Holiday Appetizer: Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
Learn to make a pull-apart Christmas tree bread for your next holiday celebration. This fun and festive bread is an easy to make and shape dough that turns out a beautiful presentation at your next holiday table.
In the shape of a tree and filled with garlic butter, this is a great appetizer to take for a gathering. It is even easy enough to attempt if you are the host of the event.
I usually stick to my tired and true dinner rolls for any holiday dinner, but when I want things to be special around the holidays, I make this pull-apart Christmas Tree Bread.
How Much Time will This Recipe Take?
- This recipe is great because it takes only about an hour to make. It can be made pretty last minute.
- I do make a sourdough version of this, but it takes 1-2 days.
- If you want to use some of your sourdough starter in this recipe, you can. Make the recipe as stated and then add about 1/4 cup of sourdough starter. It can be discard or bubbly. Then you will need to add a bit more flour to make it not sticky. Start with just a bit extra four and add more as needed to get it to where you can kneed it.
Recommend Equipment for Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
- 2 Cup Measuring Cup
- Medium sized bowl
- Digital Kitchen Scale
- Rimmed Baking Sheet
- Parchment Paper
- Large knife
- Pastry Brush
Step by Step – How to Make Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
Step 1 – Mix up the Dough
This dough is a very simple dough to mix up. You can use a mixer for this dough, but it is very simple and I usually use my favorite mixing bowl and do it by hand.
Use a 2 cup measuring cup for the warm water, yeast, oil, and honey. Mix them up. Then in a medium sized mixing bowl, whisk the flour and salt. Make a well in the middle of the flour to add in the yeast mixture. This will mix together with a fork or Danish whisk. You can even use your hand.
Once it is combined, knead lightly with your hands. Form the dough into a small ball. Cover the dough with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel and let it rise for 20 minutes.
Step 2 – Prepare the Garlic Butter Filling
While the dough is proofing, prepare the garlic butter filling.
Soften the butter in the microwave for a few seconds if it is not super soft.
To get the garlic to really shine, you will want to sauté it up for a few minutes in a few tablespoons of the butter. Watch carefully so it does not burn and just let it cook a few minutes until just barely brown.
Add the cooked garlic and butter combo to the other soft butter. Mix it up with the parsley and salt
Step 3 – Shape the Dough
Using your kitchen scale, weigh the dough. Then split the dough in half evenly. Roll out half of the dough on a lightly floured piece of parchment paper. Get it into a shape of a tree and spread out in a thin layer.
When your dough is shaped, spread out the garlic butter mixture onto the dough. Repeat with the second ball of dough. Then add that shaped dough on top of the first so that they are lined up.
Step 4 – Make the Tree Branches
Using a large knife, make a line down the length of the middle of the tree starting 2 inches from the top.
Then using the knife, cut the branches on each side of the tree leaving an inch on each side of the center line. I usually eyeball the size of the branches, but the cuts are a bit more than 1 inch apart.
Once all the branches are cut, twist them one direction on one side of the tree and the opposite on the other.
Step 5 – Proof and Bake the Bread:
Cover the Christmas tree bread with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel to proof. The time on how long to proof this will really depend on your home’s warmth. Ideal proofing temp in 70-75 degrees.
When the dough is proofed, bake in a 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. Check to make sure it is golden brown.
Final Touches: When you remove the Christmas Tree Bread from the oven, brush with the remaining butter and sprinkle with a little extra parsley.
Serve it Up: Move to a serving platter and eat it up warm. Serve with a maranaria sauce or on its own. Enjoy!
Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
This fun and festive pull-apart Christmas Tree Bread is a perfect appetizer for any holiday gathering.
Ingredients
- Dough:
- 1 cup warm water
- 1 tablespoon active dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 1/2 cups organic unbleached white flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Filling:
- 1/2 cup softened butter (reserve 1 tbs for after baking)
- 4-5 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Mix the Dough: In a 2 cup measuring cup add the warm water, yeast, olive oil, and honey and whisk together. To a medium bowl, add the flour and salt. Whisk together and make a well for the yeast mixture to be added. Add the yeast mixture and mix together with a fork or a Danish dough whisk. You can also mix with your hands. Once the dough comes together, knead for a few minutes.
- Let the Dough Rise: Shape into a ball and return to the bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel. Let rise for 20 minutes.
- Prepare the Garlic Butter Filling: Take 1-2 tablespoons of the butter and warm in a small pot. Add the minced garlic and let it cook for a few minutes until barely brown. Watch the garlic carefully so it does not burn. Put the rest of the soft butter in a bowl and mash it around. Add in the parsley, salt, and the cooked garlic/butter combo. Mix up well.
- Shape the Dough into a Tree: Using a digital scale, weigh the dough and then split it in half. Roll out the first ball of dough on a lightly floured surface into the shape of a tree. Transfer to a piece of parchment paper the size of your baking sheet. Spread the garlic butter mixture onto the tree shaped dough. Repeat rolling out the dough with the second dough ball and place onto the first one.
- Make the Tree Branches: Using a large knife, make a line down the length of the middle of the tree starting 2 inches from the top. Then using the knife, cut the branches on each side of the tree leaving an inch on each side of the center line. I usually eyeball the size of the branches, but the cuts are a bit more than 1 inch apart. Once all the branches are cut, twist them one direction on one side of the tree and the opposite on the other.
- Proof and Bake the Bread: Cover with plastic wrap or a damp tea towel to proof. The time on this will really depend on your home's warmth. Ideal proofing temp in 70-75 degrees. When the dough is proofed, bake in a 375 degree oven for about 20-25 minutes. Check to make sure it is golden brown.
- Final Touches: When you remove the Christmas Tree Bread from the oven, brush with the remaining butter and sprinkle with a little extra parsley.
- Serve it Up: Move to a serving platter and eat it up warm. Serve with a maranaria sauce or on its own. Enjoy!
Notes
This bread can also be made with pesto instead of the garlic butter mixture.
Add shredded mozzarella to the garlic butter or the pesto filling for a cheesy bread.
Variations for Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread
- This bread is great with some homemade pesto instead of the garlic butter.
- Another option is to add some shredded mozzarella cheese in addition to the garlic butter layer.
- You can also add shredded mozzarella cheese to a pesto layer.
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