Let’s make a Christmas tree-shaped mozzarella and pesto pull-apart bread! Delicious and perfect for sharing, festive and easy to prepare with the step-by-step instructions I’ve included in this recipe.
This filled pull-apart bread is soft and aromatic, made with little dough balls that can be pulled apart by hand – and they’ll disappear from the tray in minutes.
This recipe is incredibly rewarding: it combines a fluffy dough, the fresh taste of pesto, and the creaminess of mozzarella, all baked in such a festive shape that it instantly becomes the centrepiece of the table. It's also a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen — forming the dough balls, arranging them into a tree, and watching them rise in the oven is pure Christmas fun.
This sharing bread tree is perfect as a starter, side dish, or finger food for a casual dinner. And although it looks impressive, it’s very easy to prepare, especially if you use a stand mixer. In the step-by-step, I explain how to get a tender dough, how to fill each ball so the mozzarella stays inside, and how to assemble the tree so it looks neat and even.
If you're after an easy, show-stopping Christmas recipe that everyone will love, this mozzarella and pesto pull-apart bread is without a doubt a fantastic choice. Let’s get started!
What is pull-apart bread?
Pull-apart bread is designed for sharing, made up of small portions of dough that fuse together during baking. The name says it all — it’s not sliced, you simply pull it apart with your hands, piece by piece. It's a popular format for celebrations and casual gatherings because it invites guests to dig in and enjoy without fuss.
It can be made sweet or savoury, but the base is always the same: soft dough divided into balls (or layers) that, when baked together, form a fluffy, easy-to-tear bread. At Christmas, it’s often shaped into a tree, wreath or star, filled with cheese, brushed with garlic butter or flavoured with herbs.
In this recipe, we use mozzarella and pesto — a combination that adds creaminess, aroma and that perfect festive green for a Christmas tree. Simple, eye-catching, and absolutely irresistible.
Ingredients
Ingredients for the pull-apart bread:
- 6 g instant dry yeast
- 300 g plain flour
- 195 g durum wheat flour
- 300 ml water
- 50 ml olive oil
- 2 teaspoons salt
For the filling:
- Mozzarella
- Pesto sauce
For brushing and decorating:
- 1 egg yolk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon pesto
- Sea salt
Method
Recipe for the pull-apart bread balls
- Set up your Ankarsrum stand mixer with the bowl, dough roller and scraper.
- Pour the water into the bowl and add the yeast, flours, olive oil and salt. Mix at medium speed until well combined.
- Adjust the arm to 1–2 cm from the edge and knead for 5 to 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and elastic.
- Cover the bowl and let the dough rise for about 1 hour.
Filling, shaping and second rise:
- Cut the mozzarella into small pieces and let them drain on kitchen paper to remove excess moisture.
- Remove the dough from the bowl and divide it into 30 equal portions.
- Take one piece, shape it into a ball and gently flatten it in your hand. Place some mozzarella and a teaspoon of pesto in the centre.
- Seal the dough tightly over the filling, making sure the cheese doesn’t escape. Roll into a smooth ball.
- Place the balls seam-side down on a baking tray, arranging them in a Christmas tree shape. If you like, shape the top ball into a “star”.
- Let the balls rise again for 30 minutes.
Baking:
- Preheat the oven to 200 °C.
- Mix the egg yolk with the salt and gently brush the surface of the bread.
- Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden.
- As soon as it comes out of the oven, brush with olive oil mixed with pesto and sprinkle with sea salt. Serve immediately.
