Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread
Christmas tree pull apart bread is a savory treat with festive flair that makes it perfect for Christmas parties and dinners. Golden brown rolls are stuffed with a melted cheese mixture and garnished with red pomegranate arils and fresh green rosemary making it perfect finger food for a holiday snack or appetizer.
Are you filled with Christmas spirit all month long like I am?
Do you try to bring a little something Christmas-y into each day?
If you do, you can probably vouch for how a little bit here or there, magically gets everyone in the Christmas mood.
There’s no question we all love bread in this family
I typically have some sort of option (if it’s appropriate) with our dinners.
Knowing I’m trying to slip a little holiday cheer into pretty much anything and everything right now, I figured why not give our dinner rolls a festive twist.
Instead of traditional dinner rolls, I decided to make this delicious Christmas tree pull apart bread.
It was as tasty as it is pretty- and gone just as quickly!
Ingredients Needed
- Pizza Dough – I used one can of the refrigerated Pillsbury pizza crust- the regular version, NOT thin crust
- Cheese – The stuffing for these is a mixture of softened cream cheese and shredded mozzarella
- Butter – For basting the bread dough before baking- it helps them turn a gorgeous golden brown.
- Seasoning – A little garlic powder is added to the butter for flavor. If using unsalted butter, I recommend also adding a pinch of salt.
- Garnish – Fresh rosemary and pomegranate arils
How To Make
While it may seem complicated at first glance, making this Christmas tree pull apart bread is actually very easy.
Start by opening the can of pizza crust, removing the dough, and unrolling it.
Lay it on a clean surface that’s been lightly floured or on a sheet or parchment paper.
Roll it out slightly (not too much!)- until it’s roughly 10×15 inches.
Using a plastic pizza cutter, cut the sheet of dough into roughly 26-28 squares of mostly equal size.
Add the softened cream cheese and shredded mozzarella to a small mixing bowl.
Mix them together until evenly combined. You can use a sturdy spoon or a hand mixer for this part.
Add roughly one tablespoon of the cheese mixture to the center of a dough square.
Fold the edges of the dough together around the cheese ball, and pinch the seams together to seal.
Roll the ball between your hands to smooth it out.
Place the dough ball on a non stick cookie sheet, and continue making and adding dough balls to form a Christmas tree shape.
Add the butter and garlic powder to a small sauce pan, and melt on the stove top.
Using a pastry brush, liberally spread the butter mixture all over the tops and sides of the dough balls.
It’s ok it some of it pools in the pockets between the dough balls.
Bake the Christmas tree pull apart bread at 400F for 15-17 minutes, or until baked through and golden brown on top.
Carefully remove the bread from the oven, and let it rest/cool for 5 full minutes.
Garnish with the fresh rosemary and pomegranate arils.
Serve with marinara sauce for dipping, and enjoy!
Storing
If you happen to have leftovers, they can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
You can reheat them in the microwave.
If you want them to taste freshly baked, reheat them briefly using an air fryer.
TIPS & TRICKS
- Don’t like rosemary? You can sub chopped fresh parsley leaves for the greenery, although the rosemary does have a more pine tree-like texture.
- If some of the seams leak during baking, it’s ok! We just call it a ‘snow covered’ tree then.
- You can sub diced pepperoni for the pomegranate arils if you want to keep things more on the savory side.
- Homemade pizza dough works well in this recipe too!
Other Easy Christmas Party Food
This savory Christmas tree pull apart bread is the perfect festive snack or appetizer to add an extra helping of Christmas cheer to your day.
Serve it for an everyday dinner the kids will adore, or as part of the finger foods at your next holiday gathering.
Looking for other easy Christmas party food ideas?
Try these:
- Christmas Wreath Cookies
- Christmas Tree Holiday Cheese Ball
- Santa Belt Cupcakes
- Pomegranate, Feta, & Chive Pinwheels
- Gingerbread Fudge
- Christmas Confetti Chicken Soup
- Marinated Cheese Tray Appetizer
If you’ve tried this CHRISTMAS TREE PULL APART BREAD, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on.
Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread
Ingredients
- 1 can 13.8 oz refrigerated pizza crust, or pizza dough
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4-1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2-3 tbsp fresh rosemary
- 2-3 tbso pomegranate arils
- 1 cup warmed marinara sauce for dipping
Instructions
- Lay out, or roll out depending on if you’re using refrigerated pizza crust or actual dough, pizza dough onto a cutting board and stretch to a 10 x 15 inch size. Use a pizza cutter to cut the dough into 28 equal squares.
- In a bowl, combine cream cheese and shredded cheese, stirring until evenly combined.
- Add roughly one tablespoon of the cheese to each dough square. Seal the seems and then gently roll the dough in your hand to form a ball.
- Place the dough balls on a cookie sheet in a Christmas tree shape as shown in the picture above.
- In a small pot, melt the butter and stir in the garlic powder. Brush the butter evenly out all over the top and sides of the dough balls.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 15 – 17 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
- Let the pull apart cool for 5 minutes- then garnish with rosemary and pomegranate arils.
- Serve pull apart with warm marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- Don't like rosemary? You can sub chopped fresh parsley leaves for the greenery, although the rosemary does have a more pine tree-like texture.
- If some of the seams leak during baking, it's ok! We just call it a 'snow covered' tree then.
- You can sub diced pepperoni for the pomegranate arils if you want to keep things more on the savory side.
- Homemade pizza dough works well in this recipe too!
Nutrition
recipe originally published December 16, 2014
This is so much fun! I do a tree with cinnamon rolls for our teen camp that comes in after Christmas!! Such a cool idea, no? Love it! 🙂 xo
Adorable! I can only imagine how much the boys loved this!
That is absolutely brilliant! I feel Christmassy from October!
Beautiful, so festive!
Heyy love the idea here. Lovely and fun dish to eat with family.
What a fun way to eat bread, Meaghan. This looks really adorable. Can I just stare at this beauty? Of course not. I am pulling one now. 😛 Happy FF.
Your tree is adorable! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a very special Christmas week!
Miz Helen
Wonderful recipe for this cold and festive season! 🙂
Have a very merry Christmas!
Mila
I like your christmas tree bread! Very cool!
Such a beauty especially when placed at the center of the table. I love it!! Thanks a bunch for sharing at Fiesta Friday party! I hope to see you next week.