Description
Festive cheesy Christmas tree bread showcases holiday spirit with a delightful pull-apart design. Cheese lovers will enjoy this savory centerpiece that brings warmth and joy to seasonal gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 (13.8 oz / 391 g) refrigerated pizza dough
- 14 mozzarella cheese cubes (about ½-inch each)
- 3 tbsps butter, melted
- ¼ cup marinara sauce, for dipping
- 1 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp flour (for dusting)
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preparation: Ignite the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper, creating a pristine cooking surface.
- Dough Transformation: Scatter flour on a clean workspace and tenderly stretch pizza dough into a flat, rectangular canvas, then slice into 14 precise, uniform segments.
- Cheese Encapsulation: Position a mozzarella cube at the heart of each dough piece, meticulously folding and sealing the edges to form compact, spherical parcels.
- Architectural Assembly: Craft a festive tree configuration on the baking sheet, strategically layering dough balls from a 5-ball base to a singular peak, with an additional ball representing the trunk.
- Baking Alchemy: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven, transforming the dough into a golden-brown masterpiece over 18-20 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Whisk melted butter with garlic powder, Italian seasoning, salt, and Parmesan into a fragrant elixir.
- Final Flourish: Liberate the bread from the oven and immediately anoint with the seasoned butter mixture, then crown with vibrant parsley and fiery red pepper flakes.
- Serving Suggestion: Present alongside warm marinara sauce, inviting a delectable dipping experience.
Notes
- Seal Tightly: Ensure each cheese-filled dough ball is completely sealed to prevent cheese leakage during baking.
- Check Dough Consistency: Work with room temperature dough for easier stretching and better texture, avoiding tough or dry bread.
- Golden Brown Technique: Watch bread carefully during last 5 minutes of baking to achieve perfect golden-brown color without burning.
- Customize Seasonings: Experiment with alternative herbs like rosemary or thyme in butter mixture for different flavor profiles, catering to personal taste preferences.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 220
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 500 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 23 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg