Christmas Tree Pull-apart Bread

Ingredients

Dough

• 220 g water
• 2 tsp dried instant yeastor 20 g fresh yeast, crumbled
• 400 g strong white bread flour
• 30 g olive oil, plus extra for greasing
• 1 tsp granulated sugar
• 1 tsp fine sea salt

Filling

• 60 g Parmesan cheese, cut in pieces (2 cm)
• 1 garlic clove
• 200 g mozzarella cheese, cut in pieces (2 cm)

Assembly and Baking

• 1 medium egg, mixed with 1 Tbsp water

Serving

• 1 ½ Tbsp fresh rosemary leaves
• 1 ½ Tbsp fresh basil leaves
• 30 g unsalted butter, diced

Preparation

Dough

1. Place water and yeast in mixing bowl then warm 2 min/37°C/speed 1. Meanwhile, lightly grease a large bowl.
2. Add flour, oil, sugar and salt then knead Dough 2 min. Transfer to prepared bowl and bring together into a ball. Cover with reusable wrap or cling film and leave to rest until doubled in size (approx. 1 hour). Meanwhile, line a large baking tray with baking paper or a silicone baking mat and make filling.

Filling

1. Place Parmesan in mixing bowl and grate 10 sec/speed 10. Transfer to a bowl, remove 2 Tbsp to another bowl then set both aside.
2. Place garlic in mixing bowl and grate 3 sec/speed 7. Scape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula.
3. Add mozzarella and larger bowl of reserved grated Parmesan then pulse Turbo/1.0 sec/1 time. Transfer to a bowl and set aside. Clean mixing bowl.

Assembly and Baking

1. After resting time, divide dough into 32 balls then flatten each into a disc (approx. Ø 8 cm). Place 1 heaped tsp cheese mixture in the centre then fold edges in to form a tightly sealed ball. Place balls, seam-side down and just touching, on prepared tray in the shape of a Christmas tree. Cover with oiled reusable wrap or cling film and set aside to prove in a warm place for 30 minutes.
2. Towards the end of this time, preheat oven to 200°C.
3. Once risen, brush tree with egg wash then bake for 15 minutes (200°C) until cooked and golden. Meanwhile, prepare herb butter.

Serving

1. Place rosemary and basil in mixing bowl then chop 5 sec/speed 7. Scrape down sides of mixing bowl with spatula.
2. Add butter and melt 2 min/60°C/speed 2.
3. Once baked, brush melted herb butter into joints of tree. Sprinkle with remaining reserved grated Parmesan and serve whole at the table.