Description
Christmas spirit meets culinary magic in this Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread, a festive appetizer that brings holiday cheer to your table. Crafted with golden, herb-flecked dough and melted cheese, this edible centerpiece will delight guests and spark joyful celebration.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 (13.8 ounces / 391 grams) can refrigerated pizza dough
- 14 mozzarella cheese cubes (about ½-inch each)
- ¼ cup marinara sauce, for dipping
Seasoning Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter, melted
- 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
Preparation Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon flour (for dusting)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Dust a clean work surface with flour and gently stretch the pizza dough into a flat rectangle.
- Divide the dough precisely into 14 uniform pieces using a sharp knife or pastry cutter.
- Position a single mozzarella cube at the center of each dough piece.
- Carefully fold and pinch the dough around each cheese cube, creating tight, sealed spherical shapes.
- Construct a festive tree design on the prepared baking sheet: layer 5 dough balls at the base, followed by 4 balls in the next row, then 3, 2, and finally 1 ball at the tree’s peak.
- Place an additional dough ball beneath the tree to represent the trunk.
- Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven and bake for 18-20 minutes until the bread achieves a rich golden-brown color.
- While bread bakes, combine melted butter with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and Parmesan in a small mixing bowl.
- Immediately after removing from the oven, generously brush the warm bread with the seasoned butter mixture.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley and red pepper flakes over the top for added color and flavor.
- Serve immediately alongside warm marinara sauce for a delightful dipping experience.
Notes
- Experiment with different cheese types like cheddar or fontina for unique flavor profiles.
- Ensure dough balls are tightly sealed to prevent cheese from leaking during baking.
- For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pizza dough or substitute with cauliflower crust.
- Transform this appetizer into a vegetarian-friendly dish by using plant-based cheese alternatives.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 160
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 16 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg