Cute Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread

Coming up with fun, festive treats for holiday gatherings can feel like a real challenge. Between shopping for gifts, decorating the house, and keeping up with all the holiday events, who has time to spend hours in the kitchen making complicated party foods?

That’s why this Christmas tree pull apart bread has become my go-to December recipe – it’s simple to put together, looks festive without any fancy techniques, and always gets people gathering around the table with smiles on their faces. Plus, you can easily customize the seasonings and dips to match your family’s tastes.

What Kind of Crescent Dough Should I Use?

For this festive pull-apart bread, you’ll want to stick with regular refrigerated crescent roll dough – the kind that comes in those familiar blue tubes in the dairy case. While you might be tempted to use the flaky layers version, the regular kind actually works better for this recipe since it holds its shape more reliably when shaped into a tree. Store brands work just as well as name brands here, so feel free to use whichever you prefer. Just make sure to keep the dough cold until you’re ready to use it, as warm dough can get sticky and harder to work with. And here’s a helpful tip: if your dough tears while unrolling it, don’t worry – you can easily pinch it back together with your fingers before filling.

Options for Substitutions

This festive bread recipe can be adapted with several simple swaps if needed:

• Crescent dough rolls: If you can’t find crescent rolls, you can use pizza dough cut into triangles, or even homemade biscuit dough rolled thin and cut into triangles. Just make sure to adjust the baking time accordingly.
• Boursin cheese: No Boursin? Mix 8 oz of softened cream cheese with 1 teaspoon each of dried herbs (basil, oregano, and garlic powder) as a substitute. You could also use herb-flavored goat cheese or a mix of cream cheese and herb butter.
• Fresh parsley: Dried parsley works in a pinch (use 2 teaspoons instead of 2 tablespoons), or try other fresh herbs like chives or basil for a different flavor profile.
• Melted butter: Olive oil can work instead of butter, or try melted margarine if you need a dairy-free option. The butter helps with browning, so try to use some kind of fat.

Watch Out for These Mistakes While Baking

The biggest challenge when making pull-apart bread is working with cold crescent dough – letting it sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes makes it more pliable and less likely to tear when you’re shaping the tree.

Temperature control is crucial for the Boursin cheese too – if it’s too cold, it won’t spread evenly, so take it out of the fridge 15-20 minutes before you start assembling to achieve that perfect, creamy consistency.

When arranging your tree shape, avoid placing the dough pieces too close together or too far apart – aim for about 1/4 inch spacing to allow room for rising while maintaining the connected pull-apart effect.

A common mistake is overbaking – keep a close eye on your bread during the last few minutes of baking, as the thin edges can quickly go from golden brown to burnt, and remember to rotate your baking sheet halfway through for even browning.

What to Serve With Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread?

This festive pull-apart bread is perfect as part of a holiday spread or appetizer table! Since it’s rich with garlic and herbs, it pairs really nicely with lighter dishes like a winter salad topped with cranberries and pecans. For a cozy dinner setup, serve it alongside your favorite marinara or tomato soup for dipping – the herbs in the bread complement the tomato flavors beautifully. If you’re hosting a party, set it out with other finger foods like meatballs, cheese and crackers, or a veggie platter to create an easy buffet that lets guests mix and match their favorites.

Storage Instructions

Keep Fresh: This Christmas tree pull apart bread is best enjoyed fresh and warm, right after baking. If you have leftovers, wrap them in aluminum foil or place in an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 2 days. The bread might lose some of its initial fluffiness, but it’ll still taste good!

Make Ahead: Want to get ahead of your holiday prep? You can assemble this festive bread up to 24 hours in advance. Just cover it with plastic wrap and store in the fridge until you’re ready to bake. Remember to let it sit at room temperature for about 20 minutes before popping it in the oven.

Warm Up: To enjoy leftover pieces, wrap them in foil and warm in a 350°F oven for about 5-7 minutes. You can also give them a quick 15-20 second zap in the microwave, though the texture won’t be quite as nice as oven-warming.

Preparation Time	15-20 minutes
Cooking Time	20-24 minutes
Total Time	35-44 minutes
Level of Difficulty	Easy

Estimated Nutrition

Estimated nutrition for the whole recipe (without optional ingredients):

• Calories: 1200-1400
• Protein: 16-20 g
• Fat: 80-90 g
• Carbohydrates: 90-100 g

Ingredients

• 2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated original crescent dough rolls (8 pieces in each)
• 2 packages (5.5 oz each) garlic and herb boursin cheese
• 1 tablespoon melted butter
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Environment

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

Line a large cookie sheet with cooking parchment paper to ensure easy cleanup and prevent sticking.

Step 2: Prepare the Dough

Separate the dough into 16 triangles.

Using kitchen scissors or a knife, carefully cut each triangle in half lengthwise to make them more manageable and increase the number of pieces to work with.

Step 3: Add Cheese and Roll

Spoon approximately 2 teaspoons of cheese onto the shortest side of each triangle.

Roll each triangle up, starting from the shortest side and ending at the opposite point.

This creates a small, filled crescent roll.

Step 4: Arrange in Tree-Shaped Pattern

Using a photo or your creative guidance as a reference, place the rolled crescents next to each other on the cookie sheet in a tree-shaped pattern.

Start from the base of the tree (the trunk) and work your way up to the top.

Step 5: Bake and Garnish

Bake the arranged crescents in the preheated oven for 20 to 24 minutes or until they reach a deep golden brown color.

Once baked, remove them from the oven and brush with melted butter.

Sprinkle with parsley for a fresh finish and added flavor.

Step 6: Serve

Allow the baked crescents to cool for a few minutes before serving.

Enjoy your cheesy, buttery, and visually appealing tree-shaped treat, perfect for gatherings or special occasions!