Description
This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a festive and fun appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Soft pockets of pizza dough are filled with a creamy blend of cream cheese and mozzarella, seasoned with garlic and Italian herbs. The dough balls are arranged in a Christmas tree shape, brushed with egg wash, baked to golden perfection, and served warm with marinara or pizza sauce for dipping.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 tube refrigerated pizza dough (or crescent dough sheet)
Cheese Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
Finishing
- 1 egg, beaten (for egg wash)
- Fresh chopped parsley (optional, for garnish)
- Grated parmesan cheese (optional)
- Marinara or pizza sauce (for dipping)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and promote even baking.
- Make Cheese Filling: In a bowl, mix together the softened cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning until smooth and well combined.
- Prepare Dough Squares: Unroll the refrigerated pizza dough onto a clean surface and cut it into 32 equal squares using a knife or pizza cutter for uniform size.
- Fill Dough Squares: Spoon about 1 teaspoon of the cheese filling into the center of each dough square, being careful not to overfill to avoid leakage.
- Form Dough Balls: Bring the corners of each square together and pinch firmly to seal, creating a filled dough ball.
- Arrange Dough Balls: Place the filled dough balls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet, arranging them in the shape of a Christmas tree—starting with a single dough ball at the top and increasing rows below to form a tree shape.
- Apply Egg Wash and Bake: Brush the dough balls lightly with the beaten egg for a shiny, golden crust. Bake in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes until golden brown and cooked through.
- Add Garnishes: After baking, optionally sprinkle the tree bread with fresh chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese for added flavor and festive appearance.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy Christmas tree bread warm alongside marinara or pizza sauce for dipping, making it a delightful appetizer to share.
Notes
- Ensure the cheese filling is not overly wet to prevent dough leakage.
- You can substitute crescent dough sheet if pizza dough is unavailable.
- For a crispier crust, bake a few extra minutes but watch closely to avoid burning.
- Fresh herbs like basil or oregano can be added to the cheese filling for extra flavor.
- The total yield of 32 dough balls makes this perfect for serving at parties or as a festive snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread, holiday appetizer, cheesy bread balls, festive bread recipe, Christmas party food
