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Savory Christmas Tree Bites

Savory Christmas tree bites are pizza dough balls stuffed with mozzarella, arranged in a festive tree, and baked until deep golden brown. Brush them with warm garlic butter, parsley, and Parmesan before serving.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Resting 5 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Appetizer
Cuisine: American
Calories: 225
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the bites
  • 1 lb pizza dough refrigerated, brought to room temperature
  • 3 oz mozzarella cheese low-moisture, cut into 24 small cubes
For the garlic butter
  • 3 tbsp unsalted butter
  • 1 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped
  • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese finely grated

Equipment

  • 1 12x17-inch rimmed baking sheet

Method
 

Shape and bake the bites
  1. Heat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Line a 12x17-inch rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Divide the dough into 24 pieces.
  4. Flatten each piece, enclose one mozzarella cube, and pinch the dough closed.
  5. Arrange the balls seam-side down on the baking sheet in a tree shape: rows of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 balls, followed by a centered row of 3 for the trunk, with the balls just touching.
  6. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until the bites are deep golden brown and the dough at the center is cooked through.
Make the garlic butter
  1. While the bites bake, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat.
  2. Add the garlic and cook for 30 to 60 seconds, until fragrant; remove from the heat.
  3. Stir in the parsley and Parmesan.
Finish the bites
  1. Let the tree rest on the baking sheet for 5 minutes.
  2. Brush the garlic butter over the warm bites and serve.

Notes

For even baking, make the dough balls similar in size and keep them just touching as arranged. Refrigerate leftovers for up to 3 days; freeze for up to 2 months. For a gluten-free option, use gluten-free pizza dough.