Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (2024)

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Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread – warm, buttery, garlicky pull apart bread loaded with melty cheese. Easy fun Christmas food and the perfect kick-off to the holiday season.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (1)

Irresistible warm, garlic-buttery pull-apart Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread filled with gooey, melty mozzarella cheese.

Easy Christmas Tree bread filled with its cheesy goodness is a show-stopping treat perfect for your holiday party and one the whole family will love.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (2)

WHAT I LOVE ABOUT THIS RECIPE:

  • This gorgeous Christmas Tree Bread is simple to make from pre-made pizza crust and a few simple grocery store ingredients.
  • Cheesy bread is popular with almost everyone so it’s a great Christmas party (or any holiday) appetizer.
  • The shape of a Christmas tree makes it so festive.
  • It’s even a great side dish with your Christmas dinner!

What’s in Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread RECIPE?

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (3)

HOW TO MAKE THIS EASY CHRISTMAS TREE BREAD:

Preheat the oven to 400° then line a large baking sheet with a piece of parchment paper.

Open the tube of pizza dough and spread out on a lightly floured surface. Using a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into 30 squares.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (4)

Next cut the mozzarella cheese sticks into 30 (1″) approximatley equal pieces and a chunk of mozzarella to each piece of dough.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (5)

Roll the dough to form a tightly sealed ball, pinching to seal the edges.

Place the dough balls on the prepared baking sheet seam side down in the shape of a Christmas tree (the balls should be lightly touching).

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (6)

In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water together then lightly brush with egg wash.

Bake 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.

Microwave butter 15-30 seconds or until melted then stir in half of the parmesan cheese and all of the garlic and herbs to the melted butter.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (7)

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (8)

When the bread is finished baking, remove from the oven and use a pastry brush to brush on the herb garlic butter then sprinkle with the rest of the parm cheese.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (9)

Serve with a side of marinara, pizza sauce or pesto for dipping.

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (10)

What goes with christmas bread?

This bread is a solid appetizer on its own but also goes perfectly so many entrees, including the ones below.

Baked Mostaccioli

Braised Beef Ragu

Garlic Butter Scallops

Lasagna Soup

CAN I MAKE CHRISTMAS TREE BREAD AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes! Here’s how you do it.

  1. Roll cheese filled balls per recipe instructions then place the balls on a parchment paper lined baking sheet (do NOT add the egg wash).
  2. Cover the baking sheet with plastic wrap and transfer it to the freezer for 2 to 2 1/2 hours until the dough is frozen.
  3. Place frozen balls in a zip top bag and store in the freezer until you’re ready to bake (they take up less room this way).
  4. Freeze without egg wash.
  5. When you’re ready to bake the bread, remove the balls from the freezer and thaw on the counter about 45 minutes.
  6. After the dough balls are thawed, assemble the tree, brush with egg wash and bake at 350° for about 20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (15)

Let’s cook together!

Tried this Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread? Leave a comment, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating and TAG ME with your photo on social media! @agoudalife or #agoudalife

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (16)

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread from refrigerated pizza dough. Warm, pull apart bread loaded with herby garlic butter and plenty of cheese. Dip in marinara or pesto for the ultimate appetizer or side dish.

3.66 from 989 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 16 minutes mins

Course Appetizer

Cuisine American

Servings 15

Calories

Ingredients

  • 13 ounce canned refrigerator pizza dough
  • parchment paper for lining baking sheet
  • 6-7 mozzarella cheese sticks
  • 1 large egg + 1 tablespoon water for egg wash
  • 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
  • 1 jar marinara and/or pesto for dipping

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400° then line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

  • Cut the dough into 30 approximately equal squares then cut the mozzarella cheese sticks into 30 bite size (1 inch) pieces.

  • Add a piece of mozzarella to each square of dough then form a ball, rolling with your hands to smooth and seal the edges.

  • Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet seam side down in the shape of a tree (see photos) - so the balls are touching. Blend the egg and water in a small bowl and lightly brush each ball with the egg wash.

  • Bake 16-18 minutes or until golden brown. While the bread is baking, microwave the butter until melted then stir in half of the parmesan cheese and all of the grated garlic and herbs. Brush onto the rolls, then sprinkle with the remaining parmesan cheese over the top then serve right away with marinara and/or pesto for dipping.

Keyword pull apart bread, cheesy pull apart bread, holiday appetizers

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread - easy recipe! - A Gouda Life (2024)

FAQs

What is cheese bread cheese? ›

Juustoleipä, or “bread cheese,” is a buttery, slightly sweet cheese native to Scandinavia. If you want to be authentic, try pronouncing it: hoo-stah-lee-pa. Contrary to the name, there's no bread in bread cheese. Its name comes from its gorgeous, slightly charred crust that looks an awful lot like a piece of bread.

