An easy Christmas Tree Appetizer filled with spinach dip to make for your holiday party. This recipe is simple yet festive and will surely please a crowd!
Who can resist baked cheesy spinach dip bread!
Looking for a fun and festive Christmas appetizer to serve this holiday season? Look no further!
All you need is a refrigerated pizza crust and a few simple ingredients to make delicious cheesy pull-apart breadsticks.
Follow these simple instructions, and you'll have a holiday snack in the shape of a Christmas tree to impress your guests!
Here are several more delicious appetizers to serve at your Christmas party!
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Ingredient Notes
This is a great vegetarian Christmas appetizer option.
pizza dough - the pre-made dough is the base of the recipe. You're looking for a dough that comes in a tube and is usually found in the refrigerator section of your grocery store. This is easy to roll out and shape into a tree.
frozen spinach - chopped frozen spinach makes this recipe come together quickly. You can find a box in the freezer section of the grocery store. You will need to thaw and drain the spinach.
cream cheese - you can use regular or low-fat cream cheese. It needs to be softened to room temperature so that it mixes easily. You can soften it for 30-seconds at a time in the microwave if needed.
minced garlic cloves - this gives the recipe depth of flavor.
cheddar cheese or mozzarella cheese - either cheese works, or a combination of the two kinds of cheeses is also delicious.
Parmesan cheese - gives the cheese filling the powerful, rich flavor of parmesan, which takes the recipe from good to amazing.
See the printable recipe card for full details and quantities of the ingredients.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Put on some Christmas music, and let's get to our Christmas tree spinach dip breadsticks!
STEP 1 - Prep
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and place the oven rack toward the bottom of the oven.
Next, cut two large rectangular pieces of parchment paper. Place one on a baking sheet. Set both sheets aside.
STEP 2 - Make spinach and cheese filling
With your electric mixer, beat the spinach and cream cheese in a medium bowl.
Then, add the fresh garlic, salt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, pepper, and Italian seasoning and beat again until combined.
PRO TIP: To get all the water out of the thawed spinach, place it in a fine mesh strainer and use the bottom of a glass to press it out.
Erin
Now, add the Parmesan cheese and half of the cheddar or mozzarella cheese and beat until combined.
STEP 3 - Make a Christmas tree out of dough
Take the piece of parchment paper that isn't on the baking sheet and unroll the pizza dough on it. If it is a little thick in certain areas, use a rolling pin to even it out.
To make the Christmas tree shape, with a pizza cutter, cut a large triangle out of the dough with the base of the triangle at the small bottom side of the rectangle.
Transfer the two small remaining triangle pieces to the second piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet.
Press the two long sides together in the shape of a tree that will become the base of your appetizer.
NOTE: As you handle the dough, it may stretch out. No problem. Gently tug it into the shape you want. It doesn't need to be perfect.
PRO TIP: Pull off a little bit of dough to use as the base of the tree (the tree trunk).
Erin
STEP 4 - Assemble tree
Cover the tree's base with your spinach dip mixture and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
Now, flip over the parchment paper with the remaining dough and place it on top of the base covered in the spinach mixture.
You may need to tug at the dough to get it to cover the base completely.
STEP 5 - Make tree branches
Cut branches of the tree about 1-inch thick with a pizza cutter all the way down the tree.
Don’t slice all the way through. Leave about an inch down the middle of the dough.
Take each branch and twist it 2-3 times, depending on how long it is. For the short top slice, give it a half twist.
STEP 6 - Bake
Place in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes until the bottom is cooked through. It will be golden brown.
Finally, brush the breadstick appetizer with melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder.
You can top your recipe with fresh herbs or tomatoes if you’d like.
Move your festive appetizer to a serving platter or a wood cutting board, and enjoy!
Recipe tips and tricks
- Adding ¼ of a cup of basil pesto to the spinach mixture is a great way to amp up the flavor of your edible Christmas tree.
- You can add a few slices of green onions to the top of this easy recipe when it's finished cooking.
