The holiday season is officially upon us. That means cozy sweaters, cheerful music, and of course, gatherings with friends and family. But let’s be honest, it can also mean a little bit of hosting stress. You want to make something delicious and memorable without spending all day in the kitchen.
What if I told you there’s a recipe that looks impressive, tastes incredible, and is so easy to make? Say hello to this Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread. It’s one of those Appetizer Recipes Christmas parties were made for. It’s warm, gooey, and so much fun to pull apart and share.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
First off, this recipe is incredibly simple. We use store bought jumbo biscuits as a shortcut, which saves a ton of time. No need to worry about making dough from scratch. This makes it one of the best Simple Christmas Appetizers you can find.
It’s also a total showstopper. The festive tree shape is so cute and instantly brings holiday cheer to your table. It doubles as a decoration and a delicious snack. Everyone, from kids to adults, will want to grab a piece.
The flavor is just classic comfort. Each little bread ball is stuffed with melty mozzarella cheese. Then, it’s all brushed with a savory garlic butter and Italian seasoning blend. It’s a wonderful combination that everyone enjoys.
This is the definition of shareable food. It’s a pull apart bread, making it a fantastic choice for Christmas Party Fingerfood Ideas. No cutting or formal serving required. Just place it on the table and let everyone dig in. It is one of my favorite Appetizer Recipes Christmas gatherings need.
Ingredients
The ingredient list for this recipe is short and sweet. You can find everything you need at your local grocery store. Here’s what you’ll be grabbing for one of the most fun Christmas Appetizers Easy Finger Foods.
- 16 oz can jumbo biscuits
- 7 to 8 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 4 tbsp salted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 large egg, beaten
- Optional: grated parmesan cheese for garnish
A quick note on the ingredients. The jumbo biscuits are great because they give you enough dough for a nice sized bread ball. For the cheese, mozzarella sticks are convenient and easy to cut into uniform pieces. You could also use a block of low moisture mozzarella. When it comes to Appetizer Recipes Christmas food should be simple!
Step By Step Instructions
Ready to build your cheesy tree? This process is super fun and straightforward. This is one of those Appetizer Recipes Christmas dreams are made of because it is so easy to assemble. Let’s get started.
Step 1: Prep Your Ingredients And Workspace
First things first, preheat your oven to 400°F. While that’s heating up, line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This will prevent any sticking and make cleanup so much easier.
Next, get your dough and cheese ready. Open the can of jumbo biscuits and separate them. Cut each biscuit into four equal pieces. This should give you 32 small dough squares. You will only need 31 for the tree shape. Then, cut your mozzarella sticks into 31 pieces.
Step 2: Stuff And Roll The Dough Balls
Now for the fun part. Take one square of dough and place a piece of mozzarella cheese in the center. Gently stretch the dough around the cheese, pinching the edges together to seal it completely. A good seal is important to keep the cheese from leaking out while baking.
Once sealed, roll the dough between your hands to form a smooth ball. Repeat this process with the remaining 30 pieces of dough and cheese. You’ll soon have a little collection of cheesy dough balls, ready for assembly. This is an easy task for little helpers in the kitchen too.
Step 3: Assemble The Christmas Tree
It’s time to create your masterpiece. Arrange the dough balls on your prepared baking sheet to form a Christmas tree shape. Start with the trunk, then build your way up, making each row slightly smaller than the one below it. Place them seam side down, and let the balls touch each other lightly. They will bake together into a single pull apart loaf.
Once your tree is formed, whisk the egg in a small bowl. Gently brush the beaten egg over the entire surface of the dough. This egg wash is what gives the bread a beautiful, golden brown shine. Making delicious Christmas Dinner Appetizers should always be this enjoyable.
Step 4: Bake To Golden Perfection
Place the baking sheet in your preheated oven. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until the top is a lovely golden brown. Ovens can vary, so keep a close eye on it. If you notice it browning too quickly, you can loosely cover it with a piece of aluminum foil for the remaining bake time.
Step 5: Add The Garlic Butter Topping
While the bread is baking, prepare the garlic butter. In a small, microwave safe bowl, melt the butter. Stir in the minced garlic and Italian seasoning. The smell alone is just wonderful. It’s the finishing touch for our festive Appetizer Recipes Christmas bread.
As soon as you take the bread out of the oven, brush this glorious garlic butter mixture all over the warm rolls. If you’re using it, sprinkle a little grated Parmesan cheese on top for an extra savory kick. Serve it immediately with your favorite dipping sauces, like marinara or pesto. This is one of the tastiest Christmas Appetizers Easy Finger Foods.
