If you’re hunting for a festive appetizer that requires almost no prep and comes together in under an hour, this pull-apart Christmas tree bread is a holiday lifesaver. It’s warm, cheesy, and designed for sharing: perfect for potlucks, family gatherings, or that moment when you realize your holiday spread needs one more fun addition.
For this version of the pull apart Christmas tree, I skipped the Parmesan (although that is a delicious addition) and rely on a buttery herb topping and melty mozzarella inside each bite. The result? A soft, golden, irresistible tree-shaped bread that disappears faster than anything else on the table.
Below, you’ll find a full guide to making it plus tips to customize, prep ahead, and serve.
I made this and my kids devoured it!
Looking for more holiday ideas? Get my newsletter or check out some of my favorite Christmas board ideas.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Uses store-bought pizza dough (no kneading needed!)
- Done in 40 minutes
- Looks impressive but is incredibly simple
- Perfect for dipping: marinara, ranch, garlic butter, you name it
- Kid-friendly, party-friendly, holiday-friendly
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Mozzarella sticks – These melt beautifully and give every bite a gooey center.
- Pizza dough – Refrigerated dough works perfectly.
- Egg wash – Helps the tree bake up golden and glossy.
- Butter + fresh herbs – I use parsley, basil, and rosemary for an aromatic finishing brush (no Parmesan needed).
- Dipping sauce – Marinara is classic, but try ranch or garlic butter.
How to Make Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
1. Prep the Oven & Filling
Preheat your oven to 450°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the mozzarella sticks into bite-sized pieces—about 1″ each—so they fit inside the dough easily.
2. Roll Out the Dough
Flour your work surface well.
Divide your pizza dough into two pieces, then roll each into a long rectangle. Aim for roughly 18″ x 4″, but the exact size isn’t critical.
3. Cut Into Squares & Fill
Slice the dough into small squares (around 2″ wide). You’ll need about 30-35 pieces to build the tree.
Place a piece of mozzarella in the center of each dough square and wrap it tightly to form a sealed ball. Make sure the seams are pinched closed so the cheese stays inside while baking.
4. Build the Christmas Tree
Arrange the dough balls seam-side down, touching, in the shape of a Christmas tree on your baking sheet. Start wide at the bottom and work upward, finishing with a single ball at the top.
5. Brush with Egg Wash
Whisk 1 egg + 1 tbsp water.
Brush the tops of the dough balls—this gives the bread a beautiful golden color.
6. Bake
Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until the tree is puffed, golden, and cooked through.
7. Add the Herbed Butter
While it bakes, melt the butter and stir in:
- chopped parsley
- chopped rosemary
- sliced basil
Brush this mixture generously over the hot bread as soon as it comes out of the oven.
Serve immediately with warm marinara or your favorite dipping sauce.
Serving Suggestions
- Marinara sauce is the classic pairing and adds that comforting pizza flavor.
- For a crowd: serve with multiple dips—ranch, garlic butter, pesto, or even a spicy tomato sauce.
- If you want a little heat, sprinkle red pepper flakes over the finished tree.
Make-Ahead Tips
This appetizer is best fresh, but you can prep parts of it:
- Prepare the dough balls ahead of time and refrigerate on a sheet pan for a few hours. Bake just before serving.
- To reheat leftovers, warm the baked tree in a 250°F oven for 10–15 minutes until the cheese is melty again.
Pull Apart Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- 7 mozzarella sticks
- All-purpose flour for dusting
- 2 lb. store-bought pizza dough at room temperature
- 1 large egg
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter melted
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley plus extra to garnish
- 1 tbsp chopped fresh rosemary
- 1 tbsp thinly sliced fresh basil
- Red pepper flakes optional
- Warm marinara for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 450°F. Cut each mozzarella stick into 5 pieces.
- On a floured surface, divide each batch of pizza dough in half and roll each piece into an 18″ x 4″ rectangle.
- Cut the dough into 2″ squares (you’ll need about 33). Wrap each square around a piece of cheese and seal well.
- Arrange the dough balls seam-side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet to form a Christmas tree.
- Whisk the egg with 1 tbsp water and brush lightly over the dough balls.
- Bake for 15–20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Mix melted butter with parsley, basil, and rosemary. Brush over the warm tree and garnish with extra herbs or red pepper flakes.
- Serve warm with marinara or your favorite dip.
