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    Accueil » Recipes » Appetizers

    Pizza Christmas tree (pull-apart bites)

    Publié le : Dec 3, 2023 · Modifié le : Nov 29, 2023 par Marie · Leave a Comment

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    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. Please read full disclosure for more information.

    Look no further, the perfect Christmas appetizer is here! Crafted in the shape of a Christmas tree, these delicious pizza bites filled with tomato sauce and melting mozzarella, then brushed with a Parmesan and garlic butter mixture, are as fun to make as they are delicious to eat!

    Pizza Christmas tree on a marble working surface with fresh chopped parsley.

    💙 Why you'll love it

    • An easy appetizer the whole family will love - a perfectly well seasoned tomato sauce, melting mozzarella and a delicious mixture made of butter, garlic, freshly grated Parmesan cheese...trust me, EVERYONE will love it!
    • For those on a tight budget, this recipe is just perfect as it calls for inexpensive, simple ingredients!
    • Christmas Eve or regular pizza night? Even though it's perfect for the festive season, you can make it just as easily for a regular pizza night - instead of making a Christmas tree, make a round, a rectangle or any different shapes you like!

    🎄Other festive recipes

    Festive Christmas tree charcuterie board

    Festive Christmas tree charcuterie board

    Homemade blinis

    Homemade blinis

    Smoked salmon verrines (a French classic)

    Smoked salmon verrines (a French classic)

    🧀Ingredients

    You can find a full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below. Here are a few ingredient notes to make this easy recipe.

    • Pizza dough - I use a pre-rolled refrigerated pizza dough as it's easier and saves a lot of time but you can use a homemade pizza dough if you prefer.
    • Parmesan cheese - I really recommend buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself at the last minute, it's so much better!!
    • Egg - ideally pasture-raised organic. You can refer to the Eco Tips I've written on eggs to help you choose the right ones.
    • Garlic - if you want to choose your garlic carefully so you do not encourage the slavery of Chinese prisoners, read my Eco Tips on the subject.
    Ingredients of pizza Christmas tree in bowls and plates.

    🌶Variations

    Feel free to change this recipe to go with your tastes. I suggest several options:

    • Replace tomato sauce with marinara sauce or Pesto.
    • Gluten-free - use a gluten-free pizza dough.
    • Vegan - use (or make?) a vegan pizza dough and replace mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese with plant-based cheeses.
    • More veggies - thinly minced and grilled red bell peppers inside the pizza dough balls could be great!
    • More proteins - add mini pepperoni.
    • Spice it up - add red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce!

    This recipe has not been tested using any other substitutions. If you do try substituting ingredients, it may not turn out as it's meant to. Please leave a comment below letting me know if it worked out!

    🍴Utensil

    Image of Silicone brush

    Silicone brush

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    If you're not sure which utensils or robots to buy for cooking, check out my guide to kitchen tools and utensils.

    A half-bitten pizza ball, with oozing tomato sauce and melted mozzarella.

    ✨How to make this pull-apart Christmas tree?

    Recipe details and quantities are in the recipe card below.

    I shot this recipe during my Christmas Advent Calendar, that's why there are all those Christmas decorations in the process shots below.

    • Preheat your oven to 430°F/220°C in natural convection/static heat mode top and bottom. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the pre-rolled pizza dough on the parchment paper and cut into 29 equal rectangles.
    Pizza dough cut with a pizza cutter.
    • In a small bowl, mix the tomato sauce with tomato paste, Italian seasoning and herbes de Provence.
    Tomato sauce in a white bowl with herbes de Provence.
    Italian seasoning added to the bowl of tomato sauce.
    Tomato paste added to the bowl of tomato sauce.
    Tomato sauce ready!
    • On each rectangle, add one teaspoon of tomato sauce and one tablespoon of shredded mozzarella.
    • Form balls with your hands and seal it properly.
    Tomato sauce added to a rectangle of pizza dough.
    Shredded mozzarella added to a rectangle of pizza dough.
    Ball of pizza ready to be baked.
    • Place each ball on the parchment paper to form a Christmas tree. I've put 4 balls on the bottom line to form the trunk of the tree, then 6 balls on the line above, then 5, then 4, then 3, etc... - think of it as pyramid shape. Balls should be touching and you'll need 29 to form this beautiful Christmas tree shape.
    Christmas tree on parchment paper, ready to be baked.
    • In a bowl, beat the egg yolk with a fork and brush it on each ball.
    Ball brushed with egg yolk.
    • In another small bowl, mix the melted butter, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, pressed garlic clove and oregano.
    Grated Parmesan cheese added to a white bowl of melted butter.
    Pressed garlic added to the bowl of melted butter.
    Oregano added to the bowl of melted butter.
    • Brush each ball with the mixture.
    • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
    • Sprinkle with fresh parsley and enjoy!
    Butter mixture brushed on pizza balls.
    Christmas tree pizza balls ready to be baked, on parchment paper.
    Christmas tree after baking.
    Two hands breaking apart a pizza dough ball, with lots of melty mozzarella oozing out.
    Pizza Christmas tree balls.

