Pesto Christmas Tree Bread (Pull Apart)

Made with kitchen staples, this Christmas Tree Bread is the perfect way to celebrate the holiday season. This soft and fluffy bread is filled with pesto, which makes it so apt giving the bread a nice green hue.

But find 15+ filling ideas variations to suit your palate and also a shortcut way to make this feel like a breeze to make.

Christmas Tear and Share Bread

Star Bread is one of our favorite recipes to make around the holidays.

This christmas tree shaped bread is a twist on the classic recipe.

It uses the same Milk Bread Dough base. But instead of being formed into an actual star shape, this bread is twisted into a spiral—just like Christmas trees!

It's perfect for serving as an appetizer or side dish at your holiday party this year. Bring out some cheese and crackers and let everyone tear off pieces of this delicious christmas tree shape bread to share.

Ever since I shared it on Instagram last year, its become an instant hit, and hence thought of documenting the process this year for you guys.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (250 ml) Warm Milk - Make sure the milk is neither too hot nor too cold. Hot milk would kill the yeast and cold milk won't activate it.
• 1/3 cup (75 gms) Butter, melted - I prefer using unsalted butter while baking.
• 2 tbsp (40 g) Sugar
• 2 tsp (8 g) Instant Yeast - I recommend using Instant Yeast for baking bread simply because this variety of yeast does not require the activation process and can directly be mixed with the rest of the ingredients.
• 3 cups (370 g) Plain Flour/Maida
• 1/2 tsp Salt
• 190 gm Pesto
• Olive oil for brushing

Print the recipe from the recipe card given at the end of the page.

Step by Step Tutorial

• In a large bowl, combine the warm milk, butter, sugar, instant yeast, flour and salt until it forms a shaggy mass of dough.
• Then transfer it to your worktop that is lightly dusted with flour. Start kneading the dough till it becomes bouncy, is non sticky, feels soft and passes the window pane test.
• Your dough will go through different stages and the entire process of kneading would take around 20-25 mins. I recommend you watch our video tutorial to understand how to knead the dough properly and also to see how the dough looks after 5 and 15 mins of kneading.
• Instead you can also your stand mixer to cut your time. Dump all the ingredients into the bowl of your mixer and knead straightaway for 8 mins using the dough hook like we did in our Star Bread recipe.

• Once the dough is kneaded, grease a bowl with some oil and transfer the dough into it to and prove for 2 hours or until the dough is doubled in volume.

• Alternatively you can also prove the dough in Instant Pot for 1 hour.
• Once proved, punch the dough down to release the gases.

Shaping the Bread

• Cut: Take it out onto floured surface and divide the dough into 4 equal parts.
• Roll: Roll out one portion to form a long rectangle of 10x12 inches whilst keeping the rest of the dough balls covered to prevent it from drying. Place the rolled out dough onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Layer: Roll the next portion too into same dimensions - 10x12 inches and place it on top of the pesto layer. Now using the base as a guide cut the dough to form the tree shape. Repeat the steps until you reach the very top and you will have 4 layers of dough with 3 layers of pesto filling.

Mark: Then on each side as seen in the picture below, make a cut leaving a gap of 1 cms leaving the middle of the tree intact.

Twist: Take each piece of dough and twist it twice.

Serve warm with a side of mayo or any sauce of choice like marinara sauce or the popular spinach dip.

Honestly don't sweat it out!! I mean you do not have to follow the dimensions word by word if you wish.

Just eye ball and give the bread shape of a christmas tree like in this video. Even if you mess it out upon baking somehow the bread just looks beautiful.

How to Store this Bread?

Store this bread in an airtight container for up to a day. You can also store it in the refrigerator for 3 days. If you do, just be sure to let it come to room temperature before eating (about 1 hour) and follow the reheating instructions to make sure it is warm.

How to Reheat Leftover Bread

There are a few ways to reheat bread.

• Remove the bread from the fridge 30 minutes before you want to eat it and allow it to come to room temperature.
• Or just dab or brush or spray some water on top of the bread. Either reheat it in a microwave for 30 sec to 1 min or warm it up in a preheated oven at 200°C for about 5 minutes, until it’s warmed through.
• Watch it carefully, and make sure you take it out before it overbakes. You can brush more melted butter on top and add extra toppings like parmesan cheese or parsley, if you wish which is totally optional.
• Do not reheat for too long as this will dry out your loaf!

Shortcut Bread Recipe

I agree that the steps look intimidating and seems like a lot to follow.

But it is actually easier than you think.

Having said that I understand that we really do not have so much time to spend especially during the holiday season. So here is a few shortcut ways to speed up your process.

1. Instead of kneading the dough by hands use a stand mixer if you have one. It gets done in 8 to 9 mins in a mixer. Also don't sweat about the measurements for cutting the dough to form a perfect twisted christmas tree bread you can always eye ball and cut it to a triangle with a trunk. The bread still turns out beautiful.
2. Or halve the recipe. Divide the dough into 2 parts instead of 4 so you get 2 parts of dough and 1 part of filling. That way the time required to shape the dough will be reduced considerably.
3. You can keep the dough refrigerated or frozen to bake it the next day. Find instructions for making the dough ahead of time in the below section.
4. Use store bought frozen bread dough to make the bread. Pillsbury christmas tree bread comes out just well. Or make this pull-apart christmas tree bread with pizza dough or use crescent roll dough instead.
5. You can also use any milk bread dough as the base that you are familiar with if you prefer.
6. Or best use store bought puff pastry sheets instead of making homemade bread dough from scratch.

Pro Tips

• Note about ingredients: Make sure all the ingredients are at the right temperature. Milk should be lightly warm. Butter should be melted but not hot. I prefer and recommend using instant yeast as you do not have to bother about proving them before starting with the recipe.
• Dense Dough: Avoid adding too much flour to your dough. The best way to ensure this is by weighing out the flour rather than using cups. If using cups always fluff the dough out, spoon it into the cups, level it, and then use. Another common mistake is adding too much flour while kneading, watch our video tutorial to do it the right way.
• Drying out: Always keep the dough covered while rolling and shaping so that it doesn't get dried out.
• Extra Dough: After shaping you will be left with some dough. You can either store it in fridge or freezer for later. Or make a mini wreath with filling of choice. I made a Nutella braided wreath with it.
• Cheesy Christmas Tree Bread: Add little cheese along with pesto or place cheese sticks for an additional boost of flavour or refer the 15+ filling ideas to amp up the flavour.

Christmas Bread Fillings ideas

• Nutella: The classic spread of choice for many, nutella is a delicious and versatile filling that can be used on almost any type of bread. Spread thickly on a each layer to form a nutella christmas tree bread.
• Cinnamon Sugar: Cinnamon sugar is another popular topping for any kind of bread, especially those baked during the holidays. It's simple to make by combining ground cinnamon and granulated white sugar together in a mixing bowl until well-combined. Grab the recipe from our eggless cinnamon rolls. Simply spread on. each layer to form cinnamon christmas tree bread.
• Fruit Preserves: If you're looking for something fruity yet hearty, fruit preserves are perfect! They pair well with most types of breads. Jams and compotes without pectin also work so well
• Cream Cheese Frosting: You can never go wrong with cream cheese frosting; this classic dessert topping makes an excellent filling. Btw this Christmas tree pull apart bread with cream cheese can be made both sweet or savory ways.
• Garlic Butter: Add chopped garlic and little parsley or coriander to softened butter and spread it in between the layers. Add cheese to make cheesy bread. You can also add a little garlic powder to the bread dough if you prefer.
• Other fillings like all spice, chocolate chips, chocolate syrups, nut butter, pizza sauce and toppings, favourite chutney of choice are pretty self explanatory.
• Find more amazing ideas like Chai Spice, Sweetened nuts (Gujiya Bread), Indian tadka etc from our Star Bread recipe post.

Make Ahead Instructions

This is a fun, festive way to make your Christmas morning more special. The bread dough can be prepared ahead of time and frozen so that you're not scrambling around the kitchen on Christmas morning.

To make this recipe ahead, let me suggest 3 ways. Feel free to go with one that you are comfortable with

1. Bake the dough a day before, cool it completely. Then wrap it tightly with an aluminium foil and keep in the refrigerator. The next morning bring it to room temperature then spray some water on top and follow the reheating steps mentioned in the post.
2. The bread dough can be refrigerated or also frozen. After first proofing, punch down the dough to remove the gases. Take it onto your counter top and plastic wrap (cling wrap) it tightly then place the dough in the refrigerator for 2 days or freeze for 3 months. When ready to bake, thaw it overnight in the fridge (if frozen), then take it out and let it come to room temperature; let it sit on the counter top for 30 mins. Then punch the dough again to release gases if any and then continue from the shaping step.
3. Alternatively, you can also shape the dough and then refrigerate it for 2 days. When ready to bake take it out and allow to come at room temperature and then follow from the baking step.

If you plan to make ahead of time my recommendation or the best option would be to refrigerate the baked bread completely and rewarm for few seconds in the microwave.

But the best way to enjoy the bread is obviously making it fresh and serving warm.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Recipes

1. Star Bread Recipe
2. Eggless Cinnamon Roll Bread Recipe

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