Pull apart Christmas tree bread
This stunning Christmas tree shaped bread can be a favourite for the whole family and the filling can be varied in
so many ways. Dough is all you need for the tree and the rest can be a plain, freshly baked ciabatta or baguette.
But if you‘re in a rush and don’t have enough time to knead just use a pack of pizza or bread mixture following the
instructions on the package.
Ingredients:
750 g strong bread flour (with mixed grain)
500 ml lukewarm water
2 packs of dried yeast (2 x 7g)
1 teaspoon sugar
1 tbsp fine sea salt
for the filling:
100 g cream cheese
1 garlic clove
50 g grated cheddar
some finely sliced basil or parsley to garnish
1. Put the flour into the bowl of a stand mixer. Put the water in a glass bowl, add the sugar and stir well. Add the
yeast and set aside in a warm place. Leave the yeast to rise.
2. Add the salt to the flour, and add the yeast mixture as well. Mix together well until you form a dough then knead
for about 10 minutes until the dough is smooth and elastic. Cover the bowl loosely with a tea towel. Leave in a
warmish place until doubled in size. About 45 minutes to an hour.
3. Meanwhile mix the cream cheese and grated cheese with mashed garlic. Preheat the oven to 200 C.
4. Take the dough onto a floured surface. Knock all the air out of the dough and knead it for a couple of seconds to
begin shaping it into a ball.
5. Roll with a pin and divide two third of the dough into 15 equal rectangular parts. Place a teaspoon of the filling
in the middle of the rectangles and shape into balls carefully.
6. Line a baking tray with greeasproof paper and arrange the balls into a Christmas tree shape.
7. Bake in the oven for 10-15 minutes until the top of the bread is golden and crispy.
8. Serve warm.