Christmas Pizza Wreath: The Ultimate Festive Appetizer

Get ready to win the holiday party season with this spectacular Christmas Pizza Wreath! It’s the perfect combination of festive, fun, and unbelievably delicious. This recipe transforms simple pizza ingredients into a stunning, shareable appetizer that will be the star of any gathering. Best of all, it’s incredibly easy to make, making it a fantastic holiday activity to do with the kids.

This pull-apart pizza ring is cheesy, savory, and perfect for dipping. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that looks impressive on any appetizer table but requires minimal effort. Let’s get baking!

A close-up of the golden-baked Christmas Pizza Wreath, showing the melted mozzarella cheese and pepperoni tucked inside the flaky crescent roll crust.
Golden brown and ready to enjoy!

Why You’ll Love This Christmas Pizza Wreath Recipe

  • Perfectly Festive: The beautiful wreath shape, decorated with pepperoni and herbs, makes it a stunning and edible centerpiece for your holiday spread.
  • Incredibly Easy: Using refrigerated crescent roll dough and simple toppings, this appetizer comes together in just a few minutes of active prep time. No complicated steps here!
  • Kid-Friendly Fun: This is a wonderful recipe to get the kids involved in the kitchen. They’ll love arranging the dough, adding the cheese, and placing the pepperoni.
  • Completely Customizable: Don’t love pepperoni? No problem! This recipe is a fantastic base for all your favorite pizza toppings. See our variations section for some tasty ideas.

Key Ingredients

This recipe relies on simple, easy-to-find ingredients to create a truly memorable dish.

  • Refrigerated Crescent Roll Dough: This is the secret to a quick and delicious wreath. It bakes up flaky, buttery, and golden brown. You’ll need two standard 8-ounce cans.
  • Marinara Sauce: Use your favorite jarred pizza sauce or marinara for dipping. A small bowl placed in the center of the wreath makes for perfect serving.
  • Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Pre-shredded, low-moisture mozzarella cheese is perfect for getting that classic pizza pull.
  • Pepperoni Slices: A classic pizza topping that adds a savory, slightly spicy flavor. You can even use a small star cookie cutter on the pepperoni for extra festive flair!
  • Egg: An egg wash is crucial for achieving that beautiful, shiny, golden-brown crust.
  • Italian Seasoning & Garlic Powder: These seasonings are brushed on the crust with melted butter to add an irresistible layer of flavor.
  • Melted Butter: Mixed with seasonings, this gets brushed over the hot wreath for a final touch of richness.
  • Fresh Parsley or Basil: A little sprinkle of fresh herbs after baking adds a pop of color and freshness.

Essential Equipment

You won’t need any fancy gadgets to create this masterpiece. Just a few kitchen basics:

  • Large Baking Sheet: A round pizza pan or a standard rectangular baking sheet will work perfectly.
  • Parchment Paper: This prevents the wreath from sticking and makes cleanup a breeze.
  • Small Bowl: An oven-safe bowl for the marinara sauce is essential for the classic dipping presentation.
  • Pizza Cutter or Knife: For easily portioning the dough if needed.
  • Pastry Brush: For applying the egg wash and seasoned butter.

How to Make the Perfect Christmas Pizza Wreath (Step-by-Step)

Follow these simple steps to create a show-stopping appetizer.

1. Prepare Your Dough and Baking Sheet

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a small, oven-safe bowl in the center of the baking sheet – this will be your guide for the wreath shape. Unroll the crescent roll triangles and arrange them in a circle around the bowl, with the wide ends of the triangles overlapping and the pointed tips facing outward, creating a sunburst shape.

Step-by-step process of making a Christmas Pizza Wreath, showing the crescent roll dough arranged in a circle on a baking sheet before adding toppings.
Arranging the dough is the first step to creating this festive treat.

2. Assemble the Wreath

Press the overlapping wide ends of the dough together to seal the base of the wreath. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese and pepperoni slices evenly over the sealed ring of dough. Now, take the pointed tip of each crescent triangle and fold it up and over the filling, tucking it under the base of the wreath to secure it. You’ve now formed the wreath shape!

3. Prepare for Baking

In a small bowl, whisk the egg with a splash of water to create an egg wash. Gently brush the egg wash over the entire surface of the wreath. This will give it a beautiful, shiny, golden-brown finish. Remove the center bowl for now.

4. Bake to Golden Perfection

Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the wreath is deep golden brown and the cheese is melted and bubbly. While it’s baking, warm your marinara sauce. In a separate small bowl, melt the butter and stir in the Italian seasoning and garlic powder.

5. Final Touches

As soon as the wreath comes out of the oven, brush it generously with the seasoned melted butter. Garnish with a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Carefully place the wreath on a serving platter and put the bowl of warm marinara sauce in the center for dipping. Serve immediately!

Pro Tips for Success

  • Don’t Overfill: Be mindful not to add too much filling, as it can make it difficult to fold the dough over and seal the wreath properly.
  • Seal Tightly: Ensure the seams of the dough are pressed together firmly to prevent the cheese from leaking out during baking.
  • Check for Doneness: Ovens can vary. Keep an eye on the wreath, and if the top is browning too quickly, you can loosely tent it with foil for the last few minutes of baking.

