Easy cheesy garlic dough balls, festive edition. The holidays are fast approaching and I am constantly looking for quick yet tasty recipes to ensure we enjoy more time entertaining and less time cooking.

These party doughballs are a crowd pleaser and is ready in 30 minutes. Garlic dough balls are always a winner however stuffed dough balls are even better. I have the perfect recipe of you. They could be called mini pizza dough balls.
These dough balls are stuffed with jalapenos, red peppers, mozzarella, red Leicester and seasoning.
How to make Cheesy garlic dough balls with jalapenos
- For ease I have used ready made M&S pizza dough for this recipe. If you want a quick dough recipe, try this two ingredient no yeast one.
- This Christmas tree pull apart can be any shape. For the perfect tree, measure out the dough balls. This recipe needs 15, 20 grams dough pieces and a bit extra for the star and trunk of the tree.
- On a floured surface, place your shaped, measured dough balls.
- In a bowl mix some mozzarella, cheddar, chopped jalapenos, chopped red peppers and spring onions. Mozzarella gives it that nice pull. Add some salt and pepper to this mix too.
- Take one of the dough balls and gently with your thumb and index finger form a disc. You want it minimum 0.5cm and around 3.5 cm wide. You also want the disc to be an even thickness.
- Take a heaped teaspoon of the mixture then lightly pinch the ends of the disc to the centre and create a ball. The ball should be sealed.










Shaping the Christmas Tree Tear and Share Garlic Bread
- On a lined baking tray, place the ball, sealed side down. Repeat until you form a tree.
- For the star just cut out a star shaped dough piece. For the trunk use a 40 gram piece of dough and instead of a disc make a rectangle shape, fill and seal.
- There is no need to baste the dough balls before baking. Place them in a 180 degrees preheated oven and cook for 15-20 minutes, until golden brown.
- While the dough balls are cooking make some garlic butter or you can buy some. Add in some chopped parsley to the butter and mix.
- Once the cheesy dough balls are cooked, generously brush the garlic butter onto them to add that garlic buttery taste.
- You can add chill flakes on top too. These are best served hot but they taste nice too once cooled down.
What other fillings can be used for dough balls
Sweet or savoury, the principle is the same for dough balls. Measure out your pizza dough then place about a heaped teaspoon of filling inside. I have tried some chocolate ones with a lindt ball in it. Amazing idea especially with a dusting of icing sugar!
You can add in more ingredients to your cheese mix too. If you want bigger dough balls change the weight above.
My dough balls are splitting
The most common reason the dough balls are splitting is because the dough is too thin or the mixture is too wet.
The dough can also split if the disc is even in thickness. When stretching it to form a ball the thinner parts may tear.
Another tip is over filling the dough balls. Too much filling will make it hard to form a ball.


Cheesy Tear and Share Garlic Dough Balls
Equipment
- 1 Baking Tray 35 x 25 cm (approx)
- 1 Mixing Bowl
- 1 Pastry Brush
Ingredients
- Ready made pizza dough approx. 400 grams This one was from M&S
- 100 grams mozzarella
- 30 grams red Leicester or cheddar
- 20 grams jalapeno peppers
- 20 grams red pepper
- 20 grams spring onion
- Salt & pepper
- All purpose flour to dust the surface
- 2 cloves minced Garlic
- 30 grams melted butter
- Chopped parsley
- Chilli flakes optional
Instructions
- Take the dough out of the packet onto a lightly dusted surface.
- Using a scale, measure out 20 grams of dough and form a rough ball
- For this Christmas Tree I made 15 balls and a trunk with a star too.
- Mix your cheeses, peppers and spring onions with some seasoning in a bowl
- Preheat the oven at 180 degrees Celsius and line a baking tray.
- I rubbed some garlic butter and sprinkled some flour on mine tray but baking paper would work just as well.
- Using your thumb and finger gently press the dough ball until it forms a disc. You want it minimum 0.5cm and around 3.5 cm wide. You also want the disc to be an even thickess
- Place a heaped teaspoon of mixture in the middle the pinch the ends of the disc to the middle to seal the ball.
- Place the ball on the baking tray and repeat until you get the Christmas tree shape.
- Bake as per the dough instructions. Usually around 15- 20 minutes.
- In the mean time mix some minced garlic with some melted butter and parsley.
- Once the pull apart dough ball Christmas tree comes out of the oven, generously spread the garlic butter.
- For that extra bit of heat sprinkle some chilli flakes on top.
- Serve straight away but with caution due to the scrumptious melty cheese inside



Want more party ideas. Try out these Comte Sausage Rolls or the Mushroom Crostinis.