Description
This holiday bread combines the creamy goodness of spinach artichoke dip with soft, pull-apart bread arranged in a festive Christmas tree shape. Perfect as a centerpiece for parties or family gatherings!
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Spinach Artichoke Dip:
- 4 oz (115g) cream cheese, softened
- 1/2 cup (120ml) sour cream
- 1/4 cup (25g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup (50g) shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup (60g) fresh spinach, chopped
- 1/2 cup (75g) canned artichoke hearts, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
For the Bread:
- 1 package (16 oz/450g) refrigerated pizza dough or crescent roll dough
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
For Garnish:
- Additional grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Cherry tomatoes (optional, for decoration)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Make the Spinach Artichoke Dip:
- In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese, sour cream, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, spinach, artichoke hearts, garlic, salt, and pepper until well combined. Set aside.
- Prepare the Dough:
- Roll out the pizza or crescent dough on a floured surface. Cut into squares approximately 2 inches by 2 inches.
- Assemble the Bread:
- Place about 1 teaspoon of the spinach artichoke dip in the center of each square.
- Fold the corners of the dough over the filling to form a ball, pinching to seal.
- Arrange the filled dough balls seam-side down on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree (one ball at the top, increasing rows below). Leave a little space between each ball for expansion during baking.
- Brush and Season:
- In a small bowl, mix the melted butter with garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Brush the butter mixture over the dough balls.
- Bake:
- Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the bread is golden brown and puffed.
- Garnish and Serve:
- Let the bread cool slightly. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley or basil.
- Optionally, place cherry tomatoes as “ornaments” for decoration. Serve warm, with extra spinach artichoke dip or marinara sauce for dipping.
Notes
- For a shortcut, use store-bought spinach artichoke dip as the filling.
- Assemble the bread a few hours ahead and bake just before serving for maximum freshness.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes.