Christmas tree pizza to make with kids
Prep: 30 min · Cook: 15 min · Makes: 4 children (1 large tree) · For:
Pizza night at Christmas? Absolutely, as long as the pizza is a Christmas tree. This recipe makes one big tree for the whole family, and the best part is the decorating: broccoli branches, yellow garlands and tomato baubles.
It is a fun, easy tea for the busy days before Christmas, or a relaxed Christmas Eve meal with a film afterwards.
Tips
- Roll it thin for a crisp base, or slightly thicker for a soft, bready one.
- Do not overload it. Too many toppings make a soggy pizza.
- Hot oven, hot tray: preheat the tray for an extra crispy base.
Little helpers
Children can knead the dough, spread the sauce and decorate the whole tree. Getting the tray in and out of the hot oven is a job for a grown-up.
Ingredients
- 350 g strong white bread flour or plain flour
- 1 tsp fast-action dried yeast (about 4 g)
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp sugar
- 2 tbsp olive oil, plus a little extra
- 210 ml lukewarm water
- 200 ml passata
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- 1 ball of mozzarella (125 g)
- 75 g grated Cheddar
- 1 small head of broccoli
- 1 yellow pepper
- 8 cherry tomatoes
- 6 pitted black olives (optional)
- a few slices of ham (optional)
Method
- Mix the flour, yeast, salt and sugar in a bowl. Add the water and oil and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth. Cover and leave to rise for about 1 hour.
- Heat the oven to 220°C (200°C fan, gas mark 7). Line a large baking tray with baking paper.
- Roll the dough into a large triangle on the paper, about 30 cm wide at the bottom. Use the offcuts to make a small square trunk at the bottom and a star for the top.
- Mix the passata with the oregano and a pinch of salt and spread it over the tree, leaving a thin border.
- Tear the mozzarella over the top and scatter the grated cheese.
- Now let the children decorate: little broccoli florets as branches, strips of yellow pepper as garlands, halved tomatoes and olive rings as baubles and a pepper star on top.
- Bake for 13-15 minutes until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling. Let it cool for a few minutes before cutting it into slices.
Questions
Can I use shop-bought dough?
Yes. A ready-made pizza dough or a pack of ready-rolled pizza dough works perfectly. Shape it into a tree on the tray.
Can I make the dough ahead?
Make it in the morning and keep it covered in the fridge. Take it out 30 minutes before shaping.
Can I make small pizzas?
Yes. Divide the dough into four and let each child make their own little tree.
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