Description
Create a festive and delicious Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread perfect for holiday gatherings. Soft dough balls filled with gooey mozzarella cheese are arranged in a tree shape, brushed with a flavorful garlic herb butter and parmesan, then baked until golden. Serve warm with marinara or pesto dipping sauces for a crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s both fun and tasty.
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 and Topping
- 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 and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easier.
- Cut Dough and Cheese: Divide the pizza dough into approximately 30 equal squares. Then, cut the mozzarella cheese sticks into 30 bite-sized pieces, about 1 inch each.
- Form Cheese-Stuffed Dough Balls: Place one mozzarella piece onto each dough square. Roll the dough around the cheese, forming a smooth ball and sealing the edges well to prevent cheese leakage during baking.
- Arrange Dough Balls into Tree Shape: Arrange the dough balls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet so they are touching each other in the shape of a Christmas tree.
- Apply Egg Wash: Whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash, then lightly brush each dough ball with it. This will give the bread a beautiful golden color when baked.
- Bake the Bread: Bake in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes until the dough balls turn golden brown and cooked through.
- Prepare Garlic Herb Butter: While baking, microwave the melted butter and stir in half of the parmesan cheese, grated garlic, freshly chopped parsley, rosemary, and basil to create a flavorful brushing mixture.
- Brush and Finish: Remove the baked bread from the oven and immediately brush the garlic herb butter over the warm rolls. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese over the top for added flavor and texture.
- Serve with Dipping Sauces: Serve the Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread warm alongside marinara and/or pesto sauces for dipping to complete this festive appetizer.
Notes
- Ensure the dough balls are sealed tightly to prevent cheese from oozing out during baking.
- You can customize the herbs in the butter according to your preference.
- Serve immediately for best flavor and cheese meltiness.
- This recipe can easily be doubled for larger gatherings.
- Use fresh mozzarella sticks for the best gooey texture.
