Can I make this bread ahead of time?

Name: Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread
Prep time: 20 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 32
Ingredients: 2 cans (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count); 2 packages (5.5 oz each) garlic & fine herbs Boursin® cheese; 1 tablespoon salted butter, melted; 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Yes, you can assemble your Christmas pull-apart bread up to 2 hours ahead. Cover it loosely with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it on the cookie sheet until ready to bake. For best results, bake within 2 hours as the dough can lose quality over time. After baking, brush with melted butter, and serve warm for the ideal flavor and texture.

Kitchen Tested

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Prep time:20 min
Total time:45 min
Ingredients:4
Servings:32
Calories per serving:90

By Created by Joanna(Opens in a new tab)Updated 09/15/2025

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Prep time:20 min
Total time:45 min
Ingredients:4
Servings:32
Calories per serving:90

If you’re in need of a simple, festive holiday appetizer, this shareable pull-apart Christmas tree bread is a must-make. Developed in the Pillsbury Test Kitchens in 2017, this highly rated recipe uses crescent roll dough and garlic herb cheese baked into a playful, tree-shaped appetizer.

Like your favorite pull-apart recipes, it’s ultra-shareable, family-friendly, and full of cheesy, garlicky goodness—the perfect addition to an appetizer table next to a charcuterie board and fresh fruit. Reviewers say this pull-apart Christmas tree disappears quickly at parties, and its fun presentation makes it perfect for holiday gatherings, potlucks, and more. Whether you're a seasoned cook or just starting out, this bread Christmas tree is sure to become a go-to holiday favorite.

Looking for more holiday party food ideas? Check out our Big List of Easy Christmas Appetizers! Or, if you have a few extra cans of crescent rolls in the fridge, try some of Our Favorite Crescent Dough Recipes.

Recipe Ingredients

You only need 4 simple ingredients for this Christmas tree pull-apart bread.

Crescent Rolls: Convenient refrigerated Pillsbury™ Crescent Rolls are the secret to this flaky, golden Christmas pull-apart tree with no extra effort. They bake up light and tender—just grab 2 cans, and you’re ready to go.

Boursin® Cheese: This creamy, spreadable cheese is usually found near the deli or specialty cheese section. It combines garlic, herbs, and rich cheese flavor in one easy ingredient. Garlic & Fine Herbs is our go-to, but other flavors work well, too.

Salted Butter: A quick brush of melted butter gives the baked bread a golden, glossy finish.

Fresh Parsley: A sprinkle of chopped parsley adds a pop of green color for a festive touch. You can also try chopped fresh chives or basil for a flavorful twist.

Cookware You’ll Need

Here’s the cookware you’ll need for this easy Christmas pull-apart tree.

Cookie Sheet: Based on years of testing, we’ve found that large, flat cookie sheets without rims provide the most even baking. If needed, a large, rimmed sheet pan will work, too.

Cooking Parchment Paper: Makes cleanup easy and helps transfer the baked bread to a serving platter.

Pastry Brush: We prefer a silicone brush for applying melted butter smoothly and for easy cleanup afterward, but a natural bristle brush works well, too.

Other Cookware You'll Need: Cutting board, pizza cutter, measuring spoons, cooling rack, small microwaveable bowl, and a chef’s knife.

How to Make Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Here’s how to make this easy Christmas pull-apart tree.

1. Cut Crescent Dough

While the oven heats, unroll the crescent dough, and separate it into triangles. Cut each triangle in half lengthwise, starting at the tip and slicing through the wide end to form two smaller triangles. A pizza cutter makes this easier. It rolls cleanly through the dough without dragging or tearing.

2. Fill and Roll Dough Pieces

Place cheese on the wide end of each triangle, and roll toward the point. No need to seal the ends; they’ll bake together. Arrange the rolled pieces in a tree shape on the lined cookie sheet, starting from the trunk and working up.

3. Bake Tree

Bake until golden brown. Let it cool for a few minutes. Then, brush with melted butter, and sprinkle with parsley. Allowing the bread to cool slightly before transferring to the platter helps it retain its shape.

Possible Variations

We’ve heard from you that you love making this bread Christmas tree recipe your own.

Swap the Filling: Try Boursin® cheese flavors like shallot and chive, or use mozzarella sticks with pesto. For a breakfast twist, try cooked sausage and sharp cheddar.

Make it Sweet: One reviewer shared, "I swapped the filling for cream cheese and raspberry jam, then frosted it with cream cheese frosting. It was fabulous!" You can also try fruit-flavored cream cheese.

Seasonal Shapes: Shape the dough like a pumpkin, heart, etc., for holidays, and choose a sweet or savory filling.

Keep the festive fun going with more easy-to-make Christmas appetizers.

Storing and Reheating Christmas Tree Bread

Here are the best methods we’ve tested for storing and reheating this Christmas tree pull-apart bread.

Refrigerator

Store any leftover bread in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Reheating

Microwave: Place an individual serving on a microwave-safe plate, and cover loosely. Microwave on medium-high (70%) for 30 seconds to 1 minute or until warmed through.
Oven: Place the Christmas tree bread on a parchment-lined cookie sheet, and reheat in a 300°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

We don’t recommend freezing baked or unbaked Christmas tree cheese bread. Once thawed, the crescent dough can lose its light, flaky texture and turn soggy or chewy.

Why Pillsbury Users Love This Recipe

We’ve heard from users that this festive appetizer checks all the boxes—fun to make, quick to prep, and always a hit at holiday gatherings. Loved by over 150 reviewers with top ratings across the board, our Christmas pull-apart bread is praised for being beginner-friendly and easy to assemble using crescent roll dough. The playful tree shape makes it a centerpiece-worthy addition to any celebration.

