Searching for a showstopping dish for your holiday table? This Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread recipe is easy to make, looks super fun and festive, and is delicious to eat. It's the perfect Christmas appetizer for your next holiday party.
This post was first published on November 15, 2021. It was updated with more helpful content including step-by-step photos, updated recipe instructions, and photos and republished on November 6, 2023.
The holiday season is here! We celebrate Christmas in our house, and if you do, too, you'll love this Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread recipe.
We're always looking for fun Christmas appetizers to share with our holiday guests. Like this Christmas Charcuterie Board, Christmas Wreath Salad, and this Christmas Tree Veggie Tray. Basically, if there's a way to make delicious food into the shape of a Christmas tree or wreath, we'll do it!
And this Christmas tree cheese bread is another fun and festive holiday appetizer or side dish. It's so flavorful, cheesy, and perfect for dipping into marinara sauce.
Plus, with its cute Christmas tree shape, it will look absolutely gorgeous on any holiday table!
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📺 Featured on The Drew Barrymore Show!
Watch me bake this easy Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread on The Drew Barrymore Show!
❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
Not only does this Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread look amazing and fun, but it tastes delicious! It's definitely an easy holiday appetizer that everyone will love.
- Simple - This easy bread recipe calls for less than 10 simple ingredients you can easily find in any grocery store.
- Fun & easy - If you have kids, this is a great recipe to get them to help out with! The instructions are easy, and I've included step-by-step photos below to help you along the way.
- Cheesy - The ooey gooey cheese makes this bread so fun to pull apart. Gotta love that Instagram-worthy CHEESE PULL!
- Easy to serve - you can pull apart one cheese-stuffed dough roll at a time. When it's just our family, we use our fingers. But if you're serving this for friends, you can use a fork to pull apart the stuffed cheesy bread.
- Delicious & satisfying - The garlic, cheese, and fresh herbs melt into the bread as it bakes, making every bite so delicious.
🧀 Ingredient notes
You need less than 10 ingredients to make this delicious holiday bread!
To make this easy recipe, you'll need the following ingredients:
- Egg + Water - to start, you'll make an egg wash from one large egg and some water.
- Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough - you'll need TWO (2) cans. I like the buttery refrigerated crescent roll dough, but you can use any kind. The one pictured here comes pre-cut into 8 triangles per can, so you'll have 16 triangles from the two cans. You'll then cut each of those triangles in half and end up with 32 thin triangles total.
- Mozzarella sticks - you will need eight (8) mozzarella sticks. Then you'll cut each stick into four (4) equal pieces.
(the garlic powder and parsley pictured above are mentioned below)
Then, you'll also need the following ingredients for the finishing touches:
- Butter - use high quality unsalted butter.
- Oregano - for a nice hint of herbs
- Garlic powder - just a little bit to add some aromatics and flavor.
- Parsley - chop parsley finely. You'll use half in the melted herb butter mixture, and half to sprinkle and finish off the dish. You can substitute Italian seasoning if you wish.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
The recipe card at the bottom of this post has full ingredient measurements and instructions. This section has additional helpful tips with step-by-step photos to help you make the best holiday pull-apart bread ever!
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a small bowl, lightly whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash; set aside.
- Slice each of the mozzarella sticks into four even pieces, so that you end up with 32 total mozzarella cheese pieces; set aside.
- Remove the dough from the cans and separate along the pre-cut sections, which should result in 16 triangles total between the two cans of dough. Use kitchen shears, a pizza cutter, or a sharp knife to then cut each triangle in half lengthwise, leaving you with 32 triangles total.
- Place one piece of mozzarella cheese at the wide end of one triangle, then roll up toward the pointy end of the piece of dough.
- Use your fingers to push down on the end and the sides to seal the dough. This will help stop too much of the cheese from oozing out while baking. Repeat this step until you’ve used all 32 dough triangles and all 32 pieces of mozzarella.
- Form the tree by placing the rolled dough pieces onto the prepared baking sheet. Start by placing one dough roll at the top, then two in the next row, three in the next row, and continue adding one more roll to each row until you have just four pieces left.
- Use those last four pieces to form the tree stump. Gently push the dough pieces together so there aren’t any big spaces between the dough.
- Use a pastry brush and brush the egg wash over the entire top and sides of the dough.
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes, just until the top is golden brown.
- When the dough has about 5 minutes left to finish baking, make the garlic butter herb mixture. Melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Then whisk in the garlic powder and half of the chopped parsley.
- Once you remove the baked bread from the oven, immediately brush the melted butter mixture over the entire tree, then sprinkle parmesan cheese, and finally, sprinkle the remaining chopped parsley over the tree.
