Description

These Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Pizza Bites are festive, bite-sized appetizers perfect for holiday gatherings. Soft pizza dough balls stuffed with a flavorful mix of diced red pepper, jalapeno, mozzarella, and Italian seasoning are shaped into a Christmas tree, topped with garlic, basil, and parmesan, then baked to golden perfection. Served with pizza sauce for dipping, these savory bites are sure to be a crowd-pleaser during the festive season.

Ingredients

Scale

Pizza Dough

1 lb pizza dough

Vegetables & Herbs

½ red pepper, diced into ¼” pieces
1 jalapeno, seeded and diced into ¼” pieces
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
⅓ cup basil leaves, chopped (or more)

Cheeses & Seasonings

½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded or torn into ½” pieces
½ tsp Italian seasoning mix
2 tbsp parmesan cheese (or more)
Salt, to taste

Sauces

½ cup pizza sauce (plus more for dipping)

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Instructions

Prepare the Veggie Mixture: In a medium mixing bowl, combine the diced red pepper and jalapeno. Add the Italian seasoning mix and salt to taste, then mix everything well and set aside.
Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 425°F (220°C) to preheat, ensuring it reaches the proper temperature before baking.
Divide and Shape Dough: Divide the pizza dough into 33 equal parts. Using your fingertips, press each dough ball to form a roughly 3-inch flat round base. Place some of the diced pepper and herb mixture along with a small piece of mozzarella cheese in the center.
Form Dough Balls: Wrap all sides of the dough around the veggie and cheese filling to form a tightly sealed ball. Place each dough ball seam side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a silicone mat.
Arrange Dough Balls: Simultaneously arrange all the prepared dough balls on the baking sheet into the shape of a Christmas tree, ensuring they are close enough to pull apart once baked.
Add Toppings: Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce over the assembled Christmas tree dough balls. Then sprinkle chopped garlic, chopped basil leaves, and parmesan cheese evenly over the top.
Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes until the dough balls are golden brown and cooked through.
Serve: Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Offer additional pizza sauce on the side for dipping.

Notes

These pizza bites are perfect as festive appetizers for holiday and Christmas parties.
You can adjust the amount of jalapeno to control the level of spiciness.
Use fresh basil for a vibrant flavor; dried basil can be used but fresh is preferred.
If pizza dough is not available, you can substitute with pre-made biscuit or crescent dough for convenience.
Make sure to seal the dough balls tightly to avoid cheese and filling oozing out while baking.
For extra flavor, drizzle some olive oil on top before baking.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving
Calories: 126 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 220 mg
Fat: 4.5 g
Saturated Fat: 2.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 1.5 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 16 g
Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 5 g
Cholesterol: 10 mg