5.0 from 3 votes
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 Time
20 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings: 6
Calories: 370 kcal
Course:
Appetizer
Cuisine:
American
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.
- Cut the dough into even sizes. About 30 square pieces
- 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.
- Place the cheese dough balls on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and form a tree-like design.
- 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.
- Bake for 18-20 minutes or until the cheeseballs are golden brown.
- 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.
- Top the cheeseballs with the 2 tablespoons Grated Parmesan cheese and garnish with whatever fresh herbs you choose to use.
- Serve with 1 cup marinara sauce sauce and enjoy.
Cup of Yum
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 Information
Calories
370kcal
(19%)
Carbohydrates
40g
(13%)
Protein
16g
(32%)
Fat
17g
(26%)
Saturated Fat
7g
(35%)
Polyunsaturated Fat
2g
Monounsaturated Fat
6g
Trans Fat
0.003g
Cholesterol
59mg
(20%)
Sodium
1017mg
(42%)
Potassium
173mg
(5%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
7g
(14%)
Vitamin A
492IU
(10%)
Vitamin C
3mg
(3%)
Calcium
221mg
(22%)
Iron
3mg
(17%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 370
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 370kcal | 19% |
| Carbohydrates | 40g | 13% |
| Protein | 16g | 32% |
| Fat | 17g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 7g | 35% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 2g | 12% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 6g | 30% |
| Trans Fat | 0.003g | 0% |
| Cholesterol | 59mg | 20% |
| Sodium | 1017mg | 42% |
| Potassium | 173mg | 4% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 7g | 14% |
| Vitamin A | 492IU | 10% |
| Vitamin C | 3mg | 3% |
| Calcium | 221mg | 22% |
| Iron | 3mg | 17% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.