Users also love how customizable it is. From savory options, like pesto and mozzarella, to sweet twists with raspberry jam, the variations are endless. Many enjoy crafting different shapes for other occasions, such as pumpkins for Halloween or hearts for Valentine’s Day. Reviewers say it disappears fast—especially with kids—and many come back to make it again with their own unique fillings. Whether for Christmas, brunch, or themed parties, this Christmas tree cheese bread sparks creativity and brings people together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Prep time:20 min
Total time:45 min
Ingredients:4
Servings:32
Calories per serving:90

Ingredient

2 cans (8 oz) refrigerated Pillsbury™ Original Crescent Rolls (8 Count)
2 packages (5.5 oz each) garlic & fine herbs Boursin® cheese
1 tablespoon salted butter, melted
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Instructions

Step 1
Heat oven to 375°F. Line a large sheet pan with cooking parchment paper.

Step 2
Separate each can of dough into 8 triangles. Use a pizza cutter or a sharp knife to cut each triangle in half lengthwise for a total of 32 triangles.

Step 3
Spoon about 2 teaspoons cheese on the widest part of each triangle. Roll up each one, starting at the widest part of the triangle and rolling to opposite point.

Step 4
Using the photo as a guide, place 4 crescents in 2 rows of 2 to form the trunk at the bottom of the sheet pan. Above that, arrange the remaining crescents in rows to form a tree: 7 in the first row, then 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, and finally, 1 at the top.

Step 5
Place the sheet pan in the oven on the middle rack. Bake 20 to 24 minutes or until deep golden brown and dough is baked through. Cool 5 minutes on cooling rack.

Step 6
Brush tops with melted butter; sprinkle with parsley.

Step 7
Using a large, flat spatula, carefully loosen the pull-apart bread from the parchment on the sheet pan. Holding onto the sides of the parchment paper, gently lift the bread and paper onto a serving platter. Lift the parchment paper on one side and slide it out from underneath, leaving the bread on the platter. Serve warm.

Recipe Tips

Crescent Dog Pull-Apart Wreath is another great option for the holidays. It's easy to turn crescent rolls into a Christmas wreath for a festive take on the classic app.
Love Christmas tree-shaped appetizers? Our 3-Ingredient Pesto-Parmesan Christmas Tree is the perfect recipe if you're craving a little pesto and Parm for your next holiday gathering.

Nutrition Facts

Calories
90
Total Fat
7g
Protein
1g
Total Carbohydrate
6g
Sugars
2g

Servings: 32

Serving Size: 1 Serving

Amount Per Serving Calories : 90

Nutrition Facts
Food Component / Nutrient	Amount	% , Daily Value*
Total Fat	7g	10%
Saturated Fat	3&½g	18%
Trans Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Monounsaturated Fat	1g	% Value Not Available
Polyunsaturated Fat	0g	% Value Not Available
Omega-3	0g	% Value Not Available
Cholesterol	10mg	4%
Sodium	160mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate	6g	2%
Dietary Fiber	0g	0%
Soluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Insoluble Fiber	0g	% Value Not Available
Sugars	2g	% Value Not Available
Protein	1g	% Value Not Available
Vitamin D	Value Not Available	0%
Calcium	Value Not Available	0%
Iron	Value Not Available	0%
Potassium	15mg	0%
Vitamin A	Value Not Available	2%
Vitamin C	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin E	Value Not Available	0%
Thiamin	Value Not Available	0%
Riboflavin	Value Not Available	0%
Niacin	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin B6	Value Not Available	0%
Folic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Vitamin B12	Value Not Available	0%
Pantothenic Acid	Value Not Available	0%
Phosphorus	Value Not Available	0%
Magnesium	Value Not Available	0%
Zinc	Value Not Available	0%
Manganese	Value Not Available	0%
Selenium	Value Not Available	0%
Copper	Value Not Available	0%
Beta-Carotene	Value Not Available	% Value Not Available
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Exchanges

Starch ½,
Fruit 0,
Other Carbohydrate 0,
Skim Milk 0,
Low-Fat Milk 0,
Milk 0,
Vegetable 0,
Very Lean Meat 0,
Lean Meat 0,
Medium-Fat Meat 0,
High-Fat Meat 0,
Fat 1&½,
Fruits 0c,
Vegetables 0c,
Grains 0oz-eq,
Meat & Beans 0oz-eq,
Dairy 0c,
Fats & Oils 0tsp

Carbohydrate Choice

Carbohydrate Choice½

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Recipe Ingredients

You only need 4 simple ingredients for this Christmas tree pull-apart bread.

Salted Butter: A quick brush of melted butter gives the baked bread a golden, glossy finish.

Fresh Parsley: A sprinkle of chopped parsley adds a pop of green color for a festive touch. You can also try chopped fresh chives or basil for a flavorful twist.

Cookware You’ll Need

Here’s the cookware you’ll need for this easy Christmas pull-apart tree.

Cookie Sheet: Based on years of testing, we’ve found that large, flat cookie sheets without rims provide the most even baking. If needed, a large, rimmed sheet pan will work, too.

Cooking Parchment Paper: Makes cleanup easy and helps transfer the baked bread to a serving platter.

Pastry Brush: We prefer a silicone brush for applying melted butter smoothly and for easy cleanup afterward, but a natural bristle brush works well, too.

Other Cookware You'll Need: Cutting board, pizza cutter, measuring spoons, cooling rack, small microwaveable bowl, and a chef’s knife.

How to Make Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Bread

Here’s how to make this easy Christmas pull-apart tree.