Christmas is coming up in less than 2 weeks! This Pull Apart Cheesy Bread Christmas Tree will be a showstopper on your holiday table spread! Feel free to use store bought pizza dough to skip a step!
While this appetizer looks fancy, there are only a few steps. Simply make the dough, let it rise, split the dough into 22 pieces, stuff the balls with mozzarella cheese, arrange into a christmas tree, bake, top with garlic butter, and dip with your favorite marinara sauce!
Cook the spinach on the stove in a pot over medium heat for 2-5 minutes.
When the spinach is wilted, transfer into a blender with 1/4 cup of water. Blend the spinach into a puree, and set aside.
Dissolve sugar and yeast in warm water. Let the mixture sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Transfer the yeast mixture, spinach puree, olive oil, salt, and 1 1/2 cups flour into the stand mixer.
Using the dough hook, turn to speed 2 and mix for about 1-2 minutes.
Add remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough clings to dough hook and cleans sides of bowl. Knead on speed 5 until the dough is formed together the the sides of the bowl are clean (about 2-3 minutes).
Place dough in a greased bowl and cover until the dough rises and doubles in size (at least 1 hour).
Pull Apart Christmas Tree
Preheat your oven to 425° F.
Transfer the dough onto a floured surface and divided into 22 balls.
Cut the mozzarella cheese block into 22 cubes.
Flatten each pizza dough ball, and place a mozzarella cube in the middle. Take the edges of the dough and bring together to form a ball. Repeat with the remaining dough.
Arrange the balls to form a christmas tree, with 1 ball in the first row, followed by 2 in the second, 3 in the third, 4 in the fourth, 5 in the fifth, 6 in the sixth, and 1 in the last row to form the tree trunk.
Mix the milk and water to create the milk wash, and use a pastry brush to coat the tops of the balls.
Bake the pull apart christmas tree for 18-20 minutes until the top is golden brown.
In a small bowl, mix together the butter, garlic, basil and crushed red chilli flakes.
Brush the pull apart christmas tree with the garlic butter, and top with parmesan cheese.
Enjoy with your favorite marinara dipping sauce!
If you make this Pull Apart Christmas Tree Cheesy Bread be sure to tag me on Instagram @chandskitchen or Facebook Chand’s Kitchen 🙂 I would love to see your creations!
