Prep Time: 30 Min Cook Time: 22 Min Total Time: 52 Min Temp: 400 Degrees F
Ingredients:
- 10 oz Frozen Chopped Spinach
- 6 oz of Cream Cheese (Softened to Room Temp)
- 2 Garlic Cloves
- 1 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 Teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Onion Powder
- 1/2 Teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper
- 1/4 Teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1/2 Cup of Mozza
- 1/2 Cup of Cheddar
- 1/2 Cup of Parmesan
- 1 Box of Raw Pizza Crust (I used Duinkerken)
- 2 Eggs
- 2 1/2 Teaspoons Quick Rise Yeast
- 2 Tablespoons Vegetable Oil
- 1 Cup Warm Water
Topping:
- 2 Tablespoons Butter
- 1/2 Teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400 Degrees F.
- Make the dough acording to the instructions on the box. Once dough is made set it aside and let it rise for about 10 minutes or until your done making your spinach dip.
- To make spinach dip beat cream cheese and spinach in a bowl. (Keep note that if you used thawed spinach make sure to pat it dry so your mixture isnt soupy).
- Then add the spices: Garlic, Salt, Onion Powder, Cayenne Pepper, Pepper, and Italian Seasoning. Mix it again.
- Add the Parmesan Cheese and half of the amount of Cheddar and half the amount of Mozza Cheese. Beat mixture again.
- Now prep a large baking sheet with parchment paper and a little bit of flour. Prep a seperate piece of parchment paper on a flat surface and flour it.
- Kneed your dough and add more flour until it becomes less sticky and more managable to work with. Depending on how your dough turned out you may need to add a lot or not.
- Roll out your dough fairly thin on the second piece of parchment paper on the flat surface. Then looking at the pictures above cut out a shape of a christmas tree. Pull the excess dough off the shape and transfer the christmas tree onto your baking sheet prepared with the parchment. ( To do this just flip the parchment paper that you rolled your shape onto, onto the prepped baking sheet. It should be one solid motion to flip it.)
- Now smooth out all the spinach dip mixture onto the tree shape and put the remaining cheese on top.
- Proceed to prep another parchment paper with flour on it on a flat surface. Roll your dough out again and cut the tree shape out a second time. Its okay if its not the exact same shape as we will fix it once on top of spinach dip.
- Do the same transfer method to cover your spinach dip with dough. You may need to tug and shpe the dough to cover it.
- Now make some cuts to your tree. I make about one inch thick rectangles in the tree (they look like branches). Make sure to leave about another half inch to inch in the middle of the tree DO NOT cut from end to end.
- Now twist the rectangles as many times as you desire. I averaged twisting about 3 times. I twisted them less times the closer I got to the top.
- I had leftover dough and I used cookie cutters to cut out decorations. (See notes for more inspiration in decorating your tree)
- Put in oven and cook for about 20 – 25 minutes depending on your oven. Cook until your bottom just starts to brown.
- Once done brush your tree with melted butter, Italian Seasoning and Garllic Powder.
Substitutions:
- If you dont have cayenne pepper you can always use paprika in substitution.
Notes:
- Best served hot out of the oven so if you make in advance for a event or for dinner you can refidgerate for up to two days before putting in the oven and cooking.
- The pizza mix yeilds about two 10 inch pizzas. So you may have leftover dough to use to decorate your spinach dip tree or to make pizza or rolls for another meal.
- If your decoraring your tree you could use cherry tomatoes or some salami when finsihed to inhance the look of your christmas tree! (You could even use cookie cutters to cut lunch meat)
Storage:
- Leftovers last about 2 days give or take after making.
- This pizza crust can be frozen and made in advance. If freezing make sure to roll into a ball and coat with some oil to prevent freezer burning.
- To thaw crust you can put it in the fridge overnight or about 12 hours before use OR you can leave out at room temperature for about 8 to 10 hours.
- This crust freezes for aproximately 3 months.