Description

This Irresistible Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is a festive and delicious appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Soft, fluffy pizza dough is wrapped around gooey mozzarella cheese cubes, baked to a golden puff, and brushed with a flavorful garlic herb butter. It’s beautifully arranged in the shape of a Christmas tree to add a fun and festive touch to your celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough and Cheese

1 pound pizza dough
33 cubes mozzarella cheese

Seasoned Butter Topping

4 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and make cleanup easy.
Prepare the Dough: Roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle and cut it into 33 equal pieces, ensuring uniform size for even baking.
Prepare Cheese Cubes: Cut the mozzarella into 33 equal-sized cubes to match the dough pieces.
Assemble Dough Balls: Place one cube of mozzarella cheese onto each piece of dough. Pinch the dough firmly around the cheese to seal it completely, then roll each sealed piece into a smooth ball.
Shape the Tree: Arrange the 33 dough balls on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree, which adds a festive presentation to your bread.
Bake: Bake the dough balls for 20 to 22 minutes or until they are golden brown and puffed up, indicating the cheese inside has melted perfectly.
Make Garlic Herb Butter: While the bread is baking, melt the unsalted butter in a small pan or microwave-safe bowl. Stir in garlic powder and Italian seasoning to infuse the butter with aromatic flavors.
Brush Bread: Immediately after removing the bread from the oven, brush the warm rolls generously with the garlic herb butter mixture to add flavor and shine.
Finish with Toppings: Sprinkle the bread with grated Parmesan cheese and, if desired, chopped fresh parsley for added color and taste.
Serve: Serve the cheesy bread warm with marinara sauce or ranch dip on the side for dipping, enhancing the festive snack experience.

Notes

Be sure to seal the dough well around the cheese cubes to prevent leakage during baking.
For a crispier crust, bake a few extra minutes, but watch carefully to avoid burning.
Fresh parsley adds a lovely color contrast but can be omitted if unavailable or undesired.
Try using different cheeses like provolone or cheddar for variations in flavor.
Serve immediately for the best gooey cheese texture and optimal warmth.