Fluffy Christmas Breakfast Pizza
A cozy and festive breakfast pizza featuring a fluffy, slightly sweet dough topped with a cream cheese base, mozzarella, fresh cranberries, and toasted nuts. Perfect for holiday mornings and gatherings.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (one packet)
- ¾ cup warm whole milk (about 110°F/43°C)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
- 1 large egg, room temperature
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup chopped fresh cranberries
- ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts, toasted
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional, for dusting)
- Fresh rosemary sprigs (optional, for garnish and aroma)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk (¾ cup, 110°F/43°C) and sugar (2 tablespoons). Sprinkle yeast (2 ¼ teaspoons) over the top and let sit for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
- Make the dough: Add softened butter (4 tablespoons), egg (1 large), salt (½ teaspoon), and half of the flour (1 ½ cups) to the yeast mixture. Stir to combine, then gradually add remaining flour (1 ½ cups) until a sticky dough forms.
- Knead the dough: Turn dough onto a lightly floured surface and knead for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with dough hook on medium speed for 6-7 minutes.
- Let it rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot for 1 to 1 ½ hours until doubled in size.
- Prepare the cream cheese base: Beat together softened cream cheese (8 ounces), brown sugar (¼ cup), vanilla extract (1 teaspoon), and ground cinnamon (½ teaspoon) until smooth and fluffy.
- Shape the dough: Punch down risen dough and roll out on floured surface into a 12-inch circle. Transfer to parchment-lined baking sheet or pizza pan.
- Assemble the pizza: Spread cream cheese mixture evenly over dough, leaving a small border. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella (1 cup), chopped cranberries (½ cup), and toasted nuts (¼ cup) on top.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake pizza for 20-25 minutes until crust is golden and cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Finish and serve: Let cool for 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and garnish with rosemary sprigs if desired. Slice into wedges and serve warm.
Notes
Ensure yeast is fresh and milk is warm but not hot to activate yeast properly. Knead dough until smooth and elastic but not sticky. Let dough rise fully for fluffy texture. Softening cream cheese before mixing prevents lumps. Optionally pre-bake crust 5 minutes for extra crispness. Rotate pizza halfway through baking if oven heats unevenly. For tart cranberries, toss with honey before adding.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 of the pizza
- Calories: 320
- Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Protein: 8
Keywords: Christmas breakfast pizza, festive breakfast, holiday brunch, cinnamon pizza, cream cheese pizza, easy breakfast recipe, holiday treat