Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread Recipe

an overhead shot of Christmas tree bread on parchment paper with a small bowl of marinara sauce

5 from 2 votes

Cheesy Garlic Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread Recipe

Delicious, cheesy, and buttery pull-apart Christmas Tree Bread that's completely gluten-free! Featuring chewy, flaky dough smothered in garlic butter and baked in a festive Christmas tree shape. A fun, crowd-pleasing appetizer or side dish that looks as great as it tastes!

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Appetizer

Servings: servings

Ingredients

For the dough

2⅔ cup gluten free all purpose flour I used Bob's Red Mill (add 2.5 tsp xanthan gum if your flour doesn't have it)
4 tsp baking powder
2 tsp sea salt
2 cups Greek yogurt
Water as needed

For the filling

1/4 cup butter softened at room temperature
1/4 cup grated parmesan
6 garlic cloves minced
2 tbsp parsley chopped
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1 egg whisked
Marinara sauce for serving

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F, and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and sea salt, and stir.
Add Greek yogurt and stir until a dough forms. If it's too dry add a little bit of water at a time until everything comes together. The dough should be slightly sticky.
Lightly flour the countertop or place a parchment paper down, then transfer the dough on top, then use a rolling pin to roll the dough into a rectangle about 11x16 inches.
Use a sharp knife to cut a Christmas tree: cut a long triangle with the dough from the bottom corners to the top center.
Carefully remove the excess dough from the sides (2 thinner triangles) and use a spatula to transfer to the parchment lined baking sheet. Line them next each other so they are roughly the same shape as the large Christmas tree triangle and pinch together. This will be the bottom layer.
Stir together butter, parmesan, garlic, parsley, and sea salt until a paste forms.
Reserve 2 tbsp and spread the mixture evenly all over the pastry sheet. Sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
Place the big triangle on top, lining up the corners so they match. You can work the dough with your hands if there are any cracks while stretching.
Cut 1-inch wide strips on either side of the "tree" leaving the center "trunk" intact. Take each cut strip and twist all in the same direction. It's okay if the dough rips slightly, just smooth them with your fingers.
Melt the remaining 2 tablespoons of the garlic butter in the microwave, and brush on top of the tree.
Brush again with egg wash.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown, and serve with marinara sauce.

Video

Notes

Expert Tips

Homemade dough: The dough is less stretchy than your typical gluten dough. If it breaks, you can easily mend it with your fingers. It doesn't have to be perfect - it'll still turn out wonderful.
Vegan option: use thick coconut yogurt instead of Greek yogurt, nutritional yeast instead of parmesan, and sub mozzarella with plant-based mozzarella shreds. Omit the egg for the brushing on at the end.

Serving Tips

Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or pizza sauce, pesto sauce, ranch, and more! Dust with red pepper flakes for an added kick. This is an easy-to-serve recipe because it’s pull-apart and doesn’t need to be cut with a knife. Plus, it’s a super festive way to “decorate” your holiday table!

Storage Tips

This Christmas tree bread is best served right away. If there are leftovers, wrap in plastic wrap, then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator (the bread will get hard when chilled), then reheat gently in the oven or the microwave until soft and chewy.

Nutrition