Christmas is almost here, and I’ve got one more treat that I just had to share. This adorable Christmas tree pull apart cheese bread is a quick and easy appetizer that everyone will love and takes just minutes to make. I’ve made this appetizer many times for family and friends and they have all loved it. It especially goes over well at pot-luck’s and other get-togethers. Everyone will ask you for the recipe!
For this Christmas Tree Pull Apart Cheese Bread, I used Pillsbury pizza crust, cut in equal squares to make the pull-apart cheese bread. For my tree, I used the Pillsbury’s artisan crust to make it a little more healthy. But you can also just use the regular Pillsbury pizza dough, or even a homemade pizza dough. Most grocery stores also now have a fresh pizza dough available for sale in their bakery departments that would work well too.
I also stuffed the little dough balls with cheese before forming the dough into the shape of a Christmas tree. For the cheese, I used a combination of cream cheese and shredded Italian Blend cheese. You can also use a combination of ricotta cheese and shredded mozzarella. Feel free to add Parmesan for even more flavor. My son had so much fun helping me with this tree too. Kids love to play with dough!
After I spooned the cheese filling onto each piece of dough, he helped me form the balls and arrange the dough on the cookie sheet. After baking it, I brushed my tree with melted butter and minced garlic and then sprinkled it with freshly chopped basil and rosemary. You could also use fresh basil and Italian parsley too, or any other combination. It was so easy!
To make a Christmas Tree Pull-Apart pizza bread recipe, just add a little take a slice of pepperoni and wrap it around the cheese before placing the pizza dough on it. This makes a wonderful pepperoni pizza Christmas tree pull apart. Then just served with warmed pizza sauce for dipping. You could also add a sliced of cooked Italian sweet or spicy sausage or a leaf of fresh basil for a delicious vegetarian option.
To make a Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Garlic bread recipe, skip stuffing cheese into the dough and just ball up the dough and place on a cookie sheet in the form of a Christmas tree. Then mince 3 – 4 cloves of garlic very fine and combine with melted garlic. Brush over baked pull-apart bread before serving. You can also sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and serve with a marinara dipping sauce. This is a wonderful crowd-pleasing variation!
To make a roasted garlic Christmas Tree Pull-Apart bread, roast a whole head of garlic in the oven and remove from the skin. Combine with melted butter and brush over the baked Christmas Tree Pull Apart. Then sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs and serve with a homemade marinara sauce.
For the marinara dipping sauce, I just used my favorite jarred marinara sauce, and heated it before placing it in a small dipping bowl. It pairs perfectly with these Christmas Tree Pull Apart Pizza Bites. You can also just use any spaghetti sauce, pizza sauce you have in the pantry or a homemade marinara sauce.
Yield: Serves 8
1 can (13.8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated artisan pizza crust with whole grain or Pillsbury® refrigerated regular pizza crust
4 oz, or half brick, cream cheese
1 cup shredded mozzarella or Italian blend shredded cheese
2 tablespoons butter
1 clove garlic, minced very fine
3 tablespoons freshly chopped basil and rosemary
1 cup warmed marinara sauce for dipping
Heat oven to 400°. Lay pizza dough on a work surface and stretch to a 10 x 15 inch size. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 36 equal squares. In a small bow, combine cream cheese and shredded cheese. Mix well.
Add one tablespoon of the cheese mixture to each dough square. Make a ball with the dough, sealing the edges. Place on a cookie sheet in a Christmas tree form as shown in the photos above. Bake for 15 - 17 minutes, or until golden brown.
After removing pull-apart from the oven, brush with butter and sprinkle with chopped herbs. Serve pull apart with marinara sauce.
This Christmas Tree Pull Apart Cheese Bread Recipe is a perfect recipe for holiday entertaining, taking to work or school parties and community or neighborhood parties too! If you love this recipe, be sure to Pin Me!
These are best made fresh and baked right away.
Sure, just be sure to not use cheese, or use vegan cheese. And also use a homemade pizza dough recipe where you can control the ingredients.
Yes, just omit the cheese and salt and substitute NoSalt if you can eat potassium rich foods. And also use a homemade pizza dough recipe where you can control the ingredients.
Yes! Use a homemade marinara recipe that doesn’t use added sugar like traditional jarred sauces. And also use a homemade pizza dough recipe where you can control the ingredients.
It can, but it will not be nearly as good. This recipe is best eaten fresh out of the oven.
Yes if you make a homemade pizza dough recipe, you can add red and green food coloring to the dough.
Yes, just be sure to use a recipe that specifically calls for fast acting yeast.
Yes! That would be a great idea!
Yes! That would also work well.
Yes! Stuff any type of COOKED meatballs in the dough and get creative!
Homemade Pizza Crust 3 Ways – A great pizza dough recipe
Meatball Bites – This recipe can be made into a festive tree too!
Bourbon Chicken Balls – This recipe uses meatballs and biscuits that can be used in this recipe too!
Master Pizza Dough – a great pizza dough recipe that uses fast acting yeast
