This festive Christmas Tree Pizza is a delightful and creative way to celebrate the holiday season! Shaped like a Christmas tree and topped with your favorite pizza toppings, itโs a fun activity for the whole family to enjoy. Perfect as a holiday appetizer, snack, or even a whimsical dinner, this recipe brings the spirit of the season to your table.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- Festive and Fun: Shaped like a Christmas tree, this pizza is sure to delight kids and adults alike.
- Customizable: You can choose your favorite toppings to make it uniquely yours.
- Easy to Make: With simple ingredients and steps, this recipe is beginner-friendly.
- Great for Parties: A perfect addition to any holiday gathering or party.
- Family Activity: Making and decorating the pizza can be a fun activity for the whole family.
Ingredients
(Tip: Youโll find the full list of ingredients and measurements in the recipe card below.)
- Pizza dough
- Marinara or pizza sauce
- Shredded mozzarella cheese
- Pepperoni or other toppings of choice (e.g., bell peppers, olives, mushrooms)
- Fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)
- Olive oil
- Cornmeal (optional, for dusting the baking sheet)
Directions
- Preheat your oven to 425ยฐF (220ยฐC) and prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper or a light dusting of cornmeal.
- Roll out the pizza dough and shape it into a Christmas tree. Use a knife or pizza cutter for precision.
- Spread marinara or pizza sauce evenly over the dough, leaving a small border for the crust.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese generously over the sauce.
- Decorate your pizza tree with toppings, arranging them like ornaments. Get creative!
- Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the crust is golden and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired.
- Slice and serve warm.
Servings and Timing
- Servings: This recipe makes 4-6 servings, depending on portion sizes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
Variations
- Cheesy Delight: Add more cheese varieties like cheddar or gouda for an extra cheesy tree.
- Vegetarian: Skip the meat and load up on colorful veggies like diced bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, and spinach.
- Spicy: Sprinkle red pepper flakes or use spicy sausage for a kick.
- Mini Trees: Use small pieces of dough to make individual Christmas tree pizzas.
Storage/Reheating
- Storage: Store leftover slices in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Reheating: Reheat in a 350ยฐF (175ยฐC) oven for about 5 minutes or until warmed through. For a quicker option, microwave for 30-60 seconds, but the crust may lose some crispness.
FAQs
1. Can I use store-bought pizza dough?
Yes, store-bought pizza dough works perfectly for this recipe and saves time.
2. What if I donโt have a Christmas tree cutter?
You can shape the tree freehand using a knife or pizza cutter.
3. Can I make this gluten-free?
Absolutely! Use gluten-free pizza dough to accommodate dietary restrictions.
4. How do I prevent the dough from sticking?
Dust your baking sheet with cornmeal or use parchment paper.
5. Can I make this ahead of time?
You can prepare the dough and toppings in advance, but assemble and bake right before serving for the best results.
6. What other cheeses can I use?
Try provolone, parmesan, or a mix of Italian cheeses for added flavor.
7. Can I freeze leftover pizza?
Yes, wrap slices in foil or plastic wrap and freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the oven for best results.
8. Is there a way to make this healthier?
Opt for whole wheat dough, low-fat cheese, and plenty of vegetables.
9. What dipping sauces go well with this?
Marinara, ranch, garlic butter, or pesto make excellent dipping sauces.
10. Can kids help with this recipe?
Definitely! Kids will enjoy shaping the tree and decorating it with toppings.
Conclusion
This Christmas Tree Pizza is the perfect way to add a festive touch to your holiday meals. Easy to make, customizable, and full of flavor, itโs a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any occasion. Gather your loved ones and create this delightful holiday treat together. Happy holidays!
Print
Christmas Tree Pizza
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Appetizer, Snack
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Christmas Tree Pizza is a festive and fun dish thatโs perfect for holiday gatherings. Hereโs how you can make it at home
Ingredients
- Pizza Dough: You can use store-bought or homemade dough.
- Olive Oil: For brushing the dough.
- Italian Seasoning: To add flavor.
- Alfredo Sauce: Serves as the base sauce.
- Pesto: Adds a green hue and flavor.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded, for topping.
- Green Bell Pepper: Sliced into strips to resemble garlands.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Halved, to mimic ornaments.
- Mini Pepperoni Slices: Optional, for additional โornaments.โ
- Parmesan Cheese: Grated, for garnish.
- Fresh Basil Leaves: For garnish.
Instructions
- Preheat Oven:ย Set your oven to 400ยฐF (200ยฐC).
- Prepare Dough:
- Divide the pizza dough into small, equal-sized balls.
- Arrange the dough balls on a parchment-lined baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree: start with a row of six at the base, then five above it, continuing up to one at the top.
- For the trunk, place two smaller dough balls at the bottom center.
- Gently press the dough balls so they touch each other.
- First Bake:
- Brush the dough with olive oil and sprinkle with Italian seasoning.
- Bake for about 10 minutes until slightly golden.
- Add Sauces and Toppings:
- Mix Alfredo sauce and pesto together, then spread over the partially baked dough, leaving a small border around the edges.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella on top.
- Decorate with green bell pepper strips as garlands and place cherry tomato halves and mini pepperoni slices as ornaments.
- Final Bake:
- Return to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the crust is golden brown.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Once out of the oven, sprinkle with grated Parmesan and fresh basil leaves.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Customize with your favorite toppings, such as olives, mushrooms, or onions.
- To make it extra fun, serve with marinara or ranch dipping sauce on the side.
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