Advent Calendar Day 8 -Parmesan & Rosemary Christmas Tree Pull-Apart

A Savoury Show-Off Moment

Day 8 is for those of us who love Christmas… but also love cheese.
If you’ve ever thought, “I want to bake something festive, but I also want everyone to say wow,” then welcome to today’s recipe: the Parmesan & Rosemary Christmas Tree Pull-Apart.

It’s cute, it’s golden, it’s fragrant, and it looks way more complicated than it actually is—ideal for the solo cook who wants festive flair without the full stress level of assembling IKEA furniture. Using basic store-bought dough (no shame here), you’ll create adorable bite-sized balls arranged into a Christmas tree shape. When it comes out of the oven? Pure holiday magic.🎄

⭐ Why This Savoury Star Shines

Perfect for holiday gatherings or a cosy night in
Uses supermarket shortcuts
Smells like you’ve fully adopted rosemary as a personality trait
Easy to scale up or down
Looks impressive enough that people will assume you “just love hosting”

🌲 Ingredients (Serves 4)

1 can or packet of ready-made pizza dough
1/3 cup finely grated parmesan
1 tbsp fresh rosemary, chopped
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 clove garlic, crushed
Pinch of salt & black pepper
Optional: extra rosemary sprigs for garnish, marinara for dipping

🔥 How to Make It

Preheat the oven to 190°C and line a tray with baking paper.
Cut the pizza dough into small pieces and roll into about 18–20 little balls.
Mix melted butter, garlic, rosemary, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.
Dip or brush the dough balls with the butter mix and sprinkle parmesan over the top.
Arrange the balls on the tray in a Christmas tree shape (triangle + trunk).
Bake for 12–15 minutes until golden and irresistible.
Serve warm with dipping sauce if desired.

Scale it for one: Make 6–8 dough balls and form a tiny “tabletop tree.”
Scale it for a crowd: Double the dough and create a giant edible Christmas centrepiece.