Go Back
–+ servings
Baked, pull-apart bread that looks like a Christmas tree.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread 

Fun and easy pull-apart cheese bread made with pizza dough and mozzarella cheese. Seasoned with a herbed oil, and then garnished with grated parmesan and fresh herbs.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 6
Author: Rena

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pizza dough thawed
  • 8 ounces mozzarella cheese cubed or approximately 6 String cheese sticks

Egg Wash

  • 1 egg
  • 1 tablespoon water

Herb oil

  • 2-3 tablespoons olive oil or melted butter
  • 1-2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt and pepper optional

Toppings

  • 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup marinara sauce for dipping

optional garnishes:

  • fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, or red pepper flakes

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375 F.
  • Thaw the frozen 1 pound pizza dough beforehand, allow it to reach room temperature, and soften.
  • Roll the dough flat on a lightly floured surface to prevent it from sticking.
    Dough being rolled out on a flat cutting board.
  • Cut the dough into even sizes. About 30 square pieces
    dough cut into 30 sections to make balls.
  • Place a small piece of the 8 ounces mozzarella cheese into each one, close it up, pinch the edges well together, and gently roll them into balls to allow the dough to close fully.
    stuffed dough balls placed on a flat surface.
  • Place the cheese dough balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and form a tree-like design.
    dough before baking placed on a sheet pan in a tree-like manner.
  • To make the egg wash, combine the 1 egg with 1 tablespoon water. Whisk to combine and brush the egg wash over the cheese balls.
    Egg wash is brushed over the cheese ball dough.
  • Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cheeseballs are golden brown.
    baked cheese balls on a sheet pan.
  • To make the herb oil, mix the 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, 1-2 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and 1 teaspoon garlic powder in a small bowl. Then brush the oil over the baked cheese balls. The Salt and pepper is optional in this step.
    herbed oil is brushed over the baked cheeseballs.
  • Top the cheeseballs with the 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with whatever fresh herbs you choose to use.
    parsley and parmesan cheese being garnished over the baked cheese ball tree.
  • Serve with 1 cup marinara sauce sauce and enjoy.
    cheese ball bread being dipped in marinara sauce.

Notes

  • One serving: about five cheese balls
  • If you can't find frozen pizza dough, you may use Pillsbury pizza dough, even though that won't be my first option. Or you can make fresh dough from scratch.
  • Instead of fresh mozzarella, you can certainly use mozzarella string cheese sticks. I feel like these sometimes work really well because they need more time to melt and in time the dough turns golden brown.
  • Some of you do not like it when I use butter even though it is ok to have butter sometimes. So I used olive oil instead. If you do not mind the butter use melted butter instead of the olive oil.

Nutrition

Calories: 370kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 0.003g | Cholesterol: 59mg | Sodium: 1017mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 492IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 3mg