Christmas Tree Pizza Pull Apart
What can you make with 5 ingredients in less than 30 minutes that everyone will find festive? This Christmas Tree Pizza Pull Apart that’s what!
Pizza dough, cream cheese, mozzarella and butter with spices create a great appetizer for a festive party.
This Christmas tree pull apart is a quick and easy appetizer that everyone will love.
I took this appetizer to a family party and didn’t even get through the door before my niece squealed. “Pinterest”! Yes I made this recipe that I found on Pinterest by Eclectic Recipes.
These are the INGREDIENTS you will need:
- 39 Oz pizza crust (refrigerated regular pizza crust, 3 rolls Pillsbury)
- 8 oz cream cheese (one brick), room temperature
- 1 cup (16 oz)shredded mozzarella cheese (or Italian blend shredded cheese)
- 4 tbs Softened butter
- 1 clove garlic (minced very fine)
- 3 tbs basil (freshly chopped, and rosemary)
- 2 cups marinara sauce (warmed, for dipping) or 1 14oz jar.
These are the INSTRUCTIONS for preparation:
- Heat oven to 400°. Lay pizza dough on a work surface and stretch to a 10 x 15 inch size.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 36 equal squares. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and shredded cheese. Mix well.
- Add one tablespoon of the cheese mixture to each dough square. Make a ball with the dough, sealing the edges.
- Place on a cookie sheet in a Christmas tree form as shown in the photos above. Bake for 15 – 17 minutes, or until golden brown.
- After removing pull-apart from the oven, brush with butter and sprinkle with chopped herbs.
- Serve pull apart with marinara sauce.
NOTES
I used Mrs Dash Tomato Basil Garlic seasoning blend in place of the individual garlic and basil in recipe.I used 2 cookie pans to lay out the dough. But it all fit on one when I made the tree.I cut 35 balls, but some were bigger than others.
I was surprised she recognized it right off by looking as I had made the pull apart into a Christmas Tree.
I did make a few changes from the Pinterest recipe to make it faster and easier.
First of all, the biggest change of course was styling for the Holiday.
It was so simple to make.
My granddaughter practically made the entire thing while I was figuring out how to style the dish.
I only had to roll the dough and place it on the pan.
I found that the recipe as written didn’t work with the amount of dough described. I had to use 3 tubes of pizza dough to get 35 balls.
Then I needed to keep the cheese for the center the same. Doubling it would have made it impossible to stuff the dough balls.
I also didn’t use the cloves of garlic or basil. I substituted Mrs. Dash Tomato Basil Garlic Seasoning. It was delicious!!
My only regret was not having a backup for the dipping sauce.
Melted butter. Melted cheese or some type of fondue would have been delicious.
A great beverage would be a nice Red Wine or a sparkling water or champagne. I served Sangria to this particular crowd.
Everyone at the party thought the Christmas Tree shape was so cute.
And the smell of the garlic reminded me of my grandma at this time of the year.
I am thinking of making these for my New Years Eve Party. I will try shaping it like a champagne glass tipped on its side.
I will let you know how that turns out!!
I am sure this pull apart appetizer could be turned into any shape for all occasions!
How would you create a perfect appetizer?
Let me know in the comments.
Enjoy!
Christmas Tree Pizza Pull Apart
Ingredients
- 39 Oz pizza crust (refrigerated regular pizza crust, 3 rolls Pillsbury)
- 8 oz cream cheese (one brick), room temperature
- 1 cup (16 oz)shredded mozzarella cheese (or Italian blend shredded cheese)
- 4 tbs Softened butter
- 1 clove garlic (minced very fine)
- 3 tbs basil (freshly chopped, and rosemary)
- 2 cups marinara sauce (warmed, for dipping) or 1 14oz jar.
Instructions
- Heat oven to 400°. Lay pizza dough on a work surface and stretch to a 10 x 15 inch size.
- Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into 36 equal squares. In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and shredded cheese. Mix well.
- Add one tablespoon of the cheese mixture to each dough square. Make a ball with the dough, sealing the edges.
- Place on a cookie sheet in a Christmas tree form as shown in the photos above. Bake for 15 – 17 minutes, or until golden brown.
- After removing pull-apart from the oven, brush with butter and sprinkle with chopped herbs.
- Serve pull apart with marinara sauce.
Notes
I used 2 cookie pans to lay out the dough. But it all fit on one when I made the tree.
