Warm, buttery, and loaded with gooey cheese, this Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a festive pull-apart appetizer that everyone will love! Shaped like a Christmas tree and brushed with herby garlic butter, this easy recipe is the perfect way to kick off your holiday celebrations.
Whether you’re hosting a Christmas party or simply want something fun and cozy to bake with your family, this golden, melty bread tree makes the table sparkle with both flavor and festive charm.
The Ultimate Holiday Appetizer
There’s something magical about cheesy bread fresh from the oven — that irresistible aroma of garlic butter, the satisfying pull of melted mozzarella, and the soft, golden dough. This recipe combines all of that deliciousness into an easy and show-stopping shape: a Christmas tree!
You’ll start with store-bought pizza dough (a total time-saver), fill it with mozzarella cheese, then roll it into small balls and arrange them into a tree shape. After baking, you’ll brush everything with garlic butter and sprinkle on parmesan for a perfectly cheesy, savory finish. Serve it warm with marinara or pesto for dipping, and watch it disappear faster than you can say “Merry Christmas!”
Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
- Festive and fun: The Christmas tree shape instantly makes it holiday-worthy and picture-perfect for your table or appetizer spread.
- Easy to make: You only need a few basic ingredients — most of them pantry staples — and store-bought dough to save time.
- Crowd-pleasing flavor: Who can resist soft bread, garlic butter, and melted cheese? It’s the kind of appetizer that makes people gather around the plate.
- Perfect for parties: Serve it at your Christmas dinner, office potluck, or family get-together — it’s guaranteed to impress.
- Customizable: Use your favorite cheese blend, or add extra herbs and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a little kick.
Ingredients You’ll Need
This easy holiday appetizer uses simple grocery store ingredients — you probably already have most of them!
- Refrigerated pizza dough: One can (about 13 oz). You can also use homemade pizza dough if you prefer.
- Mozzarella cheese sticks: These are easy to cut into small chunks and melt beautifully.
- Butter: Unsalted is best so you can control the salt level.
- Garlic: Freshly grated for the best flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: Adds a nutty, salty finish.
- Herbs: A mix of parsley, basil, and rosemary gives that signature festive flavor.
- Egg: Mixed with water for a glossy egg wash.
- Dipping sauce: Marinara, pizza sauce, or pesto — or a mix of all three!
How to Make Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread looks fancy but is surprisingly easy to make. Just follow these simple steps:
- Prepare your baking sheet: Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Cut the dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface and cut it into about 30 equal squares using a pizza cutter or knife.
- Add the cheese: Slice mozzarella sticks into 30 bite-sized pieces and place one piece in the center of each square.
- Form the balls: Gently roll each square around the cheese, pinching to seal the edges tightly so the cheese stays inside as it bakes.
- Shape your tree: Arrange the dough balls on your parchment-lined sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree — a triangle with a small trunk at the bottom. Make sure the dough balls are just touching each other.
- Egg wash: Whisk together the egg and a tablespoon of water, then lightly brush it over the top of each dough ball.
- Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 16–18 minutes, or until the bread is puffed and golden brown on top.
Make the Garlic Butter Topping
While the bread is baking, prepare the most delicious finishing touch — garlic herb butter.
- Melt the butter: Microwave for about 20–30 seconds until fully melted.
- Add the flavor: Stir in half of the parmesan, the grated garlic, and your chopped herbs (parsley, basil, rosemary).
- Brush and serve: When your bread is done, remove it from the oven and brush generously with the garlic butter. Sprinkle the remaining parmesan on top for that cheesy sparkle.
The smell alone will have everyone running to the table!
Serving Suggestions
This tree-shaped pull-apart bread is best served warm and fresh from the oven. Arrange it on a large platter and place a bowl of marinara or pesto at the base of the tree for dipping. You can even sprinkle a few chili flakes for a spicy kick or add a dusting of coarse sea salt for texture.
If you’re serving this at a big dinner, pair it with:
- Lasagna or baked pasta
- Beef ragu with pappardelle
- Garlic butter scallops
- Creamy soups or stews
It also makes a delicious edible centerpiece for your Christmas buffet — just be warned, it will disappear fast!
Make Ahead Tips
One of the best things about this Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is that it can be made ahead. Perfect for busy holiday schedules!
Here’s how:
- Follow the steps to form the cheese-filled dough balls.
- Place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet but don’t add the egg wash yet.
- Freeze for 2–3 hours until firm.
- Transfer the frozen balls to a freezer-safe bag and store for up to 2 months.
When ready to bake, simply thaw the dough balls for about 45 minutes at room temperature, arrange them into a tree, brush with egg wash, and bake at 350°F (175°C) for about 20 minutes. Brush with garlic butter and serve as usual.
Print
Cheesy Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
- Total Time: 25 min
Ingredients
1 (13-ounce) can refrigerated pizza dough
6–7 mozzarella cheese sticks, cut into 1-inch pieces (about 30 total)
1 large egg, whisked with 1 tablespoon water
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
½ cup grated parmesan cheese, divided
1 tablespoon fresh parsley, finely chopped
½ tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
½ tablespoon fresh basil, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, grated
1 jar marinara, pizza sauce, or pesto, for dipping
Instructions
-
Preheat and prepare:
Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. -
Shape the dough:
Unroll pizza dough onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 30 small squares using a sharp knife or pizza cutter. -
Add the cheese:
Place one piece of mozzarella into the center of each square. -
Form the balls:
Roll the dough around the cheese to form tight balls, pinching the seams to seal completely. -
Assemble the tree:
Arrange the balls seam-side down on your parchment-lined baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree — balls should be lightly touching. -
Egg wash:
Brush the tops with the beaten egg mixture for a glossy golden finish. -
Bake:
Bake for 16–18 minutes or until puffed and golden brown. -
Prepare garlic butter:
While baking, microwave butter until melted (about 20 seconds). Stir in half the parmesan, the grated garlic, and all herbs. -
Brush and finish:
Once baked, remove bread from the oven and brush generously with the garlic butter. Sprinkle remaining parmesan cheese on top. -
Serve:
Serve warm with bowls of marinara or pesto for dipping. Enjoy immediately for the best cheesy pull-apart experience!
Notes
- For an extra festive touch, sprinkle a few chili flakes or coarse salt over the top before baking.
- Want a different cheese flavor? Swap mozzarella for cheddar, fontina, or provolone.
- This bread tastes best fresh from the oven, but leftovers can be reheated at 325°F (160°C) for 5–7 minutes.
- Serve alongside pasta, soups, or roasts — it’s a great appetizer or side dish for any holiday table.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