- Place a few cherry tomatoes on your tree to make ornaments or one at the top of the tree for a festive touch.
- Serve with a marinara sauce for dipping or even a balsamic glaze drizzle for a fancy touch.
PRO TIP: This Spinach Dip Christmas Tree Appetizer is best served right out of the oven.
Erin
How to store your Christmas tree appetizer
Refrigerator - wrap any Christmas tree breadsticks in plastic wrap or place them in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.
We don't recommend freezing this easy appetizer because it will cook up differently than intended.
Recipe FAQs
We don’t recommend refrigerating the tree after shaping it, but before baking it. The refrigerated pizza dough will turn out poorly once removed from its original container and refrigerated again.
Yes, homemade pizza dough will work fine with this recipe. However, let it rise a bit before shaping. Also, the baking time may vary, so you’ll have to watch it closely to make sure it cooks well.
Using store-bought spinach dip is fine and will save you a little time.
Although this recipe is tested with pizza dough, either of those dough options will likely work. Just check the baking time to make sure it cooks properly.
More Christmas Appetizers
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Printable Recipe
Christmas Tree Appetizer Recipe
Equipment
- Electric Mixer
- parchment paper
- baking sheet
- pizza cutter or knife
Ingredients
- 10 ounce pacakge frozen chopped spinach (thawed and the 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
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese (or a combination of the two)
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tube refrigerated pizza crust
Topping
- 2 tablespoons butter
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and place the oven rack toward the bottom of the oven. Cut two large rectangular pieces of parchment paper. Place one on a baking sheet. Set both sheets aside.
- With your electric mixer, beat the spinach and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Then, add the fresh garlic, salt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, pepper, and Italian seasoning and beat again until combined. Now, add the parmesan cheese and half of the cheddar or mozzarella cheese and beat until combined.
- Shaping the Christmas TreeTake the piece of parchment paper that isn't on the baking sheet and unroll the pizza dough on it. If it is a little thick in certain areas, use a rolling pin to even it out. To make the Christmas tree shape, with a pizza cutter, cut a large triangle out of the dough with the base of the triangle at the small bottom side of the rectangle. Transfer the two small remaining triangle pieces to the second piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Press the two long sides together in the shape of a tree that will become the base of your appetizer.NOTE: As you handle the dough, it may stretch out. No problem. Gently tug it into the shape you want. PRO TIP: Pull off a little bit of dough to use as the base of the tree (the tree trunk).
- Cover the tree's base with your spinach dip mixture and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top. Now, flip over the parchment paper with the remaining dough and place it on top of the base covered in the spinach mixture. You may need to tug at the dough to get it to cover the base completely.
- Cut branches of the tree about 1-inch thick with a pizza cutter all the way down the tree. Don’t slice all the way through. Leave about an inch down the middle of the dough.Take each branch and twist it 2-3 times, depending on how long it is. For the short top slice, give it a half twist.
- Place in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes until the bottom is cooked through and the surface is golden brown.
- Finally, brush the baked appetizer with melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder and serve immediately.
Notes
- Adding ¼ of a cup of basil pesto to the spinach mixture is a great way to amp up the flavor of your Christmas tree.
- Place a few cherry tomatoes on your tree to make ornaments or one at the top of the tree for a festive touch.
- Serve with a marinara sauce for dipping or even a balsamic glaze drizzle for a fancy touch.
Journa Liz Ramirez says
I had so much fun making this tree appetizer! It is very satisfying and loved by my family. Strongly recommended!
Val says
Can't wait to try this for our Christmas party, it will be such a statement. Thank you for the appetizer idea.
Erin Henry says
We agree. Every time we serve it, people are so impressed. Shhh, don't tell them it's so easy to make 🙂
Kristyn says
Fun, festive, & delicious!! We make this every year since it's always a hit!! It tastes so good!!
Erin Henry says
This edible Christmas tree is always a hit at our annual family gathering. So glad you love it too!