Festive Cheesy Spinach Bread
Looking for a holiday recipe that’s as delicious as it is festive? Festive Cheesy Spinach Bread is the ultimate Christmas crowd-pleaser! Shaped like a Christmas tree and filled with a creamy, cheesy spinach mixture, this bread delivers both flavor and presentation.

Perfect for vegans and non-vegans alike, this dish can be made with store-bought pizza dough or a homemade version from Epic Vegan. Whether it’s for a family dinner or a holiday party, this recipe is guaranteed to wow your guests.
Why You’ll Love Festive Cheesy Spinach Bread
- Show-Stopping Presentation: The Christmas tree shape makes it a stunning centerpiece for your holiday table.
- Vegan-Friendly: Completely plant-based, so everyone can enjoy it guilt-free.
- Customizable: You can tweak the filling to suit your tastes or dietary needs.
- Easy Yet Impressive: It’s simple enough for beginners but looks like a professional creation.
What You Need to Make Festive Cheesy Spinach Bread
To make this festive bread, you’ll need a mix of pantry staples, fresh spinach, and some vegan cheese. The recipe also calls for pizza dough (either store-bought or homemade) and a few seasoning essentials to enhance the flavor. You’ll find the detailed ingredient list in the recipe card below.
How to Make Festive Cheesy Spinach Bread
Step 1: Prep Your Oven and Baking Sheet
Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
Step 2: Make the Filling
In a blender, combine cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, and salt. Blend until smooth. Stir in vegan cheddar and spinach, creating a creamy, flavorful mixture.
Step 3: Shape the Dough
Roll out your pizza dough into a rectangle. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into a Christmas tree shape. Keep the extra dough pieces in place for now.
Step 4: Assemble the Tree
Spread the filling over the tree, leaving a small border around the edges. Flip the extra dough pieces over the filling and pinch the edges to seal. Twist strips from the sides to create decorative “branches.”
Step 5: Bake and Finish
Bake the bread for 20–22 minutes, or until golden brown. Brush with a mixture of melted vegan butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Sprinkle with coarse salt for extra crunch. Serve warm with marinara sauce for dipping.
Commonly Asked Questions
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes! You can prepare the dough and filling a day in advance, then assemble and bake it fresh before serving.
What can I use as a substitute for vegan cheddar?
You can use any plant-based cheese that melts well, such as vegan mozzarella or a blend of your favorites.
Can I freeze leftovers?
Absolutely! Wrap the baked bread tightly in foil and freeze for up to a month. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through.

Festive Cheesy Spinach Bread
Ingredients
- ½ cup raw cashews, soaked in water overnight or boiled for 10 minutes and drained
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons 88 ml water
- 2 tablespoons nutritional yeast
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 1 clove garlic
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ½ cup vegan cheddar shreds
- ¼ cup packed frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
- 1 batch Pizza Dough divided, enough for 1 pizza (store bought or homemade from Epic Vegan)
- 2 tablespoons vegan butter, melted
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Maldon or coarse sea salt optional
- Marinara for dipping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C, or gas mark 6). Line a large baking sheet (13 x 18 inches [33 x 46 cm] or larger) with parchment paper.
- In a high-speed blender, combine the cashews, water, nutritional yeast, lemon juice, garlic, onion powder, and salt. Blend until creamy and smooth, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and stir in the cheese and spinach. Set aside.
- Take the parchment from the baking sheet and lay it on a flat surface. Roll out the pizza dough to a 10 x 12-inch (26 x 30-cm) rectangle on the parchment paper. With a pizza cutter or sharp knife, cut the dough into the shape of a tree with the tip at the top; keep the excess dough where it lays—don’t gather it or remove it from the parchment. Carefully transfer the parchment paper with the dough on it back to the baking sheet. Spread the spinach mixture over the tree part of the dough, leaving a ½-inch (1-cm) border all around the tree dough. Flip the 2 pieces of dough that were cut off from the sides, so that the bottom points are now up top, and lay the pieces over the filling to match the shape of the tree and cover the filling. Pinch the 2 pieces of the top layer of dough together in the middle and pinch all sides of the dough together to close in the filling. Cut 7 lines, through to the bottom, from either side of the dough toward the middle of the tree, being careful to leave the dough connected in the middle; there will be 8 “tree branches” on each side. Twist each branch toward the bottom one time. Bake for 20 to 22 minutes, or until crispy and golden brown. While it’s baking, mix together the butter, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning.
- When the bread is done, remove from the oven and immediately brush with the butter mixture. Sprinkle with coarse salt, if desired. Serve warm with the marinara.