Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread – Perfect for Sharing

If you’re looking for a fun and festive Christmas appetizer that disappears faster than Santa’s cookies, this Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread is the one.

Soft, golden brown dough balls filled with gooey cheese are baked together in a tree-shaped loaf that pulls apart easily for serving. Brushed with melted butter, garlic, and grated Parmesan, it’s the perfect balance of buttery, garlicky, cheesy goodness — and a real crowd-pleaser for holiday gatherings.

You can make the bread from scratch or use store-bought pizza dough to save time. Either way, it bakes into a gorgeous, golden brown pull apart Christmas tree that’s easy, festive, and perfect for sharing. We serve it with a jar of our home canned marina sauce.

How to Make Christmas Tree Bread

This festive bread comes together with simple ingredients and minimal effort. The key is to cut the dough into small pieces, wrap each one around a bit of cheese, and place them on a baking sheet with parchment paper in the shape of a Christmas tree. Brush it with savory garlic herb butter when it’s out of the oven and it’s hard to resist.

Ingredients

For the dough:

1 batch of our easy sandwich bread (get the recipe here)

Or 1 pound of store-bought pizza dough

For the filling and topping:

• 6 mozzarella sticks, each cut into fourths (or use cubed mozzarella cheese or homemade mozzarella chunks)
• 2 tablespoons melted butter, divided
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan (fresh grated is best if you have it)
• 1 large egg, beaten (for egg wash)
• Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
• Optional: cherry tomatoes or red pepper pieces for decoration

Instructions

Prepare the dough (if making from scratch). (I love using my Bosch Universal Plus mixer for making dough.)

Shape the tree:

Divide dough into 24 small balls (about 1 inch each).

Flatten each ball slightly, add a chunk of cheese, and seal.

Arrange the balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a Christmas tree shape. Start with one ball at the top, then two, then three, and so on (use extra for the trunk). Leave just enough space for them to puff during baking.

Second rise: Cover, place in warm location, and let rise 20–30 minutes while preheating oven to 375°F (190°C).

Bake: Brush the top with egg wash for a glossy finish. (For egg wash, beat egg with a bit of water so it spreads easily.) Bake for 20-25 minutes, until golden brown.

Brush with butter and herb glaze: Mix 2 tablespoons melted butter, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Brush generously over the warm Christmas tree cheese bread, letting it soak into the nooks and edges.

Garnish and serve: Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan, chopped fresh parsley and, if you like, add cherry tomato halves for “ornaments.” Serve warm — it’s best eaten right away while the cheese is still melty.

Tips for Success

• Use parchment paper for easy transfer and cleanup.
• Keep the seam side down to prevent cheese from leaking while baking.
• Don’t overfill: A small piece of mozzarella or a third of a stick melts perfectly without bursting out.
• Egg wash gives the top that bakery-quality shine.
• Make ahead: Assemble the tree, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight. Let sit 30 minutes before baking.

Variations

• Crescent Roll Tree Pull Apart Bread: Use crescent dough triangles instead of pizza dough for a lighter, flakier texture. (I like the bread version better, but you do you.)
• Sweet Version: Skip the garlic and brush baked dough balls with melted butter and cinnamon sugar instead of Parmesan. (This is would do with crescent roll dough. Or you can try our Christmas wreath bread recipe.)
• Stuffed Christmas Tree Bread: Mix things up by using pepperoni and cheese, or cream cheese and herbs, inside the dough balls.

Storage

Store leftover tree pull apart bread wrapped in foil at room temperature for up to 2 days. To reheat, cover loosely with foil and warm in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes. To freeze, wrap in plastic wrap and foil; thaw overnight before reheating.

FAQs

Wrapping It Up

This Christmas Tree Bread is everything a Christmas appetizer should be — festive, flavorful, and irresistibly shareable. With its soft pull-apart layers, gooey melted cheese, and buttery garlic finish, it’s the kind of recipe that disappears the moment you set it down.

Make one for your family gathering, serve it with marinara sauce for dipping, and watch the smiles spread as everyone reaches for another piece. After all, that’s what homemade holiday baking is all about — bringing people together, one bite at a time.

Print

More Holiday Recipes

Yule Log Cake (takes a little time, but so good!)

Eggnog bread (makes the house smell yummy)

Homemade Hot Cocoa (because everything’s better with cocoa)

This article is written by Laurie Neverman. Laurie grew up in the kitchen, learning baking and home cooking from her momma. At age 15, she and her mom and two sisters created Irene’s Custom Cakes & Catering. This was her summer job through most of high school and college.