Look, we're all for Christmas tree-shaped sugar cookies and everything. But let's face it: Sugar cookies are nobody's favorite cookies. And they have a startling lack of hot melted cheese inside them (unless your grandma is kind of a weirdo).
If you really want to impress your guests -- or become the best guest at somebody else's house -- we strongly recommend making this Christmas tree-shaped pull-apart cheesy bread. Between the sexy, stretchy cheese action when you systematically dismantle the tree and the pretty pesto greenery, it's a delicious snack that will have people saying "wow." Which is kind of gross, considering they have mouths full of cheese. Get it together, grandma.
Matzo Ball Ramen Is the Best of Both Worlds
Ingredients:
- 1 package pre-made pizza dough from the grocery store or your favorite pizzeria. Usually they're about 12 ounces, but this isn't an exact science, so don't sweat it.
- 1 jar of pesto sauce
- 1 8-ounce ball mozzarella (or buy cillengini, the cherry-sized mini-balls)
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce, store-bought or homemade
- Olive oil
Directions:
- Let dough warm up to room temperature. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Either grease a cookie sheet or line it with parchment paper. Roll out the dough and cut into 16 equal-sized pieces.
- Cut the mozzarella into ½-inch chunks (or cut the cillengini in half).
- Wrap each piece of dough around a piece of mozzarella to form a ball. Seal the seams well, lest you get something resembling squeezed toothpaste instead of cheesy balls.
- Place each ball (hehe!) seam-side down on prepared cookie sheet, arranging the balls in the shape of a Christmas tree. Brush the balls with a coat of pesto.
- Bake for 15-17 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from oven and brush with olive oil.
- Serve with marinara sauce for dipping.
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