Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread
What’s better than having a delicious dish for Christmas? Well, I can answer that! It’s having something tasty in the shape of one of the most iconic symbols of the holiday, a Christmas Tree! My Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread accomplishes both of those tasks plus some. This savory garlic bread is filled with cheese and topped with the most decadent combination of butter and herbs. The good thing is that the flavors are complex enough for the adults but also reminiscent of a fancier version of pizza for the kiddos. This one is a winner!
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There is definitely something to the theory that we eat with our eyes first. That simply means that if something looks delicious, we are more willing to not only try it, but to also like it. Strange, right? Well, not really. The presentation of a dish can be an indication of how much time and effort were put into its completion as well as give you a hint as to what it might taste like.
Whenever I make foods into fun shapes that coordinate with the holidays for my family, it just always seems to go over better.
Everyone is amazed and interested.
(And if you are trying to introduce something new, curiosity is a must!) This Christmas Tree Bread recipe is beautiful. No, I mean it. The herbs give it plenty of hints of green to look like leaves and the shape is so whimsical.
You also get a sneak peek into what’s inside as the melted mozzarella starts to ooze out of the pizza dough. And that golden brown crust on top is practically begging you to take a bite! The whole thing is a feast for the eyes.
And during the hectic holiday season with all of the parties, dinners, and festivities, I’m always looking for an appetizer that I think everyone will enjoy. THIS IS IT! This is the type of bread that pleases the masses effortlessly. This is the appetizer that checks all of the boxes.
- Beautiful Presentation – This Christmas Tree Bread looks great on a cutting board or on a large white platter. Dress it up or keep it rustic. Either way, it’s a beauty. And serving it with pesto and marinara add another pop of Christmas color. (Green/red)
- Finger Food – When it comes to entertaining and having Christmas parties, it is helpful to have a dish that can be eaten with your hands so that you don’t have to worry about silverware. This bread can be pulled apart with no need for utensils.
- No heating required – Although this bread is BEST served warm right out of the oven, the flavors are still just as delicious at room temperature. And when you are entertaining a large crowd, that’s important. It’s nearly impossible to keep large amounts of food hot all the time.
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This recipe is also great if it’s your first time hosting a Christmas party and you are nervous about cooking for a lot of people. It’s budget friendly and all of the ingredients are easily found in your local grocery store. (No specialty items needed.) It’s a fail-proof recipe. Since you aren’t having to make the pizza dough from scratch (Avoiding: dough rise, bread machine, yeast mixture, kneading…), it’s really more about assembling the ingredients than “cooking”.
Also, a little bit goes a long way. This bread makes 35 pieces which will serve about 17 people. (If everyone eats two pieces of bread.) It’s a relief to get that many servings out of a dish if you have to feed a crowd.
Tips for Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread:
- Sprinkle flour on the cutting board or table when you roll out the pizza dough. This will keep it from sticking to the table.
- Line all of the mozzarella sticks side by side for cutting. This way you only have to make the cuts once, saving you a little time.
- If the bread is getting a little too brown in the oven, cover with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- If you want to use fresh herbs on your bread, here are the conversions for the recipe:
- 2 teaspoons of dried parsley = 4 teaspoons of fresh parsley chopped
- 2 teaspoons of dried basil = 4 teaspoons of fresh chopped basil leaves
- 1 teaspoon of dried rosemary = 6 teaspoons of fresh rosemary
Check out this article and learn how to grow your own fresh herbs!
Make this Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread with me on YouTube!
Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread Ingredients:
- 7 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1 stick of salted butter (melted)
- 1 refrigerated pizza crust dough (13.8 oz.)
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour (for rolling out the bread dough on a floured surface)
Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread Instructions:
- First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Second, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Third, take the mozzarella sticks and cut each one of them into five equal sized pieces and set aside. (You should get 35 pieces)
- Next, take the pizza dough and lay it out onto a lightly floured work surface.
- Stretch the dough into a large rectangular shape and, with a sharp knife, cut into squares. (You should get 35 pieces)
- Then, take the pieces of mozzarella and fold the cheese into each square of pizza dough. Once the cheese is wrapped in the square and you’ve pinched the edges together, roll it in the palms of your hand to make a ball of dough.
- Next, take the balls of pizza dough, stuffed with cheese, and arrange them on the parchment paper lined baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree.
- In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, red pepper flakes, rosemary, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley flakes, and parmesan cheese.
- Then, using a pastry brush, cover the top of the dough pieces with the melted butter and seasonings until the entire Christmas tree is completed coated. (Don’t forget the side of the dough as well.)
- Bake the Christmas tree bread for 15 minutes or until the bread is golden brown on top.
- Place the warm bread on a cutting board or a beautiful platter and serve with marinara and pesto!
Storage for this Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread:
- Leftover bread can be stored in an airtight container or cover the serving dish in plastic wrap and place in the fridge for up to 5 days.
What are the Macros for this Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread?
Makes 17 servings (Nutritional information below is for 1 serving = 2 pieces)
- Calories – 154
- Protein – 5.5 grams
- Carbs – 11.7 grams (net)
- Fat – 9.2 grams
Check out some of my other Christmas recipes!
Easy Virgin Christmas Rum Punch
Christmas White Trash Snack Mix Recipe
Peppermint Chocolate Christmas Bark
If you try this recipe and love it, please consider giving it 5 STARS.
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Easy Garlic Basil Christmas Tree Bread
Equipment
- 1 Baking sheet
- Parchment paper
- 1 Pastry Brush
- 1 small bowl
Ingredients
- 7 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1 stick of salted butter melted
- 1 refrigerated pizza crust dough 13.8 oz.
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried rosemary
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons of all-purpose flour for rolling out the bread dough on a floured surface
Instructions
- First, preheat the oven to 450 degrees.
- Second, line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Third, take the mozzarella sticks and cut each one of them into five equal sized pieces and set aside. (You should get 35 pieces)
- Next, take the pizza dough and lay it out onto a lightly floured work surface.
- Stretch the dough into a large rectangular shape and, with a sharp knife, cut into squares. (You should get 35 pieces)
- Then, take the pieces of mozzarella and fold the cheese into each square of pizza dough. Once the cheese is wrapped in the square and you’ve pinched the edges together, roll it in the palms of your hand to make a ball of dough.
- Next, take the balls of pizza dough, stuffed with cheese, and arrange them on the parchment paper lined baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree.
- In a separate bowl, combine the melted butter, red pepper flakes, rosemary, basil, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley flakes, and parmesan cheese.
- Then, using a pastry brush, cover the top of the dough pieces with the melted butter and seasonings until the entire Christmas tree is completed coated. (Don’t forget the side of the dough as well.)
- Bake the Christmas tree bread for 15 minutes or until the bread is golden brown on top.
- Place the warm bread on a cutting board or a beautiful platter and serve with marinara and pesto!
Video
