavor. For a variation, sprinkle some red pepper flakes into the dough before baking for a hint of spice. Making this Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a wonderful way to add a handmade, festive touch to your celebrations. Don’t be afraid to get creative with the herbs or cheese!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make the dough from scratch?

While using canned pizza dough is quick, you can absolutely make your favorite pizza dough recipe from scratch. Just ensure it rises properly and has a good texture that complements the cheese.

How do I store leftovers?

Leftover Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat slices in a toaster oven or a regular oven until warmed through and the cheese is melty again.

What other dipping sauces work well?

Besides marinara and pesto, a creamy ranch dressing, a garlic butter sauce, or even a sweet honey mustard can be delicious alternatives for dipping.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

A festive and fun appetizer that looks like a Christmas tree, made with pizza dough, mozzarella cheese sticks, and fresh herbs.

Prep Time
15 Minutes

Cook Time
20 Minutes

Total Time
35 Minutes

Servings
1 tree

Ingredients

• 13 ounce canned refrigerator pizza dough
• 6-7 mozzarella cheese sticks
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon water
• 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)
• 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
• 1/2 tablespoon fresh basil (finely chopped)
• 1 clove garlic (grated)
• 1 jar marinara and/or pesto (for dipping)

Instructions

1. Step 1
   Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Step 2
   Unroll the pizza dough and cut it into 1-inch strips. Cut the mozzarella cheese sticks in half lengthwise.
3. Step 3
   Lay the dough strips on the prepared baking sheet to form a triangle shape for the tree. Overlap the strips slightly. Place the halved mozzarella sticks along the dough strips to create ‘ornaments’.
4. Step 4
   In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and 1 tablespoon of water for the egg wash. Brush the dough with the egg wash.
5. Step 5
   In another small bowl, combine the melted butter, grated garlic, chopped parsley, rosemary, and basil. Stir in 1/4 cup of the grated parmesan cheese. Brush this herb butter mixture over the dough and cheese.
6. Step 6
   Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of parmesan cheese over the bread.
7. Step 7
   Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
8. Step 8
   Let cool slightly before serving with marinara or pesto for dipping.

Important Information

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.