Description
Celebrate the holiday season with this Easy Christmas Tree Pizza, featuring a festive, cheese-filled dough shaped like a Christmas tree and topped with colorful, tasty ingredients. The perfect crowd-pleasing appetizer that’s simple to prepare and delicious to share.
Ingredients
Scale
Pizza Base and Sauces
- 1 pound pizza dough (or two 11-ounce cans refrigerated bread dough)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian herbs
- ¼ cup Alfredo sauce (store-bought is fine)
- 1 tablespoon jarred pesto sauce
Cheeses
- 5 mozzarella cheese sticks
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
Toppings
- ½ small green bell pepper (sliced to make garland)
- ¼ cup cherry tomatoes (sliced in half)
- 2 tablespoons mini pepperoni slices
Instructions
- Preheat Oven and Prepare Baking Sheet: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and position the rack in the center. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat to prevent sticking and ensure even baking.
- Roll Out the Dough: On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pizza dough into a large triangle shape resembling a Christmas tree. Ensure the thickness is even to cook uniformly.
- Fill the Dough: Place the mozzarella cheese sticks inside the dough, folding and sealing the edges around the cheese to create a cheese-filled base.
- Season the Dough: Brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle the Italian herbs evenly over the surface to infuse flavor.
- Add Sauces: Spread the Alfredo sauce evenly over the dough, followed by dollops of pesto sauce, distributing them to add rich flavor contrasts.
- Top with Cheese and Garnishes: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella evenly on top. Arrange the sliced green bell pepper as garland, scatter halved cherry tomatoes and mini pepperoni slices to decorate like Christmas ornaments. Finish by sprinkling grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake the Pizza: Place the prepared pizza on the lined baking sheet in the oven and bake for approximately 25 minutes or until the crust is golden brown and the cheese is bubbly and melted.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let cool slightly, slice, and serve this festive, cheesy Christmas Tree Pizza warm for best flavor.
Notes
- This recipe makes a fun and festive holiday appetizer that is simple to assemble and sure to impress guests.
- You can substitute the sauces or toppings according to your preference for a custom look and flavor.
- Use a pizza stone for a crispier crust if desired.
- If fresh mozzarella sticks are unavailable, cut fresh mozzarella into sticks or use shredded mozzarella inside the dough.
- Ensure the dough is sealed properly around the cheese to avoid leakage during baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 186 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 547 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Saturated Fat: 1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 10 mg