    👩🏻‍🍳 Chef's tips

    1. Add your favorite pizza toppings - such as shredded mozzarella cheese (if you add this, I recommend adding 4-5 additional minutes of baking), fresh basil, sliced olives or even red onion for a bit of crisp. 
    2. Divide your pizza dough into (more or less) equal parts to make a pretty, even Christmas tree.

    💡Frequently Asked Questions

    Can I make them in advance?

    I don't recommend making them in advance, as the tomato sauce can make the pizza dough soggy.

    ❄️ Storage and freezing

    • Store - if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
    • Reheat - place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven (175°C/350°F) for 10 to 15 minutes, until they are warmed through and the cheese is melted inside.
    • Freezing - place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag, previously labelled with the date and the name of the recipe. If you need to store multiple layers of pizza bites, place a layer of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking.
    • Defrosting - follow the recipe instructions baking. You may need an additional 10-12 minutes - the balls should be lightly browned at the end of baking.
    A hand with burgundy-colored nail polish getting ready to pick up a pizza dough ball.

    😋 Other appetizers you'll love

    • 10-minute beetroot mousse
    • French savory cake
    • Potato cheese balls

    If you make this pizza Christmas tree, it would be so nice to leave me a comment and rate the recipe ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. You can also tag me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook or Tik Tok, or even send me a photo, I love seeing my little dishes in your homes!

    📖 Recette

    Pas encore de vote

    Pizza Christmas tree (pull-apart bites)

    Look no further, the perfect Christmas appetizer is here! Crafted in the shape of a Christmas tree, these delicious pizza bites filled with tomato sauce and melting mozzarella, then brushed with a Parmesan and garlic butter mixture, are as fun to make as they are delicious to eat!
    Servings 6 servings
    Prep Time 20 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 35 minutes mins

    Ingredients

    • 3 ⅓ cups pre-rolled refrigerated pizza dough approx. 27.5 oz
    • ⅞ cups tomato sauce
    • 1 teaspoon tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon italian seasoning
    • 1 ⅞ cups mozzarella cheese
    • 1 tablespoon herbes de provence
    • 1 egg
    • fresh parsley

    Garlic herb butter

    • ⅓ cup semi-salted butter melted
    • ½ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
    • 1 garlic clove pressed
    • 1 tablespoon oregano
    Metric - US Customary

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 430°F/220°C in natural convection/static heat mode top and bottom. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place the pre-rolled pizza dough on the parchment paper and cut into 29 equal rectangles.
    • In a small bowl, mix the tomato sauce with tomato paste, Italian seasoning and herbes de Provence.
    • On each rectangle, add one teaspoon of tomato sauce and one tablespoon of mozzarella. Form balls with your hands and seal it properly.
    • Place each ball on the parchment paper to form a Christmas tree. I've put 4 balls on the bottom line to form the trunk of the tree, then 6 balls on the line above, then 5, then 4, then 3, etc... - think of it as pyramid shape. Balls should be touching and you'll need 29 to form this beautiful Christmas tree shape.
    • In a bowl, beat the egg yolk with a fork and brush it on each ball.
    • In another small bowl, mix the melted butter, freshly grated Parmesan cheese, pressed garlic clove and oregano. Brush each ball with the mixture and bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown.
    • Sprinkle with fresh parsley and enjoy!

    Notes

      • Store - if you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
      • Reheat - place them on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake in a preheated oven (175°C/350°F) for 10 to 15 minutes, until they are warmed through and the cheese is melted inside.
      • Freezing - place them in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze for 2 hours, until solid. Once frozen, transfer them to a freezer bag, previously labelled with the date and the name of the recipe. If you need to store multiple layers of pizza bites, place a layer of parchment paper between them to prevent sticking.
      • Defrosting - follow the recipe instructions for baking. You may need an additional 10-12 minutes - the balls should be lightly browned at the end of baking.
    Author: Marie Compain
    Course: Appetizers, Pizza
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: christmas, delicious, tasty

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    About Marie

    Marie Compain est la fondatrice, créatrice de recettes et photographe culinaire de Marie Food Tips. Depuis 2021, Marie partage ses recettes faciles et familiales, toujours gourmandes et bourrées de saveurs, pour la vie quotidienne ou les occasions plus spéciales.

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