These Christmas Tree Pesto Pizza bites are the ultimate festive treat, crispy, cheesy, and shaped like little evergreen trees! Ready in under 35 minutes, they’re the perfect holiday appetizer or kid-friendly dinner that doubles as a fun Christmas activity.
This holiday-themed pesto pizza is a creative twist on a classic, perfect for Christmas Eve dinners, classroom parties, or festive potlucks. Shaped like little Christmas trees and baked until golden, they’re easy to prep ahead and quick to finish when guests arrive.
Inspired by our Mini Rainbow Pizzas with Einkorn Flour, these pair beautifully with Vegetable and Cucumber Bites or my easy Keto Bacon Jalapeno Poppers.
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💖 Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Festive and fun: The Christmas tree shape makes these pizzas an instant holiday favorite.
- Quick to make: Done in just 30–35 minutes with minimal prep.
- Kid-approved: Picky eaters love the shape and cheesy goodness!
⭐ Star Ingredients
- Einkorn Flour Piza Dough: We used homemade pizza dough using Grand Teton Ancient Grains Einkorn Flour. The result was a hearty crust that bakes beautifully and adds a slight nutty depth.
- Basil Pesto: Adds bright, herbaceous flavor and gives the pizzas their vibrant green “tree” color. Use homemade or high-quality store-bought pesto.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Melts into creamy, golden goodness that makes every bite extra comforting and festive.
- Cherry Tomatoes: Thinly sliced and scattered on top like little edible ornaments—juicy, colorful, and sweet.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
- Dough Choice: Use homemade einkorn pizza dough for a nutritious, nutty base, or grab store-bought dough to save time. Learn how to make Einkorn Flour Pizza Dough here!
- Switch the sauce: Swap the pesto with tomato passata or marinara for a more classic mini pizza flavor.
- Cheese it up: Try feta, parmesan, or dairy-free cheese alternatives depending on your needs.
- Kid-friendly upgrade: Let kids decorate their own trees with toppings like corn, mushrooms, or mini bell pepper stars.
🔪 How To Make Christmas Pesto Pizza
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 500°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Make your own dough or get store bought dough.
- Step 2: Dust your countertop lightly with flour, and roll the pizza dough into about a ¼-inch thickness.
- Step 3: Use a large-sized tree-shaped cutter (about 5 inches) to cut out as many trees as you can, and place them onto your baking sheet. Bake your pizza dough for 4-5 minutes or until the edges start to brown and puff up a little bit.
- Step 4: Carefully remove the baking sheet from the oven and place about 1- 1 ½ teaspoons of pesto on top of each tree, and spread across the top of the tree (leave a little edge!).
- Step 5: Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top of the pesto.
- Step 6: Finish by laying your sliced cherry tomatoes on top like ornaments.
- Step 7: Bake for and additional 4-5 minutes, or until edges are golden and the cheese is melted and bubbling.
- Step 8: If desired, finish with a sprinkle of crushed red pepper flakes.
💡 Pro Tip: Don’t overload the trees with toppings, too much can make the crust soggy.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Don’t overload with toppings or they’ll lose their shape.
- Bake on the middle rack for even cooking.
- Use parchment paper to prevent sticking and easier cleanup.
💭 FAQs
You can cut the trees out in advance and par-bake them. Bake for about 4 - 5 minutes in advance, and cool completely. When you are ready to serve them, top with the pesto, cheese, and tomatoes and bake until fully cooked, about another 4-5 minutes.
Once you roll the dough out, cut it into a triangle and then cut small notches on the sides with your knife to create 'branches' of the tree. You can use your hands to create a small rectangle at the base of the trunk.
Wrap up the cooled pizzas tightly with foil and store in the refrigerator up to 3 days. To make it crispy again, reheat in a 375°F (190°C) oven for 6 - 8 minutes.
🍜 More Fantastic Recipes
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💜 Serving Suggestions
Serve these festive pizzas with:
- Mini Santa Fruit Skewers for dessert.
- Hot Tomato Soup for a cozy combo.
- Christmas Crudites Platter with hummus.
- Homemade Lemonade or festive juice.
Best Christmas Tree Pizzas Using Einkorn Flour
Equipment
- Pizza Shape Cutter
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Pizza Dough
- ¼ Cup Basil Pesto
- ¼ Cup Mozzarella Cheese Shredded
- ¼ Cup Cherry Tomatoes Thinly Sliced
- Pinch Salt
- Pinch Pepper
- ¼ Cup All Purpose Flour For Rolling
- ¼ Teaspoon Red Pepper Flakes Optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 500°F (260°C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Lightly flour your counter and roll out dough to about ¼-inch thick.
- Cut out tree shapes using a 5-inch tree cookie cutter. Place on baking sheet.
- Par-bake the tree bases for 4–5 minutes until slightly puffed and golden.
- Remove from oven. Spread 1–1½ teaspoon of pesto on each, leaving a small border.
- Top with mozzarella and dot with cherry tomato slices to look like ornaments.
- Bake again for 4–5 more minutes until cheese melts and edges are golden.
- Optional: sprinkle with crushed red pepper or herbs before serving.
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