Description
Celebrate the holiday season with this festive Christmas Tree Pizza recipe featuring cheese-filled dough, Italian herbs, and colorful toppings that create a fun and crowd-pleasing appetizer perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 1 pound pizza dough (or two 11-ounce cans refrigerated bread dough)
Cheese Filling and Sauces
- 5 mozzarella cheese sticks
- ¼ cup Alfredo sauce (store-bought is fine)
- 1 tablespoon jarred pesto sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Toppings
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian herbs
- ½ small green bell pepper (sliced to make garland)
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 2 tablespoons mini pepperoni slices
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C) and position the rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a Silpat baking mat to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Dough: Roll out the pizza dough on a floured surface into a large triangle shape resembling a Christmas tree. Use a sharp knife to carefully cut out the tree shape if needed.
- Fill Cheese Sticks: Place mozzarella sticks inside the dough to create cheese-filled sections within the tree for a gooey surprise when baked.
- Spread Sauces: Brush the dough surface with olive oil and sprinkle Italian herbs evenly. Then spread Alfredo sauce and pesto over the dough as the pizza base sauces for rich flavor.
- Add Shredded Cheese: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the sauced dough to enhance cheesiness and help toppings stick.
- Decorate the Tree: Arrange green bell pepper slices as garland across the pizza tree. Place halved cherry tomatoes and mini pepperoni slices evenly as festive ornaments.
- Sprinkle Parmesan: Add grated Parmesan cheese on top for extra umami and a nicely browned crust.
- Bake: Place the prepared pizza on the lined baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake for approximately 25 minutes or until the crust is golden and cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Serve: Remove from oven, allow to cool slightly, then slice and serve as a delightful holiday appetizer.
Notes
- This cheese-filled Christmas Tree Pizza is a whimsical and tasty way to serve a festive appetizer that everyone will love.
- The use of both Alfredo and pesto sauce adds rich and herby flavors balanced by fresh vegetable toppings.
- If you prefer, use homemade pizza dough for a fresher taste and texture.
- Feel free to customize the decorations with your favorite pizza toppings to make it uniquely yours.
- This recipe serves about 6 people and pairs wonderfully with holiday drinks and sides.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 1/6 of pizza)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 17g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 15g
- Cholesterol: 40mg
