Sourdough Pull-Apart Christmas Tree Dinner Rolls (Discard)
By Kristen on November 5, 2025
This soft and fluffy sourdough pull-apart Christmas tree bread will be a lovely addition to your holiday table, Christmas charcuterie board, a perfect side dish, or even a Christmas appetizer! Each pull-apart piece is buttery and warm, ideal for dipping in your favorite sauce or enjoying on its own.
Ways to serve your festive dinner rolls:
- Christmas tree cheese bread by topping with parmesan cheese or cheese of choice
- Serve with a side of cream cheese and pepper jelly
- Serve as a garlic bread with your favorite marinara sauce on the side
- Add brown sugar and butter with a brush
- Add garlic powder or even a salted or unsalted butter garlic rub
My favorite is garlic butter (creamed or melted butter mixture with finely chopped fresh garlic). Cream (or melt and cool) room-temperature butter, then stir in finely chopped garlic. Brush your mixture onto your dough balls.
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup warm milk
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
- 1/2 cup warm water
- 1/2 cup sourdough starter (discard)
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 4 tablespoons melted and cooled butter
- 2 1/2 cups organic, unbleached bread flour (or all-purpose flour)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- Olive oil for greasing
Step-by-step Instructions
- Heat your 1/2 cup of water to 100-110 degrees.
- While your water is warming up, pour yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer or medium bowl.
- Pour warm water over the yeast and whisk together until bubbly.
- Cover the bowl and let it sit for a few minutes to give the yeast time to activate. Warm your milk on low.
- Using a dough hook, add and gently combine your warm milk, sourdough discard, flour, sugar, butter, and salt.
- On medium speed, knead the dough until it comes together well.
- Transfer your dough to an oiled dish and cover. I like to roll my dough lightly in the oil before covering.
- Let the dough rise at room temperature, or in a warm place if cold, for 1-2 hours or until doubled.
- Transfer your bread dough to a lightly floured surface.
- Shape your dough balls.
- Move your dough balls to a greased baking dish or prepared baking sheet lined with parchment paper, making the shape of a Christmas tree – leaving a little space for each dough ball to double.
- Cover your rolls and let them rise at room temperature, or in a warm place if cold. They will double before baking.
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- I like to lightly brush the tops of the rolls with egg wash (whisking an egg yolk) before baking.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes.
- Your rolls will be nice and golden brown when ready.
- When your rolls come out of the oven, gently take a stick of butter or a pastry brush, and lightly butter the top of your rolls.
How to Store Your Sourdough Christmas Tree Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls
Store in an airtight container or cover your dish with aluminum foil or plastic wrap.
Also, enjoy our sourdough cinnamon rolls for Christmas morning by preparing them the night before!
