Ingredients:

  • 450 g store-bought thin-crust pizza dough
  • 30 ml olive oil
  • 15 g dried parsley
  • 120 ml low-sodium marinara or pizza sauce
  • 170 g shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
  • 25 g grated Parmesan cheese
  • 12 mini pepperoni slices
  • 5 g garlic powder

Instructions:

  1. On a floured surface, roll the dough into a large oval, approximately ½ inch (1.3cm) thick.
  2. Cut the oval in half vertically.
  3. Cut the edges of each half into horizontal strips of varying lengths (shortest at the top, longest at the bottom) to create a tree silhouette.
  4. Spread a thin layer of sauce across the center of the dough, leaving the 'branches' clear.
  5. Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the sauce.
  6. Twist the strips of dough from the outside toward the center, overlapping them slightly to create a braided, 3D effect.
  7. Place one mini pepperoni slice on the tip of each 'branch.'
  8. Bake at 400°F (200°C) until the edges are mahogany-colored and the cheese is bubbling and browned.
  9. Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with garlic powder while the cheese is still molten.
  10. Allow to rest for 5 minutes—this ensures the cheese sets slightly so the bites pull apart cleanly rather than stretching.