Description

These Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Pizza Bites are a festive and fun appetizer perfect for holiday gatherings. Made by wrapping flavorful peppers, jalapenos, mozzarella, and Italian seasoning in pizza dough balls arranged in a Christmas tree shape, then baked to golden perfection and topped with fresh garlic, basil, and parmesan cheese. Perfect for sharing and dipping in extra pizza sauce.

Ingredients

Scale

Pizza Dough and Cheese

1 lb pizza dough
½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded or torn into ½” size)
2 tbsp parmesan cheese (or more)

Vegetables and Herbs

½ red pepper (diced into ¼” pieces)
1 jalapeno (seeded and diced into ¼” pieces)
¾ cup basil leaves (chopped)
2-3 garlic cloves (chopped)

Seasonings and Sauces

½ tsp Italian seasoning mix
Salt to taste
½ cup pizza sauce (plus more for dipping)

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Instructions

Prepare the pepper mixture:
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the diced red pepper and jalapeno. Add the Italian seasoning mix and salt to taste. Mix everything well and set aside to let the flavors meld.
Preheat oven:
Set your oven to 425°F (218°C) to ensure it is hot and ready for baking the pizza bites.
Form dough bases:
Divide the pizza dough into 33 equal parts. Using your fingertips, gently press each ball of dough to form a roughly 3-inch diameter flat round base suitable for wrapping around the filling.
Add filling and seal:
Place a spoonful of the pepper-herb mixture and a small piece of mozzarella cheese in the center of each dough round. Carefully wrap all sides of the dough around the filling, sealing tightly to form a ball with the seam on the bottom.
Arrange pizza balls:
Place each wrapped dough ball seam side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Arrange the dough balls closely together into the shape of a Christmas tree for a festive presentation.
Add sauce and toppings:
Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce evenly over the arranged dough balls. Then sprinkle the chopped garlic, chopped basil leaves, and grated parmesan cheese on top for added flavor and aroma.
Bake:
Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 12-15 minutes or until the dough balls are golden brown and the cheese inside is melted and bubbly.
Serve:
Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before serving. Serve with extra pizza sauce for dipping. These bite-sized pizza balls are perfect as a festive appetizer to share with friends and family.

Notes

This appetizer is perfect for holiday parties and gatherings, offering a fun, shareable way to enjoy classic pizza flavors.
You can adjust the amount of garlic, basil, and parmesan cheese on top according to your taste preferences.
For a spicier bite, leave some seeds in the jalapeno or add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes to the filling mixture.
If you prefer a vegetarian version without jalapeno, swap it with mild bell peppers.
Make sure to seal the dough balls well to prevent filling from leaking during baking.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 3 pizza bites)
Calories: 126 kcal
Sugar: 2 g
Sodium: 210 mg
Fat: 4 g
Saturated Fat: 1.5 g
Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 18 g
Fiber: 1.5 g
Protein: 5 g
Cholesterol: 7 mg