Ingredients

• 2 cups Almond Flour (224 g)
• 2 tsp Baking Powder
• 2 tsp Garlic Powder
• 1 ¼ tsp Kosher Salt
• 1 tsp Onion Powder
• 3 cups shredded low-moisture, part-skim Mozzarella Cheese (336 g)
• 2 oz full fat Cream Cheese
• 2 Eggs, room temperature
• 5 Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, each stick cut into 5 equal-sized pieces
• 1 Egg Yolk + 2 Tbsp room temperature Water, for the egg wash
• Freshly grated Parmesan, for topping

• 5 Tbsp Salted Butter
• 3 cloves Garlic, finely minced
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh Thyme (optional)
• 1 Tbsp minced fresh rosemary (optional)

Instructions

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. In a medium bowl, combine almond flour, baking powder, salt, garlic powder and onion powder, breaking up any lumps.
2. In a large microwave-safe bowl, add shredded mozzarella and cream cheese. Melt in the microwave in 20-second intervals. Stir between intervals with a rubber spatula until the cheese is mostly melted, 1–2 minutes.
3. Add dry ingredients, followed by the eggs, and mix until well combined. You can use your hands, a wooden spoon or a food processor. The dough will be sticky. Use olive oil or water on your hands to handle the dough more easily if needed.
4. Roll small pieces of dough around the mozzarella stick pieces. You will want roughly 24 dough balls to make the tree. You will have one leftover mozzarella stick piece.
5. Arrange rolls into the shape of a Christmas tree on the prepared baking sheet. Start with two balls for the “trunk,” then add a row of 5–6 rolls in a single line. As you build upward, decrease by one roll each row, ending with one at the top.
6. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes–1 hour, to prevent spreading in the oven.
7. Preheat oven to 425°F. In a small bowl, whisk together egg yolk and water, and brush rolls with the mixture. Grate fresh parmesan cheese over the top.
8. Bake for 18 minutes, then broil for an additional 2–3 minutes, until golden brown.
9. While the rolls are baking, melt butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat. Add garlic, chopped rosemary and thyme, and turn heat to low. Stir constantly to prevent the garlic from burning.
10. Cook gently until the garlic is golden-brown and fragrant, 4–5 minutes. Remove from heat immediately and set aside.
11. Brush hot rolls with garlic butter sauce and top with freshly grated parmesan cheese, flaky sea salt and more herbs. Serve with your favorite marinara sauce or other dipping sauce.