Spicy Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread

Spicy Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Bread

Ingredients:

Red Pepper Dipping Sauce:

• 1 jar (12 oz) roasted sweet red peppers, drained
• 2/3 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/3 cup unsalted whole almonds
• 1 tsp. garlic powder
• 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Tree Bread:

• 1 tube (13.8 oz) refrigerated pizza crust
• 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, divided
• 6 oz. chunk pepper jack cheese
• 3 Tbsp. butter, melted
• Minced fresh parsley
• Crushed red pepper flakes

Directions:

1. Red Pepper Dipping Sauce: Place the sauce ingredients in a food processor; cover and process until mixture is smooth. Set aside.
2. Tree Bread: Heat oven to 375°F. Line a 15 x 10-inch baking pan with parchment paper.
3. Unroll pizza crust on a lightly floured cutting board into a rectangle, 9-inches long; sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder. Cut crust widthwise into four strips, each 2 ¼-inches wide.
4. Cut strips lengthwise yielding 16 rectangles. Cut pepper jack into 16 cubes, about 3/4-inch each.
5. Wrap each rectangle around a pepper jack cube; seal dough around cheese. Roll dough into balls. Arrange balls in a tree shape on prepared pan. Bake for 8 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, combine butter and remaining garlic powder. Divide butter mixture in half; brush half of the mixture on rolls.
7. Cover with aluminum foil; bake for 10-12 minutes longer or until golden brown.
8. Brush rolls with remaining butter mixture. Sprinkle with parsley and red pepper flakes. Serve rolls with reserved sauce.