BUTTERY HERB CHRISTMAS TREE

Buttery Herb Christmas Tree image

Your guests will adore this pull-apart treat shaped like a festive evergreen. Each roll is tender, flaky and flavored with a homemade herb butter, sure to make mouths water. If you like, add decorations to the tree using seasonings or veggies. -Kathryn Pollock, Tropic, Utah

Provided by Taste of Home

Time 1h

Yield 1 tree (17 rolls).

Number Of Ingredients 17

Ingredients

1 package (1/4 ounce) active dry yeast
2 tablespoons warm water (110° to 115°)
1/2 cup warm 2% milk (110° to 115°)
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 large egg, room temperature
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon salt
2-1/2 to 3 cups all-purpose flour
HERB BUTTER:
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 small garlic clove, minced
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon dried minced onion
Dash cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Steps:

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water. Add the milk, butter, egg, sugar, salt and 1-1/2 cups flour. Beat until smooth. Stir in enough remaining flour to form a firm dough., Turn onto a lightly floured surface; knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes. Place in a greased bowl, turning once to grease the top. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour., Punch dough down. Turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll out dough to 1/8-in. thickness; cut out into seventeen 3-1/2-in. circles., For herb butter, combine the butter, garlic, basil, oregano, onion and cayenne. Set aside 1 teaspoon herb butter. Spread the remaining herb butter over dough circles to within 1/2 in. of edges. Using the dull edge of a table knife, make an off center crease in each roll. Fold along crease., To form tree, place 1 roll near the top center of a parchment paper-lined 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Arrange 14 rolls overlapping slightly, forming a tree. Use water to moisten dough where it overlaps., For trunks, place remaining rolls on bottom of tree. Cover and let rise until doubled, about 40 minutes., In microwave, melt reserved butter mixture. Brush over rolls; sprinkle with sesame seeds. Bake at 350° until golden brown, 15-20 minutes. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 130 calories, Fat 6g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 27mg cholesterol, Sodium 185mg sodium, Carbohydrate 16g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 3g protein.