The Best Cheese Stuffed Spicy Garlic Butter Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Dough Balls Recipe!

Mona - Far From The Farm

December 3, 2025

Festive and delicious Christmas tree pull-apart cheese-stuffed garlic dough balls. Buttery, soft, and perfect for the holidays!

Makes: 17 dough balls

Approximate cost $3

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 15

Additional Time 1 30

Total Time 2

Servings: 17 dough balls

Course: Appetizer, Bread, Party Food, Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian

For the dough

For the Cheese Stuffing

For the garlic butter topping

1 batch of my Spicy Garlic-Parmesan Butter - Recipe also linked in the notes section below!

Make a batch of my Easy Pizza Dough Recipe Made with Honey and Bread Flour and let it rest for an hour.
Once the dough has risen gently punch it down and turn it out onto your work surface ( I don't need to use flour).
Then divide into 17 equal pieces (if you want to make the Christmas Tree shape in the exact way we did - feel free to change it up!)
Flatten each of the 17 pieces into a disc shape and place a little of your cheese in the center of each one.
Then roll each into a smooth ball, pinching the bottoms closed to seal making sure that none of the cheese is exposed.
Arrange them on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a Christmas tree shape triangle of dough balls, with a few extra at the base for the trunk.
Place any leftover cheese string pieces in between the gaps of the dough balls.
Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp towel and let them rise again for 20 to 30 minutes until puffed.
Preheat the oven to 425°F and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden brown and lightly crisped on top, to your preference.
Check regularly after the 10 minute mark until you've made them a few times and know how they cook in your oven (everyone's is slightly different).
Remove from the oven and brush immediately with melted Spicy Garlic-Parmesan Butter for that irresistible glossy finish.
Serve warm for the full pull-apart effect!

You can swap the Italian seasoning for a festive rosemary blend for a Christmas flavor twist.
Brush with a little extra butter halfway through baking for a deeper golden color.
Want extra cheese? Add shredded mozzarella between a few of the dough balls before baking.

my Spicy Garlic-Parmesan Butter goes perfectly with this dish!
use my easy Pizza Dough Recipe Made with Honey and Bread Flour to get the exact same results I show here.

Store any leftovers in an airtight container for 1 to 2 days at room temperature or refrigerate for up to 3.
Reheat in the oven at 325°F for about 6 to 8 minutes or in the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes until warmed through.
You can also freeze baked dough balls for up to 2 months. Just thaw and warm gently before serving.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.