Description
This Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Christmas Bread is the ultimate holiday showstopper — golden, buttery, and loaded with gooey melted cheese. Shaped like a Christmas tree and brushed with garlic herb butter, this pull-apart bread is festive, flavorful, and perfect for sharing. Ready in under an hour, it’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for every Christmas table!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 12–16 mozzarella cheese cubes (about ¾ inch each)
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Marinara sauce, for dipping (optional)
- Grated Parmesan cheese, for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it with cooking spray.
- Prepare the Dough: On a floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a rectangle. Cut into 20–24 small squares, about 2 inches each.
- Add the Cheese: Place one mozzarella cube in the center of each square. Fold the dough over the cheese and pinch to seal, rolling into smooth balls.
- Shape the Tree: Arrange the dough balls on the baking sheet in a Christmas tree shape—starting with one at the top and widening as you go down. Use a few extra balls to make the trunk.
- Mix the Garlic Butter: In a small bowl, combine melted butter, olive oil, minced garlic, parsley, salt, and pepper. Brush generously over the dough balls.
- Bake: Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and the cheese inside is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and Serve: Brush with more garlic butter, sprinkle Parmesan on top, and serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
Shape the bread ahead of time and refrigerate for up to 6 hours before baking. For a twist, add cooked bacon bits, pesto, or cheddar cheese inside. Best served warm, right out of the oven!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Holiday-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece (1/10th of loaf)
- Calories: 210
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 310mg
- Fat: 10g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 7g
- Cholesterol: 15mg