Name: Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe
Prep time: 18 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 40 min
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach (thawed and the water squeezed out); 6 ounces cream cheese (softened to room temperature); 2 garlic cloves (minced); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon salt; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (or a combination of the two); ½ cup grated parmesan cheese; 1 tube refrigerated pizza crust; 2 tablespoons butter; ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning; ½ teaspoon garlic powder

If you’re looking for a show-stopping appetizer that’s as festive as it is delicious, you’ve hit the jackpot with this Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe. I absolutely love how this comes together—flaky pizza dough, creamy spinach and cheese filling, and a fun, twisty tree shape that’s perfect for holiday gatherings or any time you want to wow your friends. Keep reading, because once you try this, you’ll be making it year after year!

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Festive and Fun: The Christmas tree shape adds that special holiday cheer to your appetizer spread.
Creamy and Flavorful: The spinach and cheese filling is perfect balance—rich yet fresh with just the right seasoning.
Easy to Make Ahead: You can prep it in advance, which makes party day less stressful.
Great Crowd-Pleaser: Everyone from kids to adults loves this, and it’s perfect for slicing and sharing.

The image shows a Christmas tree-shaped bread with twisted layers of dough and green herb filling. The bread has three main sections: the broad base, the middle that narrows, and the top forming a pointed tip. Each side of the tree has multiple twisted sections where the dough reveals the green herb filling inside, giving a textured and layered look. The dough is golden brown on the edges with melted cheese and sprinkled herbs on top, creating a mix of creamy white, golden, and green colors. The bread sits on white baking paper, with a metal pizza cutter on the top right and a white marbled surface beneath. Sprigs of fresh rosemary are placed around the bread. Photo taken with an iphone --ar 2:3 --v 7 - Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer, festive holiday appetizers, holiday spinach appetizer, cheese appetizer for Christmas, Christmas party finger foods

Ingredients You’ll Need

The mix of fresh cheeses, frozen spinach, and seasonings really marry well to give each bite a creamy, slightly tangy hit. Using refrigerated pizza dough makes shaping the tree surprisingly simple, even if you’re not super confident with dough crafting.

Flat lay of a small mound of bright green fresh spinach leaves, a soft white ceramic bowl with creamy white softened cream cheese, two whole uncracked brown garlic cloves, a small white ceramic bowl filled with mixed dried Italian herbs, another small white bowl with fine sea salt crystals, a small white bowl containing pale beige onion powder, a tiny white bowl with reddish-orange cayenne pepper powder, a small white bowl with coarse black peppercorns, a simple white ceramic bowl heaped with shredded orange cheddar and white mozzarella cheese blend, another small white bowl with finely grated pale yellow parmesan cheese, a smooth round ball of pale beige refrigerated pizza dough sitting on white parchment paper, a small white bowl holding melted golden butter, all arranged symmetrically with perfect proportions and balance, placed on a clean white marble surface, soft natural light, photo taken with an iPhone, professional food photography style, fresh ingredients, white ceramic bowls, no bottles, no duplicates, no utensils, no packaging --ar 2:3 --v 7 --p m7354615311229779997 - Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer, festive holiday appetizers, holiday spinach appetizer, cheese appetizer for Christmas, Christmas party finger foods

Frozen chopped spinach: Make sure to thaw and then squeeze out all the excess water; this keeps the filling from becoming soggy.
Cream cheese: Softened to room temperature for smooth blending with the spinach and spices.
Fresh garlic cloves: Adds punchy aroma and flavor—fresh is best here.
Italian seasoning: Brings warmth and herbaceous notes to the filling and the butter glaze.
Salt and onion powder: Essential for layering the flavors and a little depth.
Cayenne pepper and black pepper: Give a gentle, balanced kick without taking over.
Shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese: I love mixing both to get that gooey, melty texture and a mild bite.
Grated parmesan cheese: Adds a sharp, salty edge to elevate the flavor of the filling.
Refrigerated pizza crust: The easy base for this tree—no kneading required, just roll it out!
Butter: Melted and seasoned with herbs and garlic powder to brush on the baked tree for extra richness and shine.

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Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

While I adore this classic take, you can tweak the filling to suit your taste or dietary needs. Don’t be shy about adding your flair!

Cheese swaps: I’ve swapped out cheddar for pepper jack when I want some heat or used vegan cheese to keep it dairy-free, and it still turns out amazing.
Herb additions: Fresh basil or thyme stirred into the filling can add a lovely brightness—try it next time!
Gluten-free crust: Use your favorite gluten-free pizza crust to make this recipe allergy-friendly without losing the festive shape.
Add-ins: Sometimes I toss in cooked bacon bits or sun-dried tomatoes for a savory twist that my family can’t get enough of.

How to Make Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe

Step 1: Prep the Filling

First things first, use an electric mixer to beat together the thawed, squeezed spinach with the softened cream cheese until smooth. Then add your minced garlic, salt, onion powder, cayenne, black pepper, and Italian seasoning—beat again until everything’s nicely combined. Fold in the parmesan and half of your shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese for that gooey, cheesy texture. Trust me, this step builds all the flavor you’ll taste later!