I cut 35 balls, but some were bigger than others.©MARILYN’S TREATS. All images are copyright protected.
Nutrition
Nutrition Information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin and freshness of ingredients used.
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Disclaimer Unless indicated recipes influenced by cookbooks, magazines or family traditions.
That’s a win. Makes for a beautiful presentation and I bet it smells great coming through the door. Thanks for sharing at Funtastic Friday.
Thank you Michele. This pizza pull apart is so cute as a Christmas Tree! Thanks for hosting each week!
Such a fun idea to wow dinner guests during the holidays. I’m featuring your recipe this weekend at the Snickerdoodle Party. Wishing you and yours a beautiful Christmas, Marilyn!
Thank you Marie for the feature! I am honored. This little Christmas Tree is so cute!!
What a fun idea!! Pinned! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party! Hope you have a fantastic week and we see you at the next party!
Thank you for the pin Helen. Love the party. Enjoy your week!
I love this idea! Can’t wait to try it!
There are so many ways to use this tree. Next time I am doing sticky buns! Thanks for visiting. Have a good week.
Looks like a tasty and festive appetizer. Thanks for sharing Marilyn!
Thank Marielle. This Christmas Tree is cute! Thanks for visiting. Have a good week.
As soon as we can have Christmas parties again I’m making this! Fingers crossed for next year!
It looks so festive and delicious.
It is both fun and delicious Julie! I hope you get to make it. Merry Christmas!
I keep seeing these breads made into a tree, they look delicious, I was thinking about making mini ones to give to neighbors.
I am sure they would love it Karren. I saw one today that was standing up! They truly are delicious and attractive. Enjoy!
What a fun dinner or snack for the holidays! Looks delicious, Marilyn! Thanks so much for sharing your recipes with us on Farm Fresh Tuesdays!
Thank you so much Lisa! I am glad you like the tree recipe. See you at the next party!
This is such a neat idea, and I will for sure keep this for the next event and just make it in a different shape as I am sure one can use it for any occasion. Thanks again.
Making the pizza Rolls in another shape or just rows would be very easy. I was fun doing the tree. I can see us making many seasonal shapes in the future. I visited you r blog and loved how you are doing. Congrats! Enjoy 2020!
Hi Marilyn. Thank you for visiting my blog and your kind words. All the best to you for the new year and hope to meet you again at my side of the blogging sphere.
I will be there!! I also sponsor 2 “link parties”. They are where visitors come and drop links to share. Everyone that comes we hope will visit other links and find new blogs! If you like the idea send me a note and I will explain more! Enoy!
This looks and sounds amazing, I can almost taste it! 🙂 So easy to make with the pizza dough too, never considered it that way before. Will be giving this a try but maybe different designs now Christmas has been and gone! Sim
Thank you Sim. I am glad the pizz pull apart appealed to you. It is so simple. And I am sure there are so many ways to shape it. Any occasion will work! Have a prosperous 2020!
Marilyn,
What a great idea this is and it looks quite yummy too!! Thanks so much for your visits and kind words!!
Hugs,
Debbie
Thank you Debbie. I love that you like the pull aparts. They are as easy as making toast! Enjoy your week.
I might make this in a football shape, and use it for the Super Bowl!
I like you can make it any thing you want. I may try for a birthday [resent this summer. Let me know how it goes!
Sooo relieved to see this calls for ready made dough and not mixing up dough with yeast, boo!!
Looks absolutely divine. PC will love this. Going to make very soon.
Me too! I always give the scratch way in my recipes for the die hards that scoff at anything from a jar or box. Truth be told I ALWAYS use the ready made everything. Except my breads. And those dont use yeast. Even my crusts are usually from the roll up dairy style or from the tin! Enjoy!
Yummy!
We made this for Christmas eve dinner and used mozzarella sticks in the middle of each dough ball. The kids loved it!
I am glad you liked it! And mozzarella sticks make it even easier and more gooey! I have to try that next time. Easier to get a bit more cheese and less messy to rol. I am glad you tried it Michele!
This recipe looks so fun, Pinning to try and thinking of all the shape possibilities for all holidays.
Thank you Chas for the pin. Miss Jc really had a ;ot of fun making these with me. Thanks for sharing and have a Happy 2020!
That sounds delicious! I can see why it was such a bit hit. Pinned.
Thanks Joanne. We didn’t have a single pull apart left. I am hoping you had a wonderful New Year!