Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
This cheesy Christmas tree pull-apart bread is brushed with garlic butter, baked until golden, and pulled apart piece by piece while it’s still warm and melty. It looks festive, feeds a crowd, and uses store-bought pizza dough—because December is not the time for unnecessary stress.
Every Christmas, I look for one recipe that can sit in the middle of the table and quietly disappear while everyone talks, laughs, and reaches in “just one more time.” This cheesy Christmas tree pull-apart bread became that recipe for us.
I started making it during one of those busy Decembers when I wanted something festive but didn’t have the patience for complicated dough or long proofing times. Using pizza dough felt almost too easy—but once it came out of the oven, golden and puffed, brushed with garlic butter and herbs, it didn’t matter how simple it was. The cheese pulls did all the talking.
What I love most is that it feels playful. No slicing, no serving, no rules. People just pull off a piece, and before you know it, the tree is missing a few branches. It’s the kind of food that brings everyone into the kitchen without trying too hard—exactly what Christmas cooking should be.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy but impressive – shaped like a Christmas tree with zero special tools
- Cheesy pull-apart perfection – mozzarella in every bite
- Garlic butter finish – brushed on warm so it soaks right in
- Perfect holiday appetizer – great for parties, potlucks, and Christmas Eve
- Flexible – use store-bought or homemade pizza dough
Ingredients & substitutes
- Pizza dough – store-bought or homemade. You can use my best pizza recipe.
- 10–11 mozzarella cheese sticks, each cut into three pieces (about 32 pieces total). Mozzarella gives those nice strings when you pull it apart, but you could use cheddar, Gouda, or any other cheese you like.
- Egg, beaten (for egg wash). You can also use milk to brush the buns if you prefer no egg.
- Unsalted butter adds a nice buttery flavor, but you can also use good-quality olive oil.
- I prefer garlic powder because it leaves no pieces of garlic to bite into, but you can use fresh minced garlic for a stronger flavor.
- Herbs -I prefer dried oregano with fresh parsley, but you can also use thyme and rosemary.
Step-by-step: How to Make Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
1. Prep
Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
2. Cut the Dough
Roll the pizza dough into a rectangle if needed. Cut into 32 equal pieces:
First, cut the dough into 4 sections. Then, cut each section in half. Continue halving until you have 32 pieces. Perfection is not required—rustic works beautifully here.
3. Add the Cheese
Cut each mozzarella stick into three pieces.
Place one piece of cheese in the center of each dough square.
Wrap the dough around the cheese, pinching well to seal, then gently roll into a ball.
4. Shape the Christmas Tree
Arrange the dough balls seam-side down on the prepared tray in the shape of a Christmas tree:
One ball at the top. Increase rows as you move downward. Use one or two balls at the bottom to form the trunk
Leave a little space between pieces—they’ll puff as they bake.
5. Egg Wash & Bake
Brush the dough generously with egg wash. Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown.
6. Garlic Butter Finish
While the bread is still warm, mix together: Melted butter, garlic powder, dried oregano, and fresh parsley. Salt, if using
Brush the garlic butter generously over the hot bread so it melts into every crevice.
Tips for Best Results
- Seal the dough well, or the cheese will leak out
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for the best melt
- Add chili flakes or grated Parmesan to the butter for extra flavor
- Serve warm for maximum cheese pull drama
Make Ahead & Storage
- You can assemble the bread up to 6 hours ahead, cover, and refrigerate
- Bake just before serving
- Leftovers reheat well in a low oven (170°C / 340°F) for 8–10 minutes
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Frequently asked questions
Yes. Any soft pizza dough works well for this recipe.
Mozzarella works best, but cheddar or a mozzarella-cheddar blend also works.
It’s best fresh, but you can freeze baked leftovers and reheat in the oven until hot.
Cheesy Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread (Garlic Butter)
Soft pizza dough stuffed with mozzarella, baked into a festive Christmas tree, and brushed with garlic butter.
Video
Ingredients
- 1 sheet Pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)
- 10 -11 sticks Mozzarella cheese sticks each cut into 3 pieces (you’ll need about 32 pieces)
- 1 large Egg beaten (for egg wash)
- 4 tbsp Unsalted butter melted
- ½ tsp Garlic powder
- ½ tsp Dried oregano
- 1 – 2 Fresh parsley finely chopped
- Pinch of salt (optional to taste)
Method
- Prep – Preheat oven to 190°C / 375°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Cut the Dough – Roll the pizza dough into a rectangle if needed. Cut into 32 equal pieces: Cut into 4 strips. Cut each strip in half. Then cut again until you have 32 roughly equal pieces. (Perfection not required—this is rustic Christmas energy.)1 sheet Pizza dough
- Fill with Cheese – Cut each cheese stick into 3 pieces. Place one piece of cheese in the center of each dough square. Wrap the dough around the cheese and pinch tightly to seal. Roll gently into a ball.10 -11 sticks Mozzarella cheese sticks
- Shape the Christmas Tree – Arrange the dough balls seam-side down on the tray in the shape of a Christmas tree: Start with a single ball at the top. Increase rows as you go down. Use two or four balls at the bottom for the “trunk”. Don’t stress—once it bakes, it magically looks right.
- Egg Wash & Bake – Brush generously with egg wash. Bake for 20–25 minutes, until puffed and golden brown.1 large Egg
- Garlic Butter Finish (The Best Part) – While the bread is still hot, mix: melted butter, garlic powder, dried oregano, and Fresh parsley. Brush generously over the warm bread, so it seeps into every nook. Optional but encouraged: brush again after 5 minutes. Live your best life.4 tbsp Unsalted butter, ½ tsp Garlic powder, ½ tsp Dried oregano, 1 – 2 Fresh parsley, Pinch of salt
Notes
- Seal the dough well or the cheese will escape (still delicious, just rebellious)
- Use low-moisture mozzarella for best melt
- Want extra flavor? Add a pinch of chili flakes or grated parmesan to the butter
- Serve warm for peak cheese pull drama
Equipment you will need
Nutrition
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Made this for a holiday dinner and it was the first thing gone from the table. Everyone kept pulling “just one more piece” 😄
That’s exactly what it’s meant for! So glad it was a hit — it’s hard to stop at just one piece.