Description
Delightful and festive Cheesy Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread combines gooey melted cheese with soft bread, perfect for sharing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3 cups bread flour
- 1 tsp instant dry yeast
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup milk or water
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter (room temperature)
- 8½ oz mozzarella cheese, cubed (or approx 8 string cheese sticks)
- 1 egg
- 1 tbsp water
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 tbsp fresh basil (chopped)
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley (chopped)
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary (chopped)
- ½ cup grated parmesan
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
- Marinara (for dipping)
Instructions
- Combine all the dough ingredients except for the butter. Mix until no more dry flour is visible.
- Cover and let the dough rest for 10 minutes in the softened butter.
- Knead the dough with a stand mixer or by hand for 10-15 minutes until smooth.
- Cover the dough and let it rise for 1-1½ hours until it doubles in size.
- Cut the cheese into 30-33 pieces, weighing approximately 7 grams each.
- Punch down the dough and divide it into balls weighing about 19-20 grams each. Cover and let relax for 10 minutes.
- Insert cheese into each ball and shape into a Christmas tree on parchment paper.
- Cover and let proof for 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF (218ºC).
- Perform a finger poke test to check dough readiness.
- Mix egg and water in a small ramekin and apply egg wash to each dough ball.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until golden.
- Brush baked bread with melted butter mixed with herbs. Sprinkle with cheese and optional red pepper flakes.
- Warm marinara for dipping.
Notes
Best served warm with marinara for dipping. Leftovers can be stored at room temperature for 1-2 days or refrigerated for up to a week.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 450mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
Keywords: Christmas, pull-apart bread, appetizer, cheese, festive