Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread Recipe

Active Time:

10 mins

Total Time:

25 mins

Servings:

10

We've combined some of our favorite foods into a wonderful holiday appetizer perfect for your Christmas cocktail party. This Christmas tree pull-apart bread can be formed into any shape, but we love this festive look. No need to make your own dough or marinara sauce; just pick them up from the grocery store, and you can have a creative appetizer in less than 30 minutes.

Kids will love getting to help assemble this pizza pull-apart bread almost as much as they'll love pulling the cheesy dough bites apart when the party starts. As impressive as it is delicious, only you will now how easy it was to make this festive appetizer.

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread Video Still — Southern Living

Ingredients for Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

With a luscious, cream cheese-based filling, pesto, mozzarella, and a garlic-butter glaze, this pull-apart bread is indulgent, delicious, and a perfect festive appetizer for your holiday party. To make it, you'll need:

Canned pizza dough: For a quick shortcut option, or make your own.
Cream cheese: For a creamy, tangy filling.
Mozzarella cheese: Creates that perfect cheese pull.
Basil pesto: Adds a kick of flavor and color to each bun. Use store-bought or make your own.
Butter and garlic: Combined to brush over the hot bread for extra richness and flavor.
Parsley: Adds a pop of green color. Can substitute with fresh basil if preferred.
Red bell pepper: Adds a festive color and freshness to the bread.
Mini pepperoni: These cute little rounds top the bread for a classic pizza garnish that also happen to look like little ornaments.
Fresh rosemary sprigs: Surrounds the bread for a festive Christmas tree finish.
Marinara sauce: Served on the side for dipping.

How To Make Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

With store-bought pizza dough, basil pesto, and marinara in the mix, this bread comes together with under 10 minutes of active time. Full instructions are below, but here's a brief recap before you get started:

Step 1. Unroll the pizza dough, and cut into 36 squares.
Step 2. Stir to combine cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and basil pesto.
Step 3. Place a spoonful of cheese mixture in each dough square, and pinch corners to seal. Place seam-side down on a parchment-lined sheet pan in the formation of a Christmas tree.
Step 4. Bake 15 minutes at 400°F. Combine butter and minced garlic and melt in the microwave.
Step 5. Brush garlic butter over hot bread.
Step 6. Top with parsley, bell pepper, and pepperoni, and surround with rosemary. Serve with marinara for dipping.

Variations for Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

This pull-apart bread can be adjusted any way you like. Not a fan of mozzarella? Swap in your favorite stretchy cheese. Basil pesto can be left out entirely, or replaced with an olive tapenade, roasted red peppers, sautéed spinach, or chopped fresh herbs. Want to top with mushrooms, onions, or olives? Have at it. Finish with Parmesan cheese for even more cheesy goodness, prosciutto for a meaty bite, or fresh arugula for a bright touch.

If going for a more simple presentation, place the buns in a ring for a classic wreath design.

Can I Make Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread Ahead?

To make this pull-apart bread ahead, prepare through Step 3. Wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours, then bake as directed, adding a few minutes to the bake time if needed.

You can also bake the bread in advance, without brushing with butter. Cool to room temperature, then wrap and refrigerate for up to two days. Bring to room temperature and reheat in a preheated 350°F oven until hot throughout before brushing with garlic butter and finishing as directed.

How To Store and Reheat Leftover Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Store leftover Christmas tree pull-apart bread in an airtight container or zip-top bag in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat in the microwave, toaster oven, or preheated 350°F oven until warmed through before serving.

More Festive Christmas Appetizer Recipes

These appetizers will give your guests something to snack on, and rave about, at your next holiday gathering:

Editorial contributions by Katie Rosenhouse.

Ingredients

1 (13.8-oz.) can pizza dough
4 oz. cream cheese
1 cup mozzarella cheese
7 oz. basil pesto
2 Tbsp. butter
1 minced garlic clove
Fresh chopped parsley
1/2 cup red bell pepper
Mini pepperoni
Fresh rosemary sprigs
Marinara sauce

Directions

Cut pizza dough into squares?

Unroll a can of pizza dough out on a flat surface, and cut the dough into 36 squares with a pizza cutter.
Make cream cheese mixture:

In a bowl, add cream cheese, mozzarella cheese, and basil pesto and stir them together.
Make cheese bites:

Add a spoonful of the cream cheese mixture to each pizza dough square, and pinch the corners together. Close up the seam on your dough square to form a ball around the mixture, and place the ball seam-side down on a parchment paper-covered sheet pan. As you place the mixture-filled dough on the sheet pan, place the dough balls in the formation of a Christmas tree.
Bake:

Bake the completed Christmas tree for 15 minutes at 400°F.
Make garlic butter:

While the Christmas tree is baking, combine butter and minced garlic in a small bowl, and melt the mixture in the microwave for about 20 seconds.
Brush on butter:

When the Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread comes out of the oven, brush with the garlic butter.
Finish pull-apart bread:

Top the bread with chopped fresh parsley, chopped red bell pepper, and mini pepperoni. Tuck sprigs of fresh rosemary under the edges of the tree for a final festive touch. Pair with a bowl of marinara sauce for dipping.