If you’re looking to add some festive flair to your holiday table, the Christmas Tree Pizza with Pesto, Red Peppers, and Onions Recipe is an absolute must-try. This delightful pizza brings together a crisp, golden crust shaped like a Christmas tree, topped with vibrant green pesto, sweet red peppers, and mild red onions. The mozzarella melts beautifully over the colorful toppings, creating a visually stunning and irresistibly tasty dish that’s sure to be a hit, whether for a cozy family dinner or a holiday gathering with friends.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Each ingredient in this recipe plays a superstar role in making the Christmas Tree Pizza truly sparkle. The combination of fresh, simple elements ensures a harmonious balance of flavors, textures, and colors that celebrate the season.
- Best Pizza Dough: The foundation of the pizza, crispy yet chewy, perfect for shaping into a festive tree.
- Red Pepper: Adds a splash of sweet crunch and a vivid red color, like ornaments on the tree.
- Red Onion: Thinly sliced and rinsed to mellow its bite, the onion provides subtle sweetness and texture.
- Basil Pesto: Brings herbal brightness and a gorgeous green hue, making the pizza truly festive.
- Shredded Mozzarella Cheese: Melts to create a gooey, golden blanket that ties the toppings together.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances all the flavors without overpowering the fresh ingredients.
How to Make Christmas Tree Pizza with Pesto, Red Peppers, and Onions Recipe
Step 1: Prepare the Dough
Start with the best pizza dough you can muster—whether homemade or store-bought. This recipe calls for about 15 minutes of kneading and 45 minutes of resting. This resting time allows the dough to relax and rise slightly, giving you that perfect blend of crispness and chewiness in the finished crust.
Step 2: Preheat the Oven and Ready Your Baking Surface
Place your pizza stone in the oven and preheat to a hot 500°F. If you don’t have a stone, a sturdy baking sheet works just fine. The intense heat is key to achieving that ideal crispy bottom and golden edges that elevate this Christmas Tree Pizza with Pesto, Red Peppers, and Onions Recipe to another level.
Step 3: Prepare the Toppings
Dice the red pepper into small, bright pieces, perfect for “decorating” the tree. Thinly slice half a red onion and rinse it under cool water to tame the sharpness and bring out its natural sweetness. Pat dry to keep the toppings from watering down the crust.
Step 4: Shape the Dough into a Christmas Tree
Dust your pizza peel or baking sheet with cornmeal or semolina flour to prevent sticking. Roll out the dough into a large triangle shape with a small rectangle at the bottom as the trunk—this is your edible Christmas tree canvas. Arranging the dough carefully at this stage makes the pizza both festive and structurally sound.
Step 5: Layer with Pesto, Cheese, and Toppings
Spread a thin, even layer of basil pesto over the dough—it’s like the green garland wrapping your tree. Next, generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese. Then, artfully arrange the red pepper pieces and onion slices as your vibrant “ornaments.” Finish with a light sprinkle of kosher salt to awaken all the flavors.
Step 6: Bake to Perfection
Carefully slide the pizza onto the preheated stone using your pizza peel, or place your baking sheet in the oven. Bake for about 5 to 7 minutes until the cheese bubbles and starts to turn golden brown. Let the pizza cool slightly—this helps the flavors settle and makes it easier to slice and serve.
How to Serve Christmas Tree Pizza with Pesto, Red Peppers, and Onions Recipe
Garnishes
A sprinkle of fresh herbs such as basil or parsley right before serving adds a lively punch of freshness and enhances the green colors even more. You can also drizzle a little extra pesto on top for a more intense herbal kick.
Side Dishes
This pizza pairs wonderfully with light, fresh salads like arugula tossed with lemon vinaigrette or a crisp winter slaw. The verdant, crisp veggies balance the richness of the cheese and pesto perfectly, creating a beautifully rounded meal.
Creative Ways to Present
For a festive touch, serve the pizza on a wooden board dusted lightly with flour or cornmeal to mimic a snowy scene. You can also use small edible “ornaments” like cherry tomatoes or black olives for additional color and fun. Presenting individual smaller trees adds charm and makes sharing easy at parties.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover Christmas Tree Pizza in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. To keep the crust from becoming soggy, place a paper towel underneath to absorb moisture.