How To Store Leftovers
If you happen to have any leftovers, which might be unlikely, storing them is simple. Allow the bread to cool completely. Then, place it in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to five days.
When you’re ready to enjoy it again, you can reheat the bread in the microwave for a few seconds until warm and soft. For a slightly crispier texture, the air fryer is a great option. Just a few minutes is all it needs. It will taste just as good as when it was fresh.
Don’t forget about any leftover garlic butter. Store it in a small covered bowl in the fridge. You can use it on baked potatoes, to make garlic bread, or to add flavor to steamed vegetables.
Tips
Want to get ahead of your holiday prep? You can assemble the unbaked Christmas tree on the baking sheet, cover it, and keep it in the fridge for up to a day. When you’re ready, just brush with the egg wash and bake as directed. This makes party day much less hectic. It’s a great tip for Simple Christmas Appetizers.
Serving this bread with dipping sauces is a must. I love a classic marinara sauce and a vibrant pesto. You could also try a creamy ranch or a spicy arrabbiata sauce. Setting out a bowl of toothpicks is a thoughtful touch if you’re serving a larger crowd, making it truly one of the best Christmas Party Fingerfood Ideas.
Feel free to get creative with the cheese. While mozzarella is a classic choice for its great melting quality, you could also use pieces of cheddar, provolone, or even a spicy pepper jack for a little kick. You could also add a small piece of pepperoni with the cheese for a pizza inspired flavor. This is one of those Appetizer Recipes Christmas fans will love because of its versatility.
Conclusion
This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is more than just a recipe. It’s a fun activity, a festive centerpiece, and a delicious way to bring people together. It proves that you don’t need complicated steps or ingredients to create something special for the holidays.
It really is one of the best Appetizer Recipes Christmas gatherings could ask for. It’s warm, comforting, and designed for sharing. So this year, add this delightful pull apart bread to your menu. I promise it will be a huge hit and might just become a new holiday tradition.
FAQ
Can I Use Homemade Dough Instead Of Canned Biscuits?
Absolutely. If you have a favorite pizza dough or bread dough recipe, feel free to use it. You’ll need to roll it out and cut it into small squares. Just be mindful that baking times may vary slightly depending on your dough, so keep an eye on it.
What Is The Best Way To Prevent The Cheese From Oozing Out?
The key is a good seal. When you wrap the dough around the cheese, make sure to pinch the seams together very tightly. Placing the dough balls seam side down on the baking sheet also helps keep all that gooey cheese inside where it belongs.
Can I Freeze This Christmas Tree Bread?
Yes, this bread freezes well. You can freeze it either baked or unbaked. To freeze baked, let it cool completely, then wrap it tightly in plastic wrap and foil. To freeze unbaked, assemble the tree on a baking sheet and freeze until firm, then transfer to a freezer safe bag. Bake from frozen, adding extra time as needed.
What Are Other Good Dipping Sauces?
Besides marinara and pesto, this bread is fantastic with a warm cheese sauce, a creamy garlic aioli, or even a simple olive oil dip with herbs. The possibilities are endless when it comes to fantastic Christmas Dinner Appetizers and their pairings.
Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
This Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread is an incredibly simple and festive pull-apart appetizer, perfect for holiday gatherings. Made with jumbo biscuits stuffed with mozzarella, brushed with garlic butter, and Italian seasoning, it’s a warm, gooey, and shareable snack that looks impressive and tastes delicious.
Requirements
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Open jumbo biscuits and cut each into four equal pieces (32 small dough squares). Cut mozzarella sticks into 31 pieces.
- Take one dough square, place a mozzarella cheese piece in the center, and pinch edges to seal. Roll to form a smooth ball. Repeat for the remaining 30 pieces of dough and cheese.
- Arrange 31 dough balls on the baking sheet to form a Christmas tree shape, starting with the trunk and making rows smaller as you go up. Place seam side down, touching lightly.
- Whisk the egg in a small bowl. Gently brush the beaten egg over the entire surface of the dough.
- Bake for 15 to 17 minutes, or until golden brown. If browning too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil.
- While baking, melt butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Stir in minced garlic and Italian seasoning.
- Immediately after removing the bread from the oven, brush the garlic butter mixture over the warm rolls. Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve with dipping sauces.
Notes
Taste the base before freezing and adjust sweetener if needed. Frozen desserts tastes less sweet, so aim for slightly sweeter than you prefer.
Do not fill the pint past the max fill line, as the mixture will expand during freezing and processing.
A full 24-hour freeze is essential for the best, creamiest texture. Rushing this step can result in an icy or soupy consistency.
Feel free to experiment with other flavors like vanilla protein with frozen berries or adding mint extract for a mint-chip version.
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