Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree
Welcome to the 🗺️ Great Canadian Food Passport 📍Stop #12 – Nova Scotia
🎄 Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree
If you’re looking for a Christmas appetizer that makes everyone stop and say “WOW,” this Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree is it. Golden, buttery pieces of soft bread are filled with creamy melted Brie and tart cranberry sauce, then baked together into a beautiful Christmas tree. A finishing brush of Canadian maple butter, fresh rosemary and a sprinkle of flaky salt brings all the flavours together.
It looks impressive on a holiday table, but it’s surprisingly easy to make—and guests can simply pull off a piece and enjoy.
This recipe is also perfect for Thanksgiving. Skip the Christmas-tree shape and arrange the dough into a wreath or rustic pull-apart loaf for a beautiful fall appetizer.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- A show-stopping holiday appetizer that doubles as a centerpiece
- Gooey melted Brie in every bite
- Sweet-tart cranberry sauce balances the rich cheese
- Canadian maple syrup adds a subtle sweetness
- Easy to pull apart and share
- Great for Christmas, Thanksgiving, holiday parties and potlucks
- Can be assembled ahead of time
- Beautiful enough for the centre of your appetizer table
How To Make Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree
A Taste of Nova Scotia
For Stop #12 of the Great Canadian Food Passport, we’re heading to Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia’s Atlantic food culture is built around simple ingredients, seasonal produce and foods meant to be shared. This recipe brings together flavours that feel especially at home on a Canadian holiday table: tart cranberries, creamy cheese, fresh herbs and real maple syrup.
It’s not meant to be a traditional Nova Scotia recipe. Instead, it’s a Canadian-inspired holiday creation designed to celebrate the province as part of our Great Canada
Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree
Ingredients
- For the Pull-Apart Tree
- 1 lb pizza dough, homemade or refrigerated
- 8 oz Brie cheese, rind removed and cut into small cubes
- ¾ cup cranberry sauce
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tbsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- ½ tsp flaky sea salt
- For the Maple Butter
- 3 tbsp butter, melted
- 2 tbsp pure Canadian maple syrup
- ½ tsp fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- Pinch of flaky sea salt
- Optional Garnishes
- Fresh rosemary sprigs
- Fresh cranberries
- A light dusting of powdered sugar for a snowy appearance
Instructions
How to Make Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree
1. Prepare the Dough
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Divide the pizza dough into approximately 24–30 small pieces.
Flatten each piece slightly in the palm of your hand.
2. Add the Brie and Cranberry
Place a small cube of Brie and approximately ½ teaspoon of cranberry sauce in the centre of each piece of dough.
Carefully pull the dough around the filling and pinch the edges together to completely seal it.
Roll gently between your hands to create a small ball.
Make sure the dough is sealed well so the Brie doesn't escape while baking.
3. Build the Christmas Tree
Arrange the filled dough balls on the prepared baking sheet in the shape of a Christmas tree.
Start with a single ball at the top.
Continue adding rows underneath, gradually increasing the number of balls in each row until you create a triangular tree.
Add two or three pieces at the bottom to create the trunk.
Leave the balls touching or almost touching so they bake together into one pull-apart tree.
4. Brush With Egg Wash
Whisk the beaten egg and brush it gently over the tops of the dough balls.
This gives the finished tree its beautiful golden colour.
5. Bake
Bake for approximately 20–25 minutes, or until the bread is puffed and deeply golden.
Keep an eye on it toward the end of baking. The exact time will depend on the size of your dough balls and your oven.
6. Make the Maple Butter
While the tree is baking, combine the melted butter, maple syrup, rosemary and flaky salt.
Stir well.
7. Finish the Tree
Remove the Christmas tree from the oven and immediately brush it generously with the maple butter.
Finish with fresh rosemary and a few fresh cranberries.
For an extra festive presentation, add a very light dusting of powdered sugar just before serving.
Notes
- How to Serve
- Serve the Maple Cranberry Brie Pull-Apart Christmas Tree warm, while the Brie is still soft and melty.
- Place it directly in the centre of your appetizer table and let everyone pull off their own piece.
- It's delicious on its own, but you can also serve it with:
- Extra cranberry sauce
- Maple Dijon mustard
- Whipped herb butter
- Apple slices
- Pear slices
- Candied pecans
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 361Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 10gUnsaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 48mgSodium: 581mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 11gProtein: 10g
These calculations are based off Nutritionix