How to eat bread cheese? ›

Bread cheese can be eaten hot or cold. You can pair it with fruit or veggies on a crudité tray or throw it on a charcuterie board with a drizzle of honey. One popular way of eating bread cheese is to dip it in a marinara sauce like a mozzarella stick. Or you can go the Finnish route and dip it in coffee.

How to eat Trader Joe's bread cheese? ›

Trader Joe's recommends enjoying the product warmed, whether that's a quick sear in a skillet or a few seconds in the microwave.

How to score sourdough Christmas tree? ›

Use a piece of dental floss or string to mark out a tall triangle that will form the main part of your Christmas Tree. Then, use a large kitchen knife to cut the two sides of the dough away to form the triangle. Then cut the bottom of the loaf to form the stump of the tree.

Which cheese is best for bread? ›

Cheddar – The tangy taste of cheddar goes well with the sweeter notes of white bread. Cheddar is also great for grilled sandwiches and paninis. Mozzarella – The grainy, nutty taste of wholemeal bread goes well with Mozzarella. Top it with tomatoes, basil and olive oil to create a great-tasting, healthy sandwich.

What is the best cheese to melt on bread? ›

Cheese options – For the best grilled cheese, you want to use a combination of mozzarella (for its cheese pull and non-greasy melting qualities) with a flavoured cheese – because mozzarella actually has a very mild flavour. A good vintage cheddar or gruyere are my absolute favourites.

How to eat Gouda cheese with bread? ›

Eat sliced gouda with whole grain bread.

Make a grilled cheese using whole grain bread and slices of gouda cheese, or add slices of gouda to a cold sandwich. You can also serve whole grain bread on a cheese platter with slices of gouda. The heaviness of whole grain bread pairs nicely with gouda cheese.

Does bread cheese go bad? ›

If you're lucky enough to score on a few blocks of bread cheese, the good news is that it has a long shelf life. Cook says bread cheese lasts up to 6 months refrigerated and one year in the freezer. You can store the bread cheese in cheese paper, beeswax, or a plastic storage bag.

Should I refrigerate cheese bread? ›

Refrigerate cheese bread if you need to store it for more than a few days. But be sure to bring it to room temperature before eating, as refrigeration can affect the texture. Freezing is the best long-term storage solution for cheese bread. Wrap individual pieces in plastic wrap and store them in a freezer bag.

How do you melt cheese on bread without making it soggy? ›

Quickly brown both sides of the bread in a hot skillet, then top each piece with grated cheese. Use a good melting cheese like cheddar, Gruyere, or Muenster for best results! Heat the bread in the skillet for 3 minutes until the cheese melts and gets bubbly, then transfer to a plate and enjoy.

Does Aldi have bread cheese? ›

Emporium Selection Bread Cheese Assorted Varieties | ALDI US.

Can you eat cheese bread cold? ›

It's toasted, but it's not toast. Eat it cold and it squeaks like cheese curds. Or heat it up and, rather than melting, it delivers a slice of buttery, slightly caramelized, creamy goodness.

What is the formula for the perfect Christmas tree? ›

Number of baubles: (17 x pi) then multiply by tree hight in cm. Length of lights in cm: pi multiplied by tree hight in cm. Height of star in cm: tree height in cm divided by 10.

What is the best flour for scoring sourdough bread? ›

to pop without leaving behind an ooky texture. #baking #sourdough #sourdoughscoring #probaker.

Why is my sourdough so hard to score? ›

It is difficult to score very soft dough or dough at room temperature. Make sure your blade is as sharp as possible and try one very quick stroke. Sometimes this is just not possible. Some bakers will put their loaves in the freezer for about 20 minutes before scoring to firm up the dough.

Why is bread cheese so good? ›

If you've ever had fresh cheese curds or halloumi, bread cheese is similar in that it's got the soft, “squeaky” texture. The taste is mild but the oven-toasted top has an almost buttery flavor.

Is bread cheese the same as halloumi? ›

While bread cheese is best warmed before serving, don't expect the gooey, melty texture you may get from other semi-soft cheeses — bread cheese holds its firmness in a way more similar to halloumi or paneer when it comes to texture. It's a salty yet mild cheese that works well with a variety of other flavors.

What is the white cheese on sandwiches called? ›

Depends, the white triangle cheese is American cheese. The white half circle shape is provolone cheese. Last but not least the white triangle shaped with holes is Swiss cheese.

What is bread cheese in Finland? ›

Bread cheese (Finnish: leipäjuusto or juustoleipä; Meänkieli: kahvijuusto; Swedish: kaffeost or brödost), known in the United States as Finnish squeaky cheese, is a Finnish fresh cheese traditionally made from cow's colostrum. In America, cow's milk is generally used but can also be made with goat milk.

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