Creative Christmas Pizza Wreath Variations

Use this recipe as a canvas for your culinary creativity! Here are a few ideas to get you started:

White Pizza Wreath

Swap the marinara for a base of ricotta or alfredo sauce. Top with cooked shredded chicken, spinach, and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese.

Veggie Lover’s Wreath

Load it up with finely chopped bell peppers, red onions, black olives, and mushrooms. Just be sure to pre-cook any veggies with high water content to avoid a soggy wreath.

Sausage and Spice Wreath

Use cooked and crumbled Italian sausage instead of pepperoni. For a bit of a kick, add a sprinkle of red pepper flakes with the Italian seasoning.

What to Serve with Your Pizza Wreath

This pizza wreath is a fantastic standalone appetizer, but it also plays well with others. Feature it on an appetizer board alongside other festive bites. It pairs wonderfully with other holiday classics like a savory Cranberry Pecan Goat Cheese Ball or some delicious Rotel Sausage Balls. For a larger spread, consider adding some Cranberry Brie Bites to the mix.

Making Ahead and Storing

To make this ahead, you can assemble the entire wreath without the egg wash, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 4 hours. When ready to bake, apply the egg wash and add a few extra minutes to the baking time. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F or in an air fryer for the best, crispy results.

FAQs about Christmas Pizza Wreath

Refrigerated crescent roll dough is the easiest and provides a fantastic buttery, flaky texture. You can also use canned pizza dough or even biscuit dough as an alternative.

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Yes! You can assemble the entire wreath without the egg wash, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it for up to 4 hours before baking. Just add a few extra minutes to the baking time when you’re ready.

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Get creative! Try cooked Italian sausage, green peppers, black olives, or mushrooms. For an extra festive touch, use a small star-shaped cookie cutter on pepperoni slices or bell peppers.

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Store any leftover pizza wreath in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For the best results, reheat in the oven at 350°F or in an air fryer until warm and crispy.

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Your New Holiday Favorite!

This Christmas Pizza Wreath is more than just a recipe; it’s a new holiday tradition waiting to happen. It’s a joy to make, a delight to eat, and a guaranteed way to bring smiles to your guests’ faces. Give it a try this season, and don’t forget to share your stunning creations with us on Pinterest!

A festive Christmas Pizza Wreath made with golden-brown crescent roll dough, topped with pepperoni and cheese, with a bowl of marinara dipping sauce in the center. A perfect holiday appetizer.
This Christmas Pizza Wreath is the ultimate party appetizer!

Christmas Pizza Wreath Recipe

Step-by-step process of making a Christmas Pizza Wreath, showing the crescent roll dough arranged in a circle on a baking sheet before adding toppings.
FL Recipes

Christmas Pizza Wreath: The Ultimate Festive Appetizer

This Christmas Pizza Wreath is the ultimate easy and festive holiday appetizer! Learn how to make this cheesy, pull-apart pizza ring with simple ingredients like crescent rolls, pepperoni, and mozzarella. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that's as fun to make as it is to eat.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Course: Appetizer, Snack
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 210

Ingredients
  

  • 2 cans refrigerated crescent roll dough 8 ounces each
  • 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup pepperoni slices
  • 1 large egg beaten with 1 tsp water
  • 2 tbsp butter melted
  • 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley chopped, for garnish
  • 1 cup marinara sauce warmed, for dipping

Equipment

  • 1 Large Baking Sheet
  • Parchment Paper
  • 1 Small Oven-Safe Bowl
  • 1 Pastry Brush
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Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a small, oven-safe bowl in the center to use as a guide.
  2. Arrange the crescent roll triangles in a circle around the bowl, with the wide ends overlapping and pointed tips facing out to create a sunburst shape.
  3. Press the overlapping dough to seal the base of the wreath. Sprinkle the mozzarella cheese and pepperoni evenly over the sealed ring.
  4. Fold the pointed tip of each triangle up and over the filling, tucking it under the base to secure it, forming the wreath.
  5. Remove the center guide bowl. In a small bowl, whisk the egg and water. Brush the egg wash over the entire wreath.
  6. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until deep golden brown and the cheese is melted.
  7. While baking, melt the butter and stir in the Italian seasoning and garlic powder.
  8. As soon as the wreath comes out of the oven, brush it generously with the seasoned butter. Garnish with fresh parsley.
  9. Place the warm marinara sauce in a bowl in the center of the wreath and serve immediately.

Nutrition

Calories: 210kcalProtein: 8gFat: 14gFiber: 1g

Notes

Tip 1: For extra festive flair, use a small star-shaped cookie cutter on the pepperoni slices before adding them to the wreath.
Tip 2: Don't overcrowd the filling. A little goes a long way and prevents the wreath from becoming soggy or difficult to seal.
Tip 3: Serve with other dipping sauces like ranch or garlic butter for variety.
Keyword christmas pizza,crescent roll wreath,holiday appetizer,pizza wreath

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