Rosanna Pansino Shares Her Secrets For Holiday Baking Magic

Baking is Rosanna Pansino’s love language, and when the vacation season rolls round she’s making household favorites, attempting new issues (like making a five-foot-tall gingerbread house) and spending extra time with family and friends. Pansino is the bubbly power behind a baking YouTube channel with 13.1 million subscribers, a New York Instances bestselling cookbook writer, and the host of HBO Max’s BAKETOPIA.

One among her favourite vacation traditions is making Christmas-themed pizzas together with her household. “Pizza is one thing that we make collectively typically all year long, however it’s significantly particular throughout the holidays,” she mentioned. “Our household enjoys it a lot that my dad’s nickname was at all times Papa Pizza.” She added that her household additionally has a pleasant competitors to see who could make the perfect pasta from scratch. “It wouldn’t be Christmas in our home with out pizza and pasta!” Pansino was sort sufficient to share her recipe for Pull-Aside Tree Pizza (under), and you’ll find a video tutorial on her YouTube channel as properly.

After all, it wouldn’t be the vacations with out cookies. “To me, December is formally cookie season!” Pansino mentioned. “Not solely do I bake my favourite vacation classics like gingerbread, snowball cookies and gingersnaps, however it’s additionally a particular time to create cherished reminiscences.” She talked about that she received to bake cookies together with her sister and two-year-old nephew twice final week. “Baking is my love language and time within the kitchen is even higher when it’s spent with my household.” 

When baking and adorning cookies with family members, Pansino recommends not stressing over any mishaps. “I at all times wish to say that errors are scrumptious,” she mentioned. “Christmas cookies are basic as a result of they’re arduous to mess up!” For anybody that’s up for a problem, Ro notes you can weave sugar cookie dough collectively to make intricate designs. “It’s a very enjoyable method I discovered just a few years in the past,” she mentioned. “It takes some additional time, however the outcomes are beautiful. My favourite cookies to make this fashion are my woven stocking cookies. You might additionally make them appear to be Christmas sweaters!”

This vacation season, Pansino is wanting ahead to additional time with household, scrumptious meals, decorations and Christmas music. “There’s something magical a couple of good Christmas playlist that brings again all the perfect reminiscences from rising up,” she mentioned. Pansino went all out with the Christmas decorations this 12 months. “I even had REAL snow blown into the entrance yard for my Christmas get together!” 

Pull-Aside Tree Pizza

Recipe by Rosanna Pansino

Yields 4-6 servings 

For the Pizza Dough

1 c flour, plus extra for rolling

1 envelope Fleischmann’s RapidRise Yeast

1 1/2 tsp sugar

3/4 tsp salt

2/3 c very heat water (120° to 130°F)

3 Tbsp corn oil

5 string cheese sticks

1 egg

1 Tbsp water

Preheat the oven to 425 °F. Line a baking pan with parchment paper.

In a big bowl, whisk collectively the flour, Fleischmann’s yeast, sugar and salt.

Add the nice and cozy water and corn oil and blend collectively till properly mixed.

On a flippantly floured floor, knead the dough for about three minutes. The dough ought to type a ball and will likely be barely sticky.

Place the dough again within the bowl and canopy with plastic wrap. Let it relaxation for 10 minutes.

Reduce the mozzarella sticks into 1-inch items and put aside.

On a floured floor, type the dough right into a smooth ball and divide into two. Roll the dough into a protracted rectangle and reduce into 2-inch squares. You have to 22 whole.

Take a bit of mozzarella cheese and wrap it with the reduce dough. Kind it right into a ball and place it seam facet down on the lined baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining dough and cheese items to type a tree form.

In a small bowl, beat collectively the egg and water to make an egg wash. Use a pastry brush to cowl the dough with the egg wash.

Bake the dough till the crust is golden brown, 18-20 minutes.

To Serve

1/4 c melted butter

1 tsp garlic powder

1/2 Tbsp dried rosemary

1 Tbsp basil, sliced finely

1 Tbsp parsley, chopped finely

1/4 c finely shredded Parmesan cheese

Pink pepper flakes, to style

Marinara sauce, for dipping

In a medium bowl, combine collectively the melted butter, garlic powder and rosemary till properly mixed.

Whereas heat, brush the topping generously on prime of the pizza balls.

Sprinkle with Parmesan, basil, parsley and pink pepper flakes.

Serve heat with marinara sauce.