Pepperoni Crescent Roll Christmas Tree

Friday, December 24, 2021
Crescent refrigerator dough can turn into just about any shape you like for any holiday this festive pepperoni-topped dough is perfect for the Christmas Holiday.

By just rolling the dough into balls and shaping them into the theme of your party or holiday you'll have a delicious appetizer and festive addition to your table settings.

The fillings can be endless with ideas, from all vegetables to all meat, then with some simple garnishes, you will turn your food into pure artwork that's all edible.

This is done in minutes and so easy, shaped for Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and even Gameday.

The dough can be a centerpiece of trees, hearts, pumpkins, a bunny, and footballs, for whatever party you host.

Plus you can make the filling all vegetarian, just cheese, or any kind of meat.

We have several suggestions for you below for filling these dough balls and if you love food art like this you may also like to try our 12 Easy Christmas Appetizer Recipes.

Plus these are perfect to take to dinner parties or last-minute quick appetizers for unexpected guests.

Take a stroll through all the wonderful options and they're all in a printable recipe for you at the end of this post.


dough shaped into a christmas tree





Appetizer Bread Lovers


Whether you need quick appetizer ideas or want to decorate your table with a holiday theme, refrigerator dough is so versatile and easy to shape in minutes.


There are several filling suggestions for your party needs just pick the one you like below.


Roll the dough into the shape you need, fill it or top it and use fresh herbs to garnish that's it!


pepperoni cheese shaped Christmas Tree


Ingredients You Will Need (scroll down for exact measurements)

  • refrigerated crescent rolls
  • pepperoni
  • long shreds of Parmesan cheese
  • olive oil
  • butter
  • granulated garlic powder, oregano
  • fresh basil leaves
  • cooking oil spray
  • Optional stuffing ingredients: cubed cheeses like provolone, mozzarella, Colby, cream cheese, spinach, chopped artichoke hearts, cooked sliced Italian sausage, cooked crumbled bacon, other fresh herbs for garnishing you prefer


dough shaped into a Christmas Tree


Tips

  • for cheeses make small cubes
  • always roll into balls and either place the filling in the center or roll the dough around the cheese if you using  just cheese and cover the dough completely
  • always use fresh herbs like basil, rosemary, parsley, or mint
  • the dough will stay soft if you brush it with butter after baking
  • always bake this on parchment paper or a Silpat mat for easy removal 
  • the balls should be close together before baking so they stick together as they expand cooking
  • spray parchment paper with cooking oil to avoid sticking


butter brushed Christmas Tree bread dough


Optional Filling Combinations for Stuffing Dough Balls:

  1. Note: for all multiple stuffing ingredients use two packages of dough and make larger crescent dough balls
  2. Philly Steak Stuffed Dough Balls: finely chopped  cooked ribeye steak, sauteed onions chopped, provolone cheese
  3. Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Dough: finely chopped pepperoni, tomato sauce, and shredded mozzarella or provolone
  4. Chicken Parm Stuffing: cooked finely chopped diced breaded chicken, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese 
  5. Crab Stuffed Dough: crab meat, minced garlic, cream cheese
  6. Shrimp and Spinach Stuffed Dough: baby shrimp or scallops chopped, chopped fresh spinach, minced garlic, and cream cheese
  7. Hawaiian Style Stuffing: chopped ham, pineapple, mixed with cream cheese and shredded cheddar
  8. Pepper Poppers Stuffing: jalapeno, cream cheese, white sharp shredded cheddar
  9. Italian Sausage Stuffing: cooked loose Italian sausage, finely chopped roasted peppers, chopped olives, mozzarella, minced garlic
  10. Lobster Lovers Stuffing: lobster chopped, cream cheese or jack cheese, minced garlic
  11. Chicken Marsala Stuffing: diced cooked chicken, a dash of marsala wine, provolone cubed granulated garlic powder, 
  12. Vegetarian:  small pieces of cauliflower, or chopped broccoli, minced garlic, finely chopped spinach, sundried tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, romano cheese, artichoke hearts, green beans cooked
  13. Southern Style Stuffed Dough Balls: ground breakfast-style cooked sausage of any kind, shredded Monterey cheese or cheddar


Christmas Tree made with bread dough


Dough Shapes To Try

  1. Easter Bunny
  2. Christmas Candy Cane or Bell
  3. Valentine's Day Heart
  4. Halloween Pumpkin
  5. Patriotic Flag Shape
  6. Football for Gameday or another sport theme


Pin for Later



pin for later Christmas Tree Food Art


Basic Recipe


If you want an impressive easy show-stopper appetizer for any occasion this is it and it's delicious.