Step 2: Shape Your Christmas Tree Dough

Unroll your refrigerated pizza dough onto a large piece of parchment paper. If it feels uneven or too thick in spots, grab a rolling pin and gently roll it out to an even rectangular shape. Here’s the fun part: with a pizza cutter, slice out a large triangle from the dough to form your tree (base of the triangle aligns with the short bottom side of the rectangle).

Don’t toss those leftover pieces! On another parchment-lined baking sheet, press the two smaller triangles together to form the tree’s base or “trunk.” Handle the dough gently throughout—if it stretches more than you want, just tug it back softly. This helps maintain that festive shape you need for the final assembly.

Step 3: Add the Filling and Stack

Spread your creamy spinach and cheese filling evenly over the tree base dough, leaving about half an inch around the edges. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top to lock in that extra cheesiness. Now carefully flip the large triangle of dough you cut earlier over the filling, covering it like a lid. Don’t worry if you need to gently stretch it—just make sure it fully seals the filling inside.

Step 4: Twist Those Tree Branches

Cut 1-inch wide slits from each side of the “tree,” stopping about an inch from the center line to keep it intact. These will act as the branches. Take each branch strip and twist it 2-3 times, depending on the length—you’ll see the festive tree shape come alive! For the little top branch, just give a half twist. This not only looks beautiful but helps bake the dough evenly and holds the filling snugly inside.

Step 5: Bake and Glaze

Pop your masterpiece into a 400°F oven set on a lower rack, and bake for 20-22 minutes. Look for a golden-brown surface and a cooked-through bottom crust. Right when it’s out, brush it with melted butter mixed with Italian seasoning and garlic powder—this final touch adds that irresistible shine and flavor boost.

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Pro Tips for Making Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe

Water Removal is Key: I learned the hard way that not squeezing the spinach dry enough makes the filling watery—wring it out in a clean kitchen towel for best results.
Gentle Dough Handling: When shaping, avoid over-stretching the dough, which can tear; if it does, patch it gently with extra dough scraps.
Even Branch Twisting: Make sure to twist each branch evenly so they bake uniformly and look beautifully symmetrical on the plate.
Butter Glaze Timing: Brushing the butter immediately after baking ensures it soaks into the crispy surface, giving that glossy, extra-flavorful finish every time.

How to Serve Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe

Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe - Serving

Garnishes

I love topping this appetizer with some finely diced red bell pepper or cherry tomato halves to look like little ornaments. A sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley or chives adds a vibrant pop of color and freshness, making that tree really festive and inviting.

Side Dishes

This pairs beautifully with a crisp winter salad—think baby arugula tossed with cranberries and walnuts—and a light soup if you want a cozy spread. It’s also fantastic alongside a charcuterie board for entertaining because it adds that hot, cheesy contrast.

Creative Ways to Present

For holiday parties, I serve the tree on a festive platter surrounded by small bowls of marinara or ranch dip. You could also string tiny edible “lights” with little bell pepper pieces or olives delicately placed on the twisted branches to amp up the visual wow factor.

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

After it cools, wrap the leftover spinach cheese tree tightly in plastic wrap or transfer to an airtight container. I keep mine in the refrigerator, and it holds up well for 2-3 days without losing its flavor or texture.

Freezing

I have frozen this appetizer once before baking by assembling it and then wrapping tightly in foil and plastic. When ready to enjoy, bake straight from the freezer, adding a few extra minutes—this works great for prepping ahead of big holidays.

Reheating

Reheat in a 350°F oven for about 10-12 minutes to keep the crust crisp and the filling warm and melty. Avoid the microwave if you can—it tends to make the dough a bit soggy.

FAQs

Can I use fresh spinach instead of frozen in this recipe?

Yes! You can substitute fresh spinach by cooking it down in a pan and then squeezing out all the water thoroughly before mixing it into the filling. This will keep the texture and moisture level balanced, just like with frozen spinach.
Is there a way to make this recipe vegetarian-friendly?

This recipe is already vegetarian as it contains no meat. Just be sure to use a vegetarian-friendly cheese if you want to avoid animal rennet in the cheese products.
How long does this appetizer keep after baking?

Once baked and properly stored in an airtight container in the fridge, this appetizer will stay fresh for up to 3 days. For best taste, reheat it in the oven rather than the microwave.
Can I prepare this recipe ahead of time?

Absolutely! You can assemble the entire tree up to a day in advance, refrigerate it unbaked, and then bake it fresh when you’re ready to serve. Just be sure to let it come to room temperature for about 15 minutes before baking.

Final Thoughts

I still remember the first time I made this Spinach Cheese Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe for our holiday party—the smiles on everyone’s faces really told me I’d found a winner. It’s one of those recipes you can confidently make again and again because it’s straightforward, festive, and downright tasty. If you’re ready to add a little magic (and cheese) to your appetizer lineup, this is your go-to. Trust me, once you see those twists and bites disappearing off the plate, you’ll be grinning just as big as I do!