Name: Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread – One Of The Best Christmas Bread Recipes
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 18 min
Total time: 38 min
Ingredients: 1 can (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza dough; 8 oz mozzarella cheese (cubed or shredded); 4 tbsp butter; 1 clove garlic, finely minced; 1 tbsp parsley, finely chopped (optional); Grated parmesan cheese (optional); Marinara or pizza sauce for dipping (optional)

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When it comes to Christmas Bread Recipes, I want something that’s warm, cheesy, and gets people tearing off pieces before dinner’s even on the table. This one hits the mark. It’s got that pull-apart magic going on, loaded with gooey cheese and brushed with garlic butter that smells like you’ve baked a holiday miracle. I love that it looks like a showstopper, but secretly it’s beginner-friendly. It’s one of those Easy Bread Recipes that feels festive without making you lose your cool in the kitchen. You can serve it up as an appetizer or sneak it in between the ham and mashed potatoes at Christmas Dinner. Trust me, no one will complain. It even gets bonus points for being super adaptable. Don’t want mozzarella? Try cheddar. Prefer rosemary over parsley? Go for it. You could call it Christmas Meals meets snack board meets bread basket. And yes, it’s right at home next to all those Christmas Cookies Recipes Easy you’ve got lined up. I mean, balance, right? Plus, it doubles as one of those Easy Christmas Food Ideas that people talk about long after the tree’s down.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Recipe
3) Ingredients for Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
4) How to Make Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
5) Tips for Making Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
6) Making Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread
8) Try these Appetizer Recipes next!
9) Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Recipe
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

This festive pull-apart bread is made from pizza dough stuffed with melty cheese.
Brushed with garlic butter, it’s flavorful and perfect for sharing at Christmas dinner.
You can prep it ahead and bake it just before guests arrive for that warm, cheesy effect.
Great as an appetizer or a fun edible centerpiece for Christmas meals.

2) Easy Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Recipe

We all want Christmas Bread Recipes that actually feel doable. I’m not about to spend hours kneading dough while everyone else watches movies and snacks in the living room. That’s where this bread comes in handy.

It looks like a Christmas tree, which checks the festive box. It’s also stuffed with cheese, which checks the eat-everything-before-it-cools box. Whether you’re setting this on the table before a big Christmas dinner or bringing it to a friend’s holiday party, you’ll love how easy and crowd-pleasing it is.

I’ve been making this for a few years now, and it always disappears faster than I can say “Save me a piece.” It’s become a reliable part of our go-to Christmas meals. We always need a mix of Easy Bread Recipes and Easy Christmas Food Ideas on the table, and this one hits the mark every time.

3) Ingredients for Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

Refrigerated Pizza Dough: I usually grab the 13.8 oz can from the store. It’s one of those ingredients that saves time without skimping on flavor. No one needs to know you didn’t make it from scratch.

Mozzarella Cheese: You can go shredded or cubed, but either way you want it to melt well. I’ve used block mozzarella, chopped into bits, and it works like a charm.

Butter: Four tablespoons, melted and ready to mix with garlic. It’s what gives that rich finish on top.

Garlic: One clove, finely minced. Trust me, fresh garlic brings so much more punch than the pre-minced stuff.

Parsley: Totally optional but adds a bit of green flair that plays well with the holiday theme.

Parmesan Cheese: If you’re feeling extra, sprinkle some grated parm over the top before or after baking. Adds a salty finish.

Marinara or Pizza Sauce: This one’s optional too, but I always serve a little bowl of warm sauce on the side for dipping. It completes the experience.

4) How to Make Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

Step 1. Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. This makes cleanup way easier.

Step 2. Roll out the pizza dough on a clean surface. Slice it into 33 small pieces—aim for even sizing so they cook the same.

Step 3. Tuck a piece of mozzarella into each dough square. Pinch the dough around the cheese, roll it gently, and seal the seam underneath.

Step 4. Arrange the dough balls on the baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree. Stack them tight, with a short row at the top and working down to wider rows. Add two balls as the trunk.

Step 5. Bake for 15 to 18 minutes or until the tops look golden and just a little crisp.

Step 6. While the bread bakes, melt the butter in a saucepan. Stir in the garlic and cook it just enough to make your kitchen smell amazing—about a minute or two.

Step 7. Brush the garlic butter over the warm bread as soon as it comes out of the oven. Sprinkle on parsley and parmesan if you like.

Step 8. Serve warm with a side of marinara or pizza sauce for dipping. And maybe keep an eye on it—this bread has a habit of vanishing fast.

5) Tips for Making Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

If you’re anything like me, baking during the holidays means chaos in the kitchen. Kids running around, timers beeping, someone asking when the mashed potatoes are done. So here’s what’s helped.

Cut and prep your dough balls ahead of time. You can keep them chilled until you’re ready to bake. That way you’re not rolling dough while your guests arrive.

Don’t overfill the dough with cheese. I’ve made that mistake and ended up with a gooey mess. A small cube or tablespoon of shredded cheese is plenty.

If you want to add more color, toss on some chopped roasted red peppers or a few black olive slices between dough balls. They look like ornaments, which is oddly satisfying.

Lastly, don’t skip the garlic butter. It’s what transforms this from pizza dough into something worthy of the Christmas Bread Recipes hall of fame.

6) Making Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Ahead of Time

This recipe is a lifesaver when you’re trying to get everything timed just right for Christmas dinner. I’ve prepped the dough balls earlier in the day, stuffed them, shaped the tree, then popped the whole tray into the fridge.

Just take them out about 20 minutes before baking so the dough isn’t ice-cold. That way, they’ll bake evenly. You can even make the garlic butter ahead and rewarm it gently when needed.

It’s a great option when you’re juggling multiple dishes, like those Christmas Cookies Recipes Easy that always seem to bake at the same time you need the oven for dinner. Having this ready and chilling in the fridge buys you a little breathing room.

7) Storing Leftover Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

If you somehow have leftovers, wrap them tightly and pop them in the fridge. They’ll keep for about three days, but honestly, mine rarely make it that long.

To reheat, use the oven or air fryer instead of the microwave to bring back that lightly crispy outside. About 8 minutes at 325°F should do the trick.

And if you’re packing up plates for friends or sending leftovers home with guests, this stores nicely in foil or a sealed container. That’s one more reason why I always keep Easy Christmas Food Ideas like this on the holiday rotation.

8) Try these Appetizer Recipes next!

9) Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread Recipe