Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Christmas Tree

A warm, golden, garlicky, oozy-cheesy showstopper that looks magical on a holiday table. Easy to make with store-bought pizza dough, buttery garlic, and lots of melty mozzarella — and the pull-apart tree shape makes it irresistibly fun!

Yield

1 pull-apart Christmas tree (serves 8–10)

Ingredients

1 lb refrigerated pizza dough
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/3 cup shredded parmesan cheese
4 tablespoons butter, melted
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Fresh parsley, finely chopped
Coarse salt or flaky salt (optional)
Marinara sauce, for dipping

Instructions

Step 1: Prepare the Dough Balls

Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut the pizza dough into 21 equal pieces (roughly 1–1.2” squares).
Flatten each piece slightly, add a pinch of shredded mozzarella in the center, and pinch the dough closed to form sealed balls.

Step 2: Form the Christmas Tree Shape

Place the dough balls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Suggested layout: Arrange them in a tree pattern, row by row:

Row 1 (top): 1 dough ball
Row 2: 2 dough balls
Row 3: 3 dough balls
Row 4: 5dough balls
Row 5: 4 dough balls
Row 6: 5 dough balls

Tree Trunk: 1 dough ball square  placed in a small vertical line at the bottom

Press each ball gently so they sit snugly against one another and bake as one connected shape.

Step 3: Bake the Pull-Apart Tree

Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the dough is puffed, golden, and lightly crisped on top.

Step 4: Brush With Garlic Butter

Mix the melted butter, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, and parsley.
Brush the warm baked tree generously with the garlic butter mixture.
Sprinkle with parmesan and coarse salt if desired.

Step 5: Serve and Pull Apart

Serve warm with a bowl of marinara sauce on the side.
Let guests pull apart the cheesy, garlicky bites with ease!

Nutritional Information (Per Dough Ball — 21 balls total)

Calories 78, Protein 3g, Carbohydrates 9g, Fiber 0g, Net Carbohydrates 9g, Fat 3.5g, Saturated Fat 2g, Cholesterol 9mg, Sodium 155mg, Sugars 1g

Kitchen Tips

• Stuff the dough balls with mozzarella pearls for extra melty centers.
• Add pepperoni or cooked sausage inside the dough balls for a pizza-tree version.
• Make ahead: shape the tree, cover, and refrigerate up to 6 hours before baking.