Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. and place the oven rack toward the bottom of the oven. Cut two large rectangular pieces of parchment paper. Place one on a baking sheet. Set both sheets aside.
• With your electric mixer, beat the spinach and cream cheese in a medium bowl. Then, add the fresh garlic, salt, onion powder, cayenne pepper, pepper, and Italian seasoning and beat again until combined.
• Now, add the parmesan cheese and half of the cheddar or mozzarella cheese and beat until combined.
• Take the piece of parchment paper that isn't on the baking sheet and unroll the pizza dough on it. If it is a little thick in certain areas, use a rolling pin to even it out.
• To make the Christmas tree shape, with a pizza cutter, cut a large triangle out of the dough with the base of the triangle at the small bottom side of the rectangle.
• Transfer the two small remaining triangle pieces to the second piece of parchment paper on a baking sheet. Press the two long sides together in the shape of a tree that will become the base of your appetizer.
• Cover the tree's base with your spinach dip mixture and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheese on top.
• Now, flip over the parchment paper with the remaining dough and place it on top of the base covered in the spinach mixture.
• Cut branches of the tree about 1-inch thick with a pizza cutter all the way down the tree. Don’t slice all the way through. Leave about an inch down the middle of the dough.
• Take each branch and twist it 2-3 times, depending on how long it is. For the short top slice, give it a half twist.
• Place in the oven and bake for 20-22 minutes until the bottom is cooked through and the surface is golden brown.
• Finally, brush the baked appetizer with melted butter, Italian seasoning, and garlic powder and serve immediately.