Recipe

The most festive appetizer you’ll make this season: a golden, fluffy Christmas tree made of buttery dough balls, oozing with melted mozzarella and brushed with garlic-herb butter. One tug and the cheese stretches for days. It’s guaranteed to disappear before the presents are opened!

The Geedel Rotary Cheese Grater makes prepping the cheese lightning-fast and perfectly uniform, so every bite has that gooey pull-apart perfection.

🎁Ingredients (Serves 8–10 as an appetizer)

Dough Balls

1 lb pizza dough (store-bought or homemade)

7–8 oz mozzarella block (low-moisture)

40 small fresh mozzarella balls (ciliegine) or 1½-inch cubes

Garlic-Herb Butter

½ cup unsalted butter, melted

3 cloves garlic, finely minced or pressed

1 tsp dried Italian seasoning or fresh parsley

½ tsp kosher salt

Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes

Topping

2–3 tbsp grated Parmesan

Fresh rosemary sprigs & cherry tomatoes (for decoration)

Marinara sauce for dipping

🌟Step-by-Step: Build Your Edible Tree

1. Prep the Cheese

Cut the mozzarella block into about 40 small cubes (roughly ¾-inch).

Use the coarse shred blade on your cheese grater hand crank to shred a handful of Parmesan for the final sprinkle—fluffy, even shreds in seconds.

2. Shape the Dough Balls

Divide pizza dough into 40 equal pieces (about 1 tablespoon each).

Flatten each piece, place a mozzarella cube or ball in the center, then seal and roll into a smooth ball. Repeat until all are stuffed.

3. Assemble the Tree

On a large parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange the balls in rows to form a Christmas tree:

Bottom row: 9 balls

Next: 8 balls

Keep going up to 1 ball at the top

Add a small “trunk” with 3–4 balls at the bottom center.

Leave tiny gaps between balls—they’ll expand and touch while baking.

4. First Bake

Brush the entire tree lightly with plain melted butter.

Bake at 375°F (190°C) until the dough is just set and pale golden (about 15 minutes). This prevents over-browning later.

5. Garlic Butter Magic

Mix melted butter with minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and salt.

Generously brush the entire tree with the garlic butter, letting it seep into every crevice.

6. Final Cheese & Bake

Sprinkle the shredded Parmesan all over the top.

Return to the oven and bake until deep golden and the cheese is bubbly (another 10–12 minutes).

7. Decorate & Serve

Add fresh rosemary sprigs as “pine needles” and halved cherry tomatoes as ornaments.

Serve warm with marinara sauce in a small bowl under the trunk for dipping.

🎄Tips & Variations

Extra Gooey – Mix in a little shredded cheddar with the mozzarella cubes.

Pesto Tree – Swap garlic butter for pesto.

Sweet Version – Fill with Nutella and dust with powdered sugar for dessert!

Make-Ahead – Assemble the tree, cover, and refrigerate up to 4 hours before baking.

🎅Conclusion: The Centerpiece Everyone Tears Into

This Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread isn’t just food—it’s holiday joy you can eat. One tug, one endless cheesy stretch (thanks to perfectly uniform shreds from the cheese slicer), one happy guest. Make it once and it’ll be your new December tradition.