Spinach and Feta Christmas Tree

Prep Time: 20 min.
Bake Time: 30-35 min.
Servings: 6-8
Difficulty: Intermediate

A festive spinach and feta Christmas tree inspired by Greek Spanakopita!

Ingredients

13  Rhodes Yeast Dinner Rolls, dough thawed to room temperature
12 ounces frozen chopped spinach
8 ounces feta
1/2 cup grated parmesan
1/3 cup basil, chopped
1/3 cup dill, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
zest of one lemon
salt and pepper, as desired
red pepper flakes, as desired
1 Tablespoon butter, melted
3 Tablespoons grated parmesan
1 Tablespoon garlic salt

Instructions

Combine 3 rolls together and roll out onto a sprayed surface to a 10×13 inch triangle. Repeat three more times to have 4 triangles. Cut the remaining roll into 4 pieces and roll each piece into a 3×3 inch rectangle. Put a trunk on each of the triangles and pinch to combine. Cover all of the trees with sprayed plastic wrap and let rest while preparing the filling.

On the stove top, using a large skillet with a lid, thaw the spinach over medium heat with the lid on. When the spinach is thawed, strain using fine mesh and press the spinach with a spatula to remove as much moisture as possible, return to pan. Add the feta, parmesan, basil, dill, lemon zest, garlic, salt and pepper, and red pepper flakes. Return skillet to stove and heat on medium heat until the mixture is incorporated and the cheese is melted. Remove from heat.

Using both hands move the first christmas tree onto a sprayed baking sheet. Evenly distribute 1/3 of the spinach mixture over the dough. Place the second christmas tree over the first layer on the pan and press down. Repeat layering the spinach mixture with the dough, ending with dough on top. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan and garlic salt.

Begin shaping tree branches by cutting 1 inch apart down each side of the tree, leave one inch uncut down the middle of the tree. Make four cuts vertically on the trunk. Twist each branch downwards 2 1/2 times, curl up the top three branches on each side to emphasize the top of the tree. Twist the trunk pieces in opposite directions. Bake at 350 degrees F 2o minutes. Cover with tinfoil and bake another 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.

Combine 3 rolls together and roll out onto a sprayed surface to a 10×13 inch triangle. Repeat three more times to have 4 triangles.
Cut the remaining roll into 4 pieces and roll each piece into a 3×3 inch rectangle. Put a trunk on each of the triangles and pinch to combine.
Cook the spinach and then strain. Add remaining filling ingredients and cook until the cheese is melted.
Layer the trees and the filling.
Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with parmesan and garlic salt.
Cut the branches on both sides of the tree and twist them.
Pinch the top two branches together to make a tree top. Cut and twist the trunk.
Bake at 350 degrees F 2o minutes. Cover with tinfoil and bake another 10-15 minutes or until lightly golden brown.
COMMENTS
  • December 23, 2019

    That tree looks amazingly delicious

    reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 23, 2019

      Fun, right? Thanks for letting us know that you liked that!

      reply
  • K
    December 23, 2019

    It looks good to me except the trunk looks like a big foot. The ingredients sound like a really delicious concoction. Need to try it—-without the “foot”.

    reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 24, 2019

      You are certainly welcome to change the shape of this Christmas Tree recipe. This is just how our creative team made it. I think it looks pretty spectacular!!

      reply
      • Flora
        January 24, 2020

        I am a beginner. would like to make this. Is there a video available? I do well when I watch .

        reply
        • Debbie from Rhodes
          January 27, 2020

          That is a great idea! I will pass that on to our creative department.

          reply
  • Jon younkin
    December 19, 2020

    I agree, a video would be great! You should do this with all your recipes. You could then make a YouTube page. You would probably get a lot of hits on your recipes, leading to more people purchasing your products.

    reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 21, 2020

      We do have a lot of videos and many are on YouTube. Also follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We do Instagram live and as always our website is filled with recipes and fun ideas using our Rhodes products

      reply
  • Natalia
    December 20, 2020

    Can I USe cream cheese instead pf feta cheese?

    reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 22, 2020

      Thank you for your question! I know that some people don’t enjoy feta cheese so I think that using cream cheese is a great alternative. I think it would work and maybe cut it into small chunks to evenly distribute it.
      Please let us know how it works for you. If by chance it doesn’t work we would be happy to send you a replacement coupon for the Rhodes product. Enjoy!

      reply
  • Stacy Oesterle
    December 24, 2020

    Can you make AnD refrigerate overnight to bake the next day?

    reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 28, 2020

      Thank you for your question! You could refrigerate it and bake the next day but I wouldn’t leave in the refrigerator too long. The rolls can still raise in the refrigerator and I would not want them to over-raise and fall. I would probably bake it and cover with plastic wrap and rewarm it the next day. Use aluminum foil to cover it and just warm it through.

      reply
  • Holly Buss
    December 1, 2021

    How much LESS TIME, IF ANY, WOULD THIS TAKE TO BAKE IF i OMITTED THE TRUNK OF THE TREE? mY BAKING SHEET IS ONLY 15 INCHES LONG AND THE TREE AND THE TRUNK WOULD MEASURE 16 INCHES. aLSO, SHOULD i ROLL ONTO PARCHMENT PAPER SO IT IS EASIER TO PUT THE LAYERS TOGETHER?

    reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 8, 2021

      Thanks for your question! I don’t think you would want to alter the baking time without the trunk. The main part of the tree would have to bake so I would just watch and bake until it is golden brown.

      reply
    • Debbie from Rhodes
      December 8, 2021

      Thanks for your question! I don’t think you would want to alter the baking time. The main part of the tree would have to bake. So I would just watch it until it was golden brown because I think it would require that full amount of time.

      reply
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