Pull Apart Pizza Braid
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This Pull Apart Pizza Braid is a mouthwatering party appetizer that’s perfect for dipping with epic cheese pulls! This snack is ready in about 30 minutes with only 5 ingredients using refrigerated pizza dough — a hit with both adults and kids alike. Plus video tutorial!
This pizza bread recipe is part calzone and part stromboli, but the difference is that it’s an appetizer made for sharing. See why this recipe has been pinned more than 200,000 times on Pinterest and got more than 6 million views and 60,000 likes on Facebook!
While this recipe has Game Day written all over it, we’ve also served it for pizza night, cocktails, kids birthday parties and many occasions in between! The best parts? The drool-inducing aroma wafting out of the oven, and guests vying for position to get the best cheese pull!
How to Make a Pull Apart Pizza Braid
You’ll only need 5 simple ingredients to make this pizza braid:
- Refrigerated pizza dough (Pillsbury or similar)
- Marinara sauce (or pizza sauce)
- Shredded mozzarella cheese (use part skim mozzarella for a lighter option)
- Egg wash (an egg beaten with 2 tbsp water)
It’s also a good idea to have a dipping sauce. The easiest option is using additional marinara sauce, but you can also try ranch sauce, garlic sauce or other faves.
Once you’ve made the three layers of pizza dough/sauce/cheese and cut off the excess around the edge, then you’re ready to braid. Here are the steps:
- Cut the circle into quarters using a paring knife, leaving about 3 inches in the middle uncut.
- Cut each quarter into thirds.
- Twist adjacent sections in opposite directions two full turns.
- Repeat the twists for the other sections.
That’s it! You can use any leftover dough to make a few pizza bombs to go on the side.
Tips and Secrets for Making Pull Apart Pizza Bread
- You can add pepperoni or sliced ham to make a meat-lovers version. If using bacon, pre-cook it first.
- You can roll up any leftover dough/sauce/cheese layers into balls to make pizza bombs for the side.
- Bake in the middle of your oven to get it golden brown without burning.
- Keep in mind each refrigerated pizza dough has different baking instructions, so check the package and adjust if needed.
- Use part-skim mozzarella cheese and low-sodium marinara sauce to make this recipe healthier.
- To keep it warm before serving, leave it on the baking sheet and cover with foil.
Watch How to Make a Pull Apart Pizza Braid:
Easy Pull Apart Pizza Braid (with Video)
Ingredients
- 3 packages refrigerated pizza dough
- 1 cup marinara sauce, or pizza sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 20 slices pepperoni, optional
- 1 egg
- 2 tbsp water
- marinara sauce, optional for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400ºF. Set aside a large baking sheet.
- Place a large piece of parchment paper on a work surface.
- Open a can of refrigerated pizza dough and place onto parchment. Invert a 10-inch round cake pan or plate and press down lightly to make a circular outline.
- Remove pan/plate and spread half of the marinara sauce evenly within the circle. Add half of shredded mozzarella and optional pepperoni slices.
- Place another pizza dough on top and repeat the previous two steps.
- Cover with the third pizza dough. Put the cake pan/plate on top and use a sharp knife to cut away excess dough from the edges.
- Place a small 3-inch bowl upside down in the middle. Working from the bowl outward, cut the dough circle into 12 equal parts while leaving the center intact.
- Grasp adjacent petals and gently twist 360 degrees twice in opposite directions using your fingertips.
- Repeat the twisting for the remaining sections. Then carefully lift the parchment paper onto the baking sheet.
- In a small bowl, beat eggs with water. Brush the pizza star evenly with it.
- Bake in the middle of the preheated oven for 20 min or until brown and puffy.
- Serve with optional dipping sauce and enjoy!
Notes
Please read our nutrition disclaimer.
More pizza braid recipes:
Editor note: Published Jan 19, 2017 with the post and recipe updated Sept 8, 2018.
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I never thought this process of making pizza and only think pizza is only flat big ups to people
Hi Alhassan, Thanks for your comment. It’s a lot of fun so hope you’ll give it a try!
No. Don’t use a pie crust. Disgusting once completed. Use a yeast bread.
IS there any specific requirement for pizza dough, I mean thin crust or thick?
Hi Tasneem, Thanks for your question. No specific requirement, but thin will be easier to work with. Good luck!
My family LOVED this!
Hi Lisa, So glad to hear that and thanks! Hope to see you soon on the site.