1 cup frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
Red pepper flakes or cherry tomato slices for decoration
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. This ensures the bread does not stick and makes for a very easy cleanup. Take your pizza dough out of the refrigerator at least fifteen minutes before you start so it is easier to stretch and shape.
In a medium mixing bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, sour cream, squeezed spinach, shredded mozzarella, grated parmesan, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, and pepper. Use a spatula or a hand mixer to blend the ingredients until they are smooth and well incorporated. Ensure the spinach is very dry to prevent the dough from getting soggy.
Roll out the pizza dough on a lightly floured surface into a large rectangle. Use a pizza cutter or a sharp knife to cut the dough into small squares, roughly two inches by two inches. You should have about thirty to thirty-two squares depending on the size of your dough sheet.
Place a teaspoon of the cheesy spinach mixture in the center of each dough square. Carefully pull the edges of the dough up over the filling and pinch them tightly together to form a small ball. Make sure there are no gaps where the cheese could leak out during the baking process.
Arrange the filled dough balls on the prepared baking sheet in a triangle shape to resemble a Christmas tree. Start with one ball at the top, then two below it, and continue increasing the number in each row until you reach the base. Use the remaining two or three balls to create a small trunk at the bottom center of the triangle.
Place the baking sheet in the center of the oven and bake for 18 to 22 minutes. You want the dough to be puffed up and a beautiful golden brown color. While the tree is baking, mix the melted butter with the chopped parsley and Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
Remove the tray from the oven and immediately brush the herb butter over the warm bread balls. For a festive look, garnish with a few red pepper flakes or small slices of cherry tomatoes to look like ornaments. Serve warm while the cheese is still stretchy.
