Description
Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a festive and fun appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Soft pizza dough is stuffed with gooey mozzarella, shaped into a Christmas tree with bite-sized balls, brushed with a flavorful garlic herb butter, and baked to golden perfection. Served with marinara and pesto for dipping, it’s a delicious and crowd-pleasing treat.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough and Cheese
- 13 ounce canned refrigerator pizza dough
- 6-7 mozzarella cheese sticks
- parchment paper for lining baking sheet
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
Garlic Herb Butter
- 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
Dipping Sauces
- 1 jar marinara sauce
- 1 jar pesto sauce
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dough and Cheese: Cut the pizza dough into 30 approximately equal squares. Next, cut the mozzarella cheese sticks into 30 bite-sized pieces about 1 inch each.
- Assemble Cheese Balls: Place one piece of mozzarella onto each dough square, then form each into a ball by rolling with your hands to smooth and seal the edges completely.
- Arrange on Baking Sheet: Place the dough balls seam side down on the prepared baking sheet, arranging them touching one another in the shape of a Christmas tree.
- Brush with Egg Wash: In a small bowl, whisk together 1 large egg and 1 tablespoon water. Lightly brush each dough ball with this egg wash to encourage a golden crust.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 18 minutes or until the bread balls turn golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare Garlic Herb Butter: While baking, microwave the 3 tablespoons of butter until melted. Stir in half of the grated parmesan cheese, the grated garlic, and all the chopped fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, basil).
- Brush the Bread: As soon as the bread comes out of the oven, brush the warm rolls generously with the garlic herb butter mixture, then sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese for extra flavor and texture.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy Christmas tree bread immediately with jars of marinara and pesto sauce on the side for dipping.
Notes
- Use fresh herbs for the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted if fresh are unavailable (use about 1 teaspoon dried herbs).
- Ensure the dough balls are sealed well to prevent cheese from leaking out during baking.
- The marinara and pesto can be store-bought or homemade depending on your preference.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some red pepper flakes over the butter before brushing onto the rolls.
- Serve warm for optimal gooey cheese and soft bread experience.
- If desired, add a pinch of salt to the egg wash for enhanced browning.
- You can prepare the dough balls ahead of time and refrigerate before baking; add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking cold dough.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 220 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 9 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
