This Pizza Bomb Wreath is a shareable appetizer made with balls of dough filled with pizza sauce, mini pepperoni, and mozzarella, baked until golden. Then, the warm rolls are brushed with garlic butter, making it a hit with kids and adults alike! I like to serve it with extra pizza sauce for dipping. For another delicious way to enjoy pizza flavors, check out my Skillet Pizza Dip, too!
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Rhodes Rolls: Rhodes rolls are frozen bread dough that needs time to thaw and rise before use. I have included two different methods for thawing the rolls–either works fine for this recipe.
- Pizza Sauce: I have a delicious pizza sauce that would be perfect for this recipe. Or, use your favorite brand of sauce.
- Pepperoni Slices: Look for mini pepperoni slices (or pepperoni cubes). They are the perfect size to fit inside the rolls.
- Mozzarella Cheese: For the best results, cut fresh mozzarella into cubes. (Did you know I have a homemade mozzarella recipe? It would work beautifully if you want to give it a try!) In a pinch, you could use shredded mozzarella, but the fresh stuff is always better when it comes to texture and flavor.
- Garlic Butter: The garlic butter, made with melted unsalted butter, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese, is brushed over the warm rolls. I love the added flavor it brings to the pizza bombs! If using salted butter, you may want to lessen the amount of garlic salt.
Can I Use Homemade Dough Instead Of Rhodes Rolls?
Yes, you can use homemade dough. If you want to make the dough from scratch, use your favorite yeast dough recipe. My easy dinner roll dough would work, too!
Best Substitutes For Pepperoni In A Pizza Bomb Wreath
If you are looking to switch things up in your Pizza Bomb Wreath, here are some delicious meat and vegetable alternatives to pepperoni that I think would be delicious:
- Cooked and crumbled Italian sausage or breakfast sausage
- Ham or Canadian bacon
- Salami
- Cooked and crumbled bacon
- Vegetables: Diced bell peppers, sauteed mushrooms, chopped olives (black or green), spinach, or your favorite vegetable
Storing & Reheating A Pizza Bomb Wreath
To store this pizza bomb wreath, first, let it cool completely. Next, place it in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It will last up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave. For longer storage, freeze the pizza bomb wreath.
Freezing A Pizza Bomb Wreath
If you are not going to devour this pizza bomb wreath all at once, freeze it! To freeze, follow these steps:
- Let the pizza bomb wreath cool completely.
- Wrap the wreath tightly in plastic wrap and then in aluminum foil or place it in a freezer-safe bag. It can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
- When ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen Pizza Bomb Wreath in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. (If you’re in a hurry, you can reheat it directly from frozen, but it may take longer.)
- Bake until warmed through (about 25-30 minutes if frozen, or 15-20 minutes if thawed).
Pizza Bomb Wreath
Ingredients
- 25 frozen Rhodes rolls, (see thawing options included in instructions)
- 1 jar (14 ounces) pizza sauce, or homