This Christmas tree pizza recipe brings festive joy to your table. Easy to make and a hit with both kids and adults, it’s perfect for holiday gatherings.
Making festive appetizers is always fun. There are so many options. Some are easy, some more complex. This one is as simple as it can get.
How to make a Christmas tree pizza
Ingredients:
- Pizza dough
- Green pesto
- Sliced cheese
- Olives
- Cherry tomatoes
- Salami
I also used a sprig of rosemary as a garnish, but this is completely optional.
Tools:
- Chopping board & knife
- Measuring cups – they are not that important here. You can add as much or as little of each ingredient as you like.
- Spoon
- Serving board – or anything to put the Christmas tree shaped pizza on.
- Baking sheet & baking parchment
- Star cookie cutter
- Small round cookie cutter
The process:
Lay rolled out pizza dough onto a baking sheet. Use a knife to cut the tree shape. I start at the “trunk” and then cut out the bottom, then the sides of the tree.
Important: Do not discard the cut offs. Simply leave them on your sheet, top them and bake together with the tree shape.
To top, spoon some pesto over, the salami, round cheese slices as well as olives and cherry tomato slices.
All you have to do now is bake it until ready. Once done, transfer onto a serving plate/tray/board and place a star cut out of cheese on top of the tree. If you like, add some fresh rosemary leaves here and there.
Expert tips
- I like using homemade basil pesto but a jar from your local store will do the same trick. Green or red – anything you like. Although, the green color adds more to the “real tree” look.
- Any salami will work – peperoni, Italian salami, …
- When it comes to cheese, I like to double the slices as some types do melt a lot when added onto pizza dough at the same time as the rest of the ingredients. You can avoid this by adding them a few minutes before taking the pizza out from the oven.
- Mozzarella, gouda and Havarti are great options. Note that they all melt differently.
- Take these Christmas tree pizza toppings as a guide/inspiration. You can use anything you want. I like to add anything that is round shaped which looks a bit like Christmas baubles. But this is completely my preference.
- It is best to use a rectangular dough but a round one will also work. You just get a smaller portion.
Frequently asked questions
Use either store-bought or homemade pizza dough. If you have a favorite brand you like to buy, then go ahead and do so. The Holiday season is a busy time for everyone so why not simplify the prep? However, if you prefer making pizza from scratch, then why not?
Always follow the package instructions for the best results.
More Holiday appetizers you might like:
- Christmas Tree Sandwiches – Easy recipe, quick preparation and basic ingredients!
- Christmas Wreath Cheese Board – A simple festive platter that anyone can make!
- Snowman Cheese Board – This fun appetizer looks always great.
- Santa Charcuterie Board
- Candy Cane Caprese Board
- Christmas Tree Tortilla Chips
Christmas Tree Pizza
Ingredients
- 1 rectangular pizza dough (see note 1)
- 2 tablespoons green pesto (see note 2)
- 5 pitted black olives (or to taste)
- 3 cherry tomatoes (or to taste)
- 5-6 salami slices (see note 3)
- 4 slices mozzarella cheese (see note 4)
Instructions
- Preheat oven according to the pizza dough package instructions.
- Unroll the pizza dough onto a baking sheet (including the parchment paper it came with if package instructions say so).
- With a knife, cut a tree shape. Don’t discard the cut offs. Leave them on the baking sheet and top with whatever you like.
- For the tree, spread the pesto around. Top with salami slices, olive slices, cherry tomato slices. And cheese rounds (cut out with a cookie cutter). I like to double the cheese.
- Bake in the oven following the pizza package instructions or until golden brown underneath.
- When ready, transfer it onto a serving board or platter. Cut out a star shape from sliced cheese and add to the tree.
- Optional: Garnish with fresh rosemary leaves.
- Enjoy!
Notes
- I used pre-rolled dough. The rectangular kind is the best but you can use round pizza dough as well. Homemade pizza dough will work as well.
- Red pesto or pizza sauce are great alternatives.
- Use any salami you like.
- Gouda, Edam, Havarti or cheddar are other great options. I like to double them for extra cheesiness.
- Check the pizza dough package instructions for the oven temperature and cook time and follow those.
- I like to use any ingredients that are round shaped – so that they look like Christmas baubles but you can use anything you like.
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