Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks
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From now until Christmas, I’m sharing nothing but quick, easy, crowd‑pleasing appetizers—perfect for holiday gatherings, Christmas Eve snacking, or ringing in the New Year. Today’s recipe brings together two beloved favorites and transforms them into a fun, festive centerpiece shaped like a Christmas tree. These Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks look impressive on the table, but they come together with almost no effort, making them ideal for busy holiday cooking.
The base for this easy recipe starts with a simple tube of breadstick dough. You’ll cut and shape the dough into two matching Christmas tree outlines, then sandwich a creamy spinach dip filling between them. The filling is a delicious blend of frozen spinach, cream cheese, Parmesan, mozzarella, and a handful of flavorful spices—rich, cheesy, and perfect for pulling apart.
Once your tree is assembled, you’ll cut “branches” along the sides and give each one a little twist to create that signature pull‑apart effect. A quick brush of garlic butter over the entire tree adds flavor and helps it bake to a beautiful golden brown. The result is a warm, cheesy, festive breadstick tree that’s as fun to serve as it is to eat. I have a feeling this will become one of your favorite holiday recipes.
Ingredients for Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks
- FROZEN SPINACH
- CREAM CHEESE
- SALT
- GARLIC POWDER
- ONION POWDER
- CHILI POWDER
- PEPPER
- ITALIAN SEASONING
- PARMESAN CHEESE
- MOZZARELLA CHEESE
- REFRIGERATED PIZZA CRUST
- BUTTER
- GARLIC SALT
Instructions for Christmas Tree Breadsticks
Preheat the oven – Set your oven to 350°F so it’s ready when your breadstick tree is assembled.
Make the spinach dip filling – In a medium bowl, combine the spinach, cream cheese, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, pepper, Italian seasoning, Parmesan, and mozzarella. Beat until smooth and creamy, then set aside.
Shape the Christmas tree – Unroll the pizza crust onto a sheet of parchment paper and press it into a 9×13‑inch rectangle. Using a pizza cutter, cut out one large Christmas‑tree‑shaped triangle and two smaller triangles. Transfer the two smaller triangles to a second sheet of parchment, placing their straight edges together, and press to form a second triangle that matches the size and shape of the first.
Assemble the tree – Spread the spinach dip evenly over the second triangle of dough. Carefully flip the first triangle on top, creating a layered tree with the filling sandwiched in between.
Create the branches – Using a pizza cutter, make 1‑inch‑wide cuts along both sides of the tree, leaving the center intact so the “branches” stay attached.
Twist the branches – Gently lift each strip and twist upward. The shorter branches near the top will only twist halfway, while the longer branches near the bottom can twist two or three full turns.
Add garlic butter and bake – Melt the butter and stir in the garlic salt and seasoning. Brush the entire tree generously with the mixture. Bake for 30–35 minutes, or until the breadsticks are golden brown on top and fully cooked on the bottom. Avoid underbaking.
Serve warm – Present your festive pull‑apart tree and enjoy it while it’s warm and melty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use homemade dough instead of store‑bought?
Yes! Homemade pizza dough works beautifully. Just roll it into a 9×13‑inch rectangle and follow the same shaping steps.
Do I need to thaw and drain the spinach?
Absolutely. Frozen spinach must be thawed and squeezed very dry to prevent the filling from becoming watery.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes—you can assemble the tree up to a few hours in advance. Keep it covered in the refrigerator, then bake just before serving.
Can I use a different cheese?
You can swap the mozzarella for Monterey Jack or use a blend.
What if my dough is hard to shape?
If the dough springs back while shaping, let it rest for 5–10 minutes. This relaxes the gluten and makes it easier to cut and twist.
How do I keep the bottom from underbaking?
Bake on the lower‑middle rack and check that the bottom is lightly golden. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil.
Can I add extra mix‑ins to the spinach dip?
Yes! Chopped artichokes, roasted red peppers, or a pinch of red pepper flakes are great additions.
Can I reheat leftovers?
Reheat in a 300°F oven for 8–10 minutes to restore the crisp edges and melty center. The microwave works too, but the bread will be softer.
Can I freeze it?
It’s best enjoyed fresh, but you can freeze the baked tree. Wrap tightly, freeze, then reheat in the oven until warmed through.
For more recipes like this, try:
- Christmas Tree Pull Apart Bread
- Pita Christmas Tree Appetizers
- Christmas Tree Cheese Platter
- Christmas Tree Cheese Ball
Christmas Tree Spinach Dip Breadsticks
Real Mom Kitchen
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 oz frozen chopped spinach thawed and squeezed dry
- 6 oz cream cheese softened
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- ¼ tsp chili powder
- ⅛ tsp pepper
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese grated
- 13.8 oz tube refrigerated pizza crust
Garlic Butter Topping
- 2 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp garlic salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a bowl, beat together the spinach, cream cheese, salt, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, pepper, Italian seasoning, parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese. Beat until creamy. Set aside.
- To make the Christmas tree shape, unroll the pizza crust onto a sheet of parchment paper. Press out into a 9 x 13-inch rectangle. Use a pizza cutter to cut one larger tree-shaped triangle and two smaller triangles. Move the smaller triangles to a second sheet of parchment paper with their straight edges touching. Press together to create a second triangle of dough that is the same shape as the first.
- Spread the spinach dip across the second triangle. Flip the first triangle over on top so you have layers of pizza dough with spinach dip sandwiched between them.
- Make 1-inch wide cuts along each side of the tree, leaving about an inch in the center intact to make the branches of the tree.
- Grab each “slice” and twist it upwards. At the top, where they are short, you’ll only twist halfway around. At the bottom, where they are longer, you can do two or three full twists.
- Melt butter and stir in garlic salt and seasoning, then brush over breadsticks. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes until golden brown on top and cooked through on the bottom. Do not undercook. Serve warm.
Nutrition
This recipe is adapted from It’s Always Autumn.
