Description
Celebrate the holidays with this festive Crescent Roll Christmas Tree appetizer. Flaky crescent rolls are layered with a creamy garlic and herb cream cheese mixture, sprinkled with smoky bacon and fresh herbs, then braided into a beautiful tree shape perfect for parties and gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Crescent Roll Dough
- 2 cans (8 oz each) refrigerated crescent rolls
Filling
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup cooked and crumbled bacon (about 16 slices)
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely minced
- ½ cup chives, finely chopped
Topping
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Filling: In a medium bowl, combine the softened cream cheese, crumbled bacon, minced garlic, and chopped chives. Mix thoroughly until evenly blended.
- Assemble Tree Base: Unroll both cans of crescent rolls and separate the dough into 16 triangles. On a parchment-lined baking sheet, arrange the triangles into a large circle with the wide ends together in the center and the points facing outward, forming a rough tree shape, pressing dough seams gently together.
- Add Filling: Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly over the inner wide part of the circle, leaving the outer points free for twisting.
- Create Tree Branches: Using a sharp knife, cut the dough from the outer edge of the filling to the pointed tips into 16 strips. Carefully twist each strip 2-3 times away from the center to create the look of pine branches.
- Bake: Brush the entire tree with melted butter and bake in the preheated oven for 15–20 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Garnish: Once out of the oven, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the top for color and freshness before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, omit bacon and add extra herbs or sautéed mushrooms.
- You can prepare the filling a day ahead and keep it refrigerated.
- Serve warm with marinara sauce or ranch dip for extra flavor.
- Use a sharp knife to ensure clean twisting of dough strips.