Freezing
If you want to keep this festive joy for longer, you can freeze the pizza after baking and cooling. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. Freeze for up to one month.
Reheating
Reheat leftovers in a hot oven (around 375°F) for 8 to 10 minutes to restore crunchiness and melt the cheese again. Avoid microwaving if possible, as it often makes the crust chewy rather than crisp.
FAQs
Can I use a different type of pesto?
Absolutely! While basil pesto is traditional and vibrant, you can experiment with sun-dried tomato pesto or even vegan pesto to suit your taste and dietary preferences.
Is it necessary to rinse the red onions?
Rinsing red onions helps soften their sharpness and makes them more pleasant when baked on the pizza. It’s a small step that enhances the overall flavor balance.
Can I prepare this pizza ahead of time for a party?
You can assemble the pizza and refrigerate it for a few hours before baking, but it’s best baked fresh for that perfect crispy crust and bubbly cheese. Alternatively, fully bake and reheat gently before serving.
What if I don’t have a pizza stone?
No worries at all! A heavy baking sheet works well. Preheat the sheet upside down to mimic the hot surface of a stone, which helps the crust cook evenly.
Can I add other toppings to the Christmas Tree Pizza?
Definitely! Feel free to add olives, mushrooms, or even some sliced cherry tomatoes to decorate your tree. Just remember to keep toppings balanced so the crust cooks properly.
Final Thoughts
This Christmas Tree Pizza with Pesto, Red Peppers, and Onions Recipe truly elevates holiday dining by combining festive presentation with mouthwatering flavors. I can’t wait for you to try it—it’s guaranteed to bring smiles and warmth to your table, becoming a new seasonal favorite for your family and friends!
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Christmas Tree Pizza with Pesto, Red Peppers, and Onions Recipe
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings (4 large tree-shaped pizzas or 8 small ones)
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Celebrate the holiday season with this festive Christmas Pizza shaped like a tree, topped with vibrant red peppers, savory red onions, fresh basil pesto, and melty mozzarella cheese. This recipe combines a homemade or store-bought pizza dough with colorful toppings to create a delightful and delicious seasonal treat perfect for gatherings and family meals.
Ingredients
Pizza Dough
- 1 ball Best Pizza Dough (or Food Processor Dough or Thin Crust Dough)
Toppings
- 1 red pepper, diced
- 1/2 red onion, thinly sliced, rinsed and patted dry
- 1/2 cup basil pesto (purchased, homemade, or vegan pesto)
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- Kosher salt, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare Dough: Follow the Best Pizza Dough recipe to prepare the dough. This process takes approximately 15 minutes to mix and knead the dough and 45 minutes to let it rest and rise.
- Preheat Oven and Pizza Stone: Place a pizza stone in the oven and preheat to 500°F (260°C). If you do not have a pizza stone, prepare a baking sheet to cook the pizza on.
- Prepare Toppings: Dice the red pepper. Thinly slice the red onion, rinse it under cool water, and pat dry to mellow its sharpness.
- Shape Dough: Dust a pizza peel, rimless baking sheet, or baking sheet with cornmeal or semolina flour. Roll out the dough into a triangle shape resembling a Christmas tree, adding a small rectangle at the base to form the trunk. Transfer the shaped dough onto the prepared peel or baking sheet.
- Add Pesto and Toppings: Spread a thin, even layer of basil pesto over the dough. Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese generously on top. Decorate with the diced red peppers and sliced red onions, then sprinkle kosher salt to taste.
- Bake the Pizza: Using the pizza peel, slide the pizza onto the preheated pizza stone, or place the baking sheet directly into the oven. Bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the cheese has melted and the crust is golden and crisp.
- Serve: Remove the pizza from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before slicing and serving. Enjoy your festive Christmas Pizza!
Notes
- For best results, use a pizza stone preheated to 500°F to achieve a crispy crust.
- Rinsing the red onions under cold water removes some of their sharpness, making them milder and more pleasant on the pizza.
- Cornmeal or semolina flour on the peel or baking sheet helps the pizza slide easily onto the stone or oven surface.
- Customize toppings by adding other festive vegetables or vegan cheese alternatives as desired.
- Ensure that the dough is rolled evenly for even cooking.
