Easy Cheese-stuffed Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread

Start by preheating your oven to 350℉. This ensures the oven reaches the right temperature by the time you’re ready to bake, which is crucial for even cooking.

Prepare a large baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper. This helps prevent the rolls from sticking and makes cleanup so much easier.

Make sure your baking sheet is at least 10″ x 15″ so the entire Christmas tree shape will fit on the pan.

Then, cut your mozzarella sticks into quarters, aiming for pieces about 1 inch thick. We’ll be putting them inside the biscuits so you don’t want them to be too big.

Open the cans of biscuits and separate them.

Cut each biscuit in half.

Roll the halves into a ball and then flatten each piece into a circle with your fingers or the palm of your hand.

Place a piece of mozzarella in the center of each flattened biscuit.

To form the rolls, carefully fold the edges of the dough up and around the cheese, pinching the edges together to seal.

Once sealed, roll each piece gently between your hands to form a smooth ball.

Arrange these dough balls on the prepared baking sheet, laying them out in the shape of a Christmas tree.

Start with a single ball at the top, and create the outline of the tree by laying the rolls out in a triangle shape. I like to add a bit of a flare at the bottom so it looks a little more natural.

Then fill in the middle of the tree with more rolls.

You want them to be touching or fairly close together so that when they spread during baking they will join together. But not too squished, which will make them hard to pull apart.

Finally place the last 2 rolls under the tree to create the trunk.

Now we’ll make the garlic butter to spread on top of the rolls.

Start by melting ¼ cup butter in a small saucepan over low heat or in a microwave-proof bowl in the microwave for 30 to 45 seconds. (I usually use medium power to prevent it from getting too hot or burning.)

Once melted, mix it in a bowl with ¼ cup shredded Parmesan cheese, ½ Tablespoon Italian seasoning and 1 teaspoon garlic powder.

Use a pastry brush to generously brush the garlic butter over the tops and sides of the rolls.

This will not only add flavor but also helps the rolls achieve a beautiful golden color when they are baked.

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 18 to 23 minutes.

Keep an eye on the rolls towards the end of the baking time. They should be golden brown on the outside and fully cooked through.

If you’re unsure, you can pull one roll apart to check if the dough inside is cooked.

Once done, let them cool slightly before serving to allow the cheese to set a bit.

But don’t let them sit too long. These rolls are at their best when served soon after baking.