- Serve this immediately with a side of marinara or pesto sauce, so your guests can enjoy the warm cheesiness of this pull-apart bread.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes! You can bake this Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread one day in advance, then cool at room temperature and refrigerate. When you are ready to reheat, allow the dough to come to room temperature for about 10 minutes. Then place on a baking sheet covered with parchment paper or foil in a 325°F oven for about 10 to 15 minutes, just until the bread and cheese are heated up. Watch it carefully, and make sure you take it out before it overbakes. You can brush more melted butter on top and add more parmesan cheese and parsley, if you wish.
Yes! You can prepare the dough and mozzarella sticks and form the tree, then cover well and refrigerate overnight.
When you are ready to bake, take the prepared dough out of the refrigerator and allow it to come to room temperature, about 10-20 minutes. Then continue on with the instructions starting with the step to brush the dough with egg wash, then continue with the remaining steps.
You can store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 or 3 days. It's best eaten soon after the day it is made.
🍽 Serving ideas
To take this cheesy pull-apart bread to the next level, serve with a side of:
- marinara sauce
- dairy-free spinach dip
- pizza sauce
- pesto sauce
- dairy-free ranch dressing
- buffalo ranch sauce
To complete your holiday meal:
- Serve with more holiday appetizers like this cute Christmas Charcuterie Board, Christmas Wreath Salad, or Christmas Tree Veggie Tray.
- For a main course, try One Pan Garlic Rosemary Beef Roast and Potatoes
- Add side dishes to the meal like Cranberry Meatballs, Garlic Rosemary Roasted Carrots, or Instant Pot Garlic Mashed Potatoes.
- And for dessert? Make these delicious Mini Gingerbread Bundt Cakes, cute Reindeer Cupcakes, Snowflake Cookies, or Gingerbread Cake Roll.
🔪 Kitchen tools & equipment
This bread is easy to make and only requires a standard half sheet baking sheet and parchment paper.
To prep the ingredients, you'll also need:
More Christmas recipes
For more holiday cooking and baking ideas, view our entire holiday recipes collection. Here are more easy Christmas recipes to get you started:
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
Ingredients
- 1 large egg
- 1 Tablespoon water
- 24 ounces refrigerated crescent roll dough (2-3 containers)
- 8 mozzarella sticks
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley, divided
- ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
PREP
- Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.
- In a small bowl, lightly whisk together the egg and water to create an egg wash; set aside. Slice each of the mozzarella sticks into four even pieces, so that you end up with 32 total mozzarella cheese pieces; set aside.
CUT AND STUFF THE DOUGH
- Remove the dough from the cans and separate along the pre-cut sections, which should result in 16 triangles total between the two cans of dough. Use kitchen shears or a knife to then cut each triangle in half lengthwise, leaving you with 32 triangles total.
- Place one of the cut mozzarella cheese pieces at the wide end of one dough triangle, then roll up toward the pointy end. Use your fingers to push down on the end and the sides to seal the dough. This will help stop too much of the cheese from oozing out while baking. Repeat this step until you’ve used all 32 dough triangles and all 32 pieces of mozzarella.
FORM THE TREE
- Form the tree by placing the rolled dough pieces onto the prepared baking sheet. Start by placing one dough roll at the top, then two in the next row, three in the next row, and continue adding one more roll to each row until you have just four pieces left. Use those last four pieces to form the tree stump. Gently push the dough pieces together so there aren’t any big spaces between the dough.
- Use a pastry brush and brush the egg wash over the entire top and sides of the dough.
BAKE
- Place the baking sheet in the oven and bake at 375°F for 20 to 25 minutes, just until the top is golden brown.When the dough has about 5 minutes left to finish baking, melt the butter in a microwave-safe bowl. Then whisk in the garlic powder and half of the chopped parsley.
- Once you remove the baked bread from the oven, immediately brush the melted butter mixture over the entire tree, then sprinkle parmesan cheese, and finally, sprinkle the remaining chopped parsley over the tree.
- Serve this immediately with a side of marinara or pesto sauce, so your guests can enjoy the warm cheesiness of this pull-apart bread.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Kate says
This is so pretty and festive, perfect party food that everyone will just love! Thanks for the great idea.
Dannii says
Oh this looks perfect for Christmas. My kids would love it too!
veenaazmanov says
Thanks for your awesome recipe. Perfect festive timing. I plan to have it at my Christmas Dinner Table.
Mirlene says
This is a great show stopper with the christmas tree design! I'm sure all the guests would want to take a pic first before pulling the bread apart!
Sara Welch says
Love serving pull apart bread for the holidays and this recipe is no exception! Excited to add this to my holiday line up!