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Cheesy Tree Bread Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 683 reviews

Cheesy Tree Bread is a fun and festive pull-apart bread shaped like a Christmas tree, featuring gooey mozzarella cheese stuffed inside soft pizza dough balls. Perfect for holiday gatherings or as a delicious appetizer, this bread is flavored with garlic, fresh herbs, and parmesan cheese, and served with marinara or pesto dipping sauces.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough and Cheese

  • 13 ounce canned refrigerator pizza dough
  • 6–7 mozzarella cheese sticks
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tablespoon water (for egg wash)

Butter Herb Topping

  • 3 tablespoons butter (melted)
  • 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese (divided)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley (finely chopped)
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh rosemary (finely chopped)
  • 1/2 tablespoon fresh basil (finely chopped)
  • 1 clove garlic (grated)

Dipping Sauce

  • 1 jar marinara and/or pesto (for dipping)

Other

  • parchment paper (for lining baking sheet)

Instructions

  1. Preheat and Prepare: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking and ensure easy cleanup.
  2. Cut Dough and Cheese: Divide the pizza dough into 30 approximately equal squares. Cut the mozzarella sticks into about 30 bite-size pieces, roughly 1 inch each.
  3. Form Cheese-Filled Dough Balls: Place one piece of mozzarella onto each dough square. Then, carefully roll each square into a ball, sealing the cheese inside smoothly by pinching the edges together.
  4. Shape and Brush: Arrange the dough balls seam side down on the baking sheet into the shape of a Christmas tree, ensuring the balls are touching to create a pull-apart bread. In a small bowl, whisk together the egg and tablespoon of water to make an egg wash. Lightly brush each dough ball with this egg wash to promote golden browning.
  5. Bake: Bake the arranged dough balls in the preheated oven for 16-18 minutes, or until they turn a lovely golden brown.
  6. Prepare Herb Butter and Finish: While baking, microwave the butter until melted. Stir in half of the grated parmesan cheese, the grated garlic, and all the finely chopped fresh herbs. Once the bread is out of the oven, brush the herb butter mixture generously over the hot rolls, then sprinkle the remaining parmesan cheese on top.
  7. Serve: Serve the cheesy tree bread immediately with marinara and/or pesto sauce for dipping. Enjoy pulling apart the cheesy, herby bites!

Notes

  • Ensure the pizza dough is at room temperature before working with it for easier handling and sealing.
  • For an extra cheesy experience, add small cubes of other cheeses like cheddar or pepper jack inside the dough balls along with the mozzarella.
  • Use fresh herbs for the best flavor, but dried herbs can be substituted if needed (use about 1 teaspoon of dried herbs).
  • This bread is best served warm on the day it’s made for optimal gooey cheese and soft bread texture.
  • Marinara or pesto are both excellent dipping sauces, but you can also serve with garlic butter or ranch dressing.

Keywords: Cheesy bread, pull-apart bread, party appetizer, holiday bread, mozzarella bread balls, stuffed bread, herb butter bread

Find it online: https://ricoloranz.com/cheesy-tree-bread-recipe/