Description
This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a festive and delicious pull-apart bread shaped like a Christmas tree, filled with gooey mozzarella and a flavorful herb butter mixture. Perfect for holiday gatherings, this savory bread is easy to make and sure to impress your guests with its beautiful presentation and irresistible cheesy center.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough and Cheese
- 13 oz canned refrigerator pizza dough
- 6-7 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut into 1-inch pieces
- Parchment paper (for lining baking sheet)
Herb Butter Mixture
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 clove garlic, grated
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1/2 tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Egg Wash and Topping
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon water
- Additional 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped (for topping)
Dipping Sauce
- 1 jar marinara and/or pesto (for dipping)
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
- Prepare Herb Butter: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, grated garlic, chopped fresh parsley, rosemary, basil, and half of the grated Parmesan cheese. Mix thoroughly to create a fragrant and flavorful herb butter.
- Prepare Dough and Mozzarella: Lightly flour your work surface and unroll the refrigerated pizza dough. Using a knife or round cutter, cut the dough into approximately 2-inch circles. Cut the mozzarella sticks into 1-inch pieces to fit inside the dough circles.
- Assemble Cheesy Balls: Place one piece of mozzarella and a small amount of the herb butter mixture in the center of each dough circle. Carefully pinch and seal the edges tightly to enclose the cheese and butter, forming small round balls. Roll gently to ensure they are well sealed. Repeat with all pieces.
- Shape Christmas Tree: Arrange the sealed dough balls on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree. Leave small gaps for expansion. For the trunk, place 2-3 balls directly below the widest part of the tree formation.
- Apply Egg Wash and Topping: Whisk together the large egg and water to make an egg wash. Gently brush this over the entire surface of the dough balls to promote browning. Sprinkle the remaining Parmesan cheese and additional fresh parsley over the top for extra flavor and decoration.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-30 minutes until the dough is golden brown and the cheese inside is melted and bubbly. If the bread browns too quickly, tent loosely with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Serve Warm: Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool for 5-10 minutes on the baking sheet. Serve warm, encouraging guests to pull apart the cheesy balls. Provide marinara sauce and/or pesto for dipping to enhance the flavor.
Notes
- Make sure to seal the dough balls well to prevent cheese from leaking during baking.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted with dried herbs if fresh are unavailable, but reduce quantity to one-third.
- If you don’t have mozzarella sticks, you can use shredded mozzarella but it might be messier to seal.
- Allow the bread to cool slightly before serving to avoid burns from hot melted cheese.
- This bread is best enjoyed the day it’s made for optimal freshness and gooey cheese.