During the holiday season, you can make a whole tray of optional fillings that everyone will rave about and they are super easy and hardly takes any time to do.


The combinations are really endless, from keeping it simple with just cheese to stuffing the dough with a favorite pizza topping, so get your creative juices flowing.


crescent rolls Christmas tree, holiday filled shaped refrigerator dough, football shaped filled dough, Christmas appetizers, holiday dough appetizers, filled appetizers, easy appetizers
Christmas appetizers, christmas themed foods, party foods, appetizer recipes
American
Yield: 15
Author: Claudia Lamascolo
Pepperoni Crescent Roll Christmas Tree

Pepperoni Crescent Roll Christmas Tree

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 20 MinTotal time: 30 Min
With just 1 can of crescent roll refrigerator dough, assorted filling ideas you can shape your dough into a pretty festive holiday bread appetizer!

Ingredients

  • 1 package of crescent roll refrigerated dough or you can use buttermilk biscuits
  • 15 slices of pepperoni ( I cut them in half or you can fold them to fit each dough ball
  • fresh basil leaves garnish the tree before baking
  • butter oil flavored cooking spray
  • Parmesan cheese in long shreds for sprinkling on top
  • melted butter with a pinch of granulated garlic powder mixed together for brushing the balls after baking
  • optional toppings before baking: granulated garlic powder, dried oregano,, dried parsley flakes

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees
  2. Unroll the crescent dough and make 15 balls
  3. Arrange them on parchment paper or a Silpat mat.
  4. Starting with 5 on the bottom, 4, 3, 2, and 1 for the top of the tree.
  5. Save a little of the dough for the base and shape the tree bottom.
  6. Place a small piece of pepperoni into each ball.
  7. Make sure the balls are close together.
  8. Add the fresh basil leaves around the tree.
  9. Spray the whole thing with butter oil spray.
  10. Sprinkle with long shreds of Parmesan cheese, oregano, and granulated garlic powder if desired.
  11. As soon as it comes out of the oven brush the entire tree with melted butter mixed with a pinch of granulated garlic powder.
  12. Bake at 350 degrees to package instructions for around 15 t o20  minutes or until the tops start to get golden brown.

Notes:

Optional Filling Combinations for Stuffing Dough Balls:

  1. Note: for all multiple stuffing ingredients use two packages of dough and make larger crescent dough balls
  2. Philly Steak Stuffed Dough Balls: finely chopped cooked ribeye steak, sauteed onions chopped, provolone cheese
  3. Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Dough: finely chopped pepperoni, tomato sauce, and shredded mozzarella or provolone
  4. Chicken Parm Stuffing: cooked finely chopped diced breaded chicken, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese 
  5. Crab Stuffed Dough: crab meat, minced garlic, cream cheese
  6. Shrimp and Spinach Stuffed Dough: baby shrimp or scallops chopped, chopped fresh spinach, minced garlic, and cream cheese
  7. Hawaiian Style Stuffing: chopped ham, pineapple, mixed with cream cheese and shredded cheddar
  8. Pepper Poppers Stuffing: jalapeno, cream cheese, white sharp shredded cheddar
  9. Italian Sausage Stuffing: cooked loose Italian sausage, finely chopped roasted peppers, chopped olives, mozzarella, minced garlic
  10. Lobster Lovers Stuffing: lobster chopped, cream cheese or jack cheese, minced garlic
  11. Chicken Marsala Stuffing: diced cooked chicken, a dash of marsala wine, provolone cubed granulated garlic powder, 
  12. Vegetarian: small pieces of cauliflower, or chopped broccoli, minced garlic, finely chopped spinach, sundried tomatoes, shredded mozzarella, romano cheese, artichoke hearts, green beans cooked
  13. Southern Style Stuffed Dough Balls: ground breakfast-style cooked sausage of any kind, shredded Monterey cheese or cheddar


Nutrition Facts

Calories

191.17

Fat (grams)

12.28

Sat. Fat (grams)

4.74

Carbs (grams)

18.44

Fiber (grams)

0.71

Net carbs

17.73

Sugar (grams)

0.29

Protein (grams)

1.87

Sodium (milligrams)

205.94

Cholesterol (grams)

7.52


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dough shaped into a christmas tree