Q1: Can I make this ahead of time for a Christmas party?

Yes, absolutely! The best method is to fully assemble the unbaked tree, cover it, and keep it in the refrigerator for up to a day. Then, when your guests arrive, you can simply pop it in the oven so it can be served hot, fresh, and gloriously cheesy.

Q2: Can I use store-bought pesto instead of homemade?

Of course! For an even faster and easier shortcut, you can absolutely use about 1/2 to 3/4 cup of your favorite brand of a high-quality, store-bought basil pesto in the filling.

Q3: Why did all my cheesy filling leak out while it was baking?

The most common culprit is that the edges were not sealed firmly enough. Be sure to press down quite firmly all around the 1/4-inch border to create a good seal before you cut and twist your branches.

Q4: Can I use a different kind of cheese?

Yes! This recipe is wonderfully versatile. You could substitute the Pecorino with a classic Parmesan, or you could swap the mozzarella for a provolone or a low-moisture fontina for a different flavor.

Q5: Can I make my own pizza dough for this recipe?

Yes! If you have a favorite, from-scratch pizza dough recipe, you can absolutely use that instead of the store-bought dough. You will need about a 1-pound ball of dough.

Christmas Tree Pesto Breadsticks

Christmas Tree Pesto Breadsticks (An Easy Pull-Apart Appetizer!)

A festive and fun recipe for ‘Christmas Tree Pesto Breadsticks,’ a savory pull-apart bread perfect for a holiday appetizer. This impressive dish uses refrigerated pizza dough as a convenient base. The dough is layered with a homemade pesto and a creamy three-cheese filling of mozzarella, ricotta, and pecorino. It’s then cut and shaped into a Christmas tree, with the ‘branches’ twisted to reveal the cheesy green filling before being baked to a golden brown.

Author: Evelyn

Ingredients

One 13.8-ounce tube refrigerated pizza dough
For the Pesto Cheese Filling:
2 cups firmly packed fresh basil leaves
1/3 cup pine nuts, toasted
2 small cloves garlic
1 cup shredded whole-milk mozzarella
1/2 cup whole-milk ricotta cheese
1/3 cup grated pecorino cheese
1/4 cup plus 1 teaspoon olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Line an upside-down baking sheet with parchment paper.
Make the Filling: In a food processor, pulse the basil, toasted pine nuts, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper until coarsely chopped. With the motor running, drizzle in 1/4 cup of the olive oil until incorporated to make a chunky pesto.
In a medium bowl, combine the mozzarella, ricotta, and pecorino cheeses with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Add the prepared pesto to the cheese mixture and stir to combine.
Shape the Tree: Roll out the pizza dough into a 12-by-15-inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut the dough into one large triangle and two smaller triangles.
Combine the two smaller triangles on the prepared baking sheet to form one large triangle, pressing the seam together. This will be the base of the tree.
Spread the pesto and cheese mixture evenly over the base, leaving a 1/4-inch border.
Cover the filling with the remaining large triangle of dough, stretching it as needed to fit. Firmly press the edges to seal.
Leaving a 1-inch ‘trunk’ down the center of the tree, use a sharp knife to cut horizontal ‘branches,’ about 1 1/2 inches apart, from the trunk to each edge.
Carefully twist each ‘branch’ a few times to reveal the layers of cheese and pesto.
Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until golden brown. Lightly brush the warm breadsticks with the remaining 1 teaspoon of olive oil. Serve warm.

Notes

This pull-apart bread is a great centerpiece appetizer for a Christmas or holiday party.
Using refrigerated pizza dough is a convenient time-saving shortcut.
Baking on an upside-down baking sheet helps to promote even browning.
The twisting of the ‘branches’ is the key technique that gives this bread its festive, tree-like appearance.

Find it online: https://cookupjoy.com/christmas-tree-pesto-breadsticks/