Pesto Parmesan Christmas Tree

How adorable is that?  Not to mention yummy.  Impress the Christmas crowd with this baby!  I made it for our annual Christmas Book Group pot luck.

1 (8 oz) can crescent rolls or crescent dough sheet

32 cubes Mozzarella cheese

shredded Parmesan cheese

1/4 cup basil pesto

1  Heat oven to 375.  Spray large cookie sheet with cooking spray.  Unroll dough on work surface.  Press into 12 x 9″ rectangle.  If using crescent rolls, press perforations to seal.  With pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut into 8 rows by 4 rows to make 32 squares.

2  Top each piece of crescent dough with a Mozzarella cube then roll into small ball around cheese.  Place seam side down on cookie sheet.

3  Place 10 balls in a single layer, clustered and touching together to form a round disc shape which will be the base of your tree.  Continue with a formation of 8 balls, then 6 balls, then 4 balls, then 3 balls and finally a single ball.  There should be a total of 6 discs or layers (including the single ball) which will form the layers of the tree after baking.

4  Bake 14 – 17 minutes or until golden brown.  Cool on cookie sheet 2 minutes.

5  Use a large, flat spatula to transfer largest disc to serving platter.  Brush with pesto and sprinkle with Parmesan then top with next largest disc.  Brush with pesto and sprinkle with cheese.  Continue with remaining discs ending with single ball.  Brush any remaining pesto over tree and sprinkle with any remaining Parmesan.  (I cut a star out of a slice of cheddar and put that on top!)

recipe from Pillsbury