Description
Celebrate the holidays with this delightful Irresistible Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread. Soft pizza dough is wrapped around gooey mozzarella cubes, baked to golden perfection, and brushed with a flavorful garlic and Italian herb butter. Finished with a sprinkle of Parmesan and fresh parsley, this festive bread is perfect for sharing and dipping with your favorite sauces.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough and Cheese
- 1 pound pizza dough
- 33 cubes mozzarella cheese
Butter Mixture
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent the bread from sticking.
- Prepare Dough: Roll out the pizza dough into a large rectangle on a lightly floured surface, then cut it into 33 equal pieces to match the number of cheese cubes.
- Cube Cheese: Cut the mozzarella into 33 evenly sized cubes ensuring each piece of dough will wrap around one cube.
- Form Dough Balls: Place one mozzarella cube in the center of each dough piece, pinch the edges tightly to seal the cheese inside and roll gently to form smooth balls.
- Shape Tree: Arrange the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree, making sure to create a symmetrical and visually appealing layout.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 22 minutes, or until the dough balls are golden brown and puffed, indicating the cheese inside has melted.
- Make Butter Mixture: While the bread bakes, melt the unsalted butter in a small bowl, then stir in garlic powder and Italian seasoning to create a fragrant butter glaze.
- Brush Bread: Remove the baked bread from the oven and immediately brush the warm dough balls with the seasoned butter mixture to infuse flavor and add shine.
- Add Final Touches: Sprinkle the bread generously with grated Parmesan cheese and, if desired, chopped fresh parsley for color and extra taste.
- Serve: Serve the cheesy Christmas tree bread warm alongside marinara or ranch dip for a festive and delicious appetizer or party treat.
Notes
- Make sure to seal the dough around the mozzarella cubes tightly to prevent cheese from leaking out during baking.
- If you cannot find pizza dough, store-bought refrigerated dough or homemade can be used.
- To enhance flavor, you can add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture for a mild kick.
- This recipe is perfect for holiday parties and can be baked slightly ahead of time and warmed before serving.
- For a vegetarian option, ensure the cheese used is made without animal rennet.
