Description
This festive Christmas Tree Appetizer is a delightful and easy-to-make holiday treat featuring a creamy spinach and cheese filling encased in a golden, flaky pizza dough shaped like a Christmas tree. Perfect for holiday parties, this savory appetizer combines Italian seasonings and cheeses for a crowd-pleasing bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Spinach Filling
- 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed and water squeezed out
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (half of 1 cup)
Topping
- ½ cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (remaining half of 1 cup)
Pizza Dough
- 1 tube refrigerated pizza crust
Butter Brush
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and position the oven rack toward the bottom to ensure even baking. Prepare two large rectangular pieces of parchment paper, placing one on a baking sheet and setting both aside.
- Prepare Spinach Mixture: Using an electric mixer, beat the thawed and drained spinach together with the softened cream cheese until smooth. Add minced garlic, salt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, black pepper, and Italian seasoning, then beat again to combine. Incorporate the parmesan cheese and half of the shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese, mixing well until fully blended.
- Shape the Christmas Tree Dough: On the parchment paper not on the baking sheet, unroll the pizza dough. Use a rolling pin to even out thick areas. Cut a large triangle from the dough (base at the narrow side of the rectangle) with a pizza cutter to form the Christmas tree shape. Transfer the leftover two smaller triangles to the second piece of parchment paper on the baking sheet and press their long sides together to form the base (tree trunk) of the appetizer. Gently shape the dough as necessary, pulling gently to achieve the desired form.
- Assemble the Tree: Spread the spinach and cheese mixture evenly over the tree base. Sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top. Carefully flip the second parchment paper with leftover dough over the filled base, covering it completely. Tug at the dough if needed to cover the filling fully.
- Create Tree Branches: Use a pizza cutter to make 1-inch thick cuts down the sides of the tree shape, cutting towards the center but not all the way through, leaving about an inch intact in the middle. Take each branch and twist it 2-3 times (or a half twist for the small top slice) to give the tree a decorative effect.
- Bake: Place the assembled tree on the baking sheet in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes until the bottom is fully cooked and the surface has turned golden brown.
- Finish and Serve: Remove the tree from the oven and immediately brush it with melted butter mixed with Italian seasoning and garlic powder. Serve warm for a festive and delicious appetizer.
Notes
- This appetizer is perfect for holiday parties and is both simple to make and visually impressive.
- Make sure to squeeze out as much water as possible from the thawed spinach to avoid a soggy crust.
- If dough stretches while shaping, gently pull it back into the desired form without tearing.
- Feel free to use a mix of cheddar and mozzarella cheese for richer flavor and texture.
- Serve warm right after brushing with the butter mixture for best taste and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 piece
- Calories: 114 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 322 mg
- Fat: 6 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 1.4 g
- Trans Fat: 0.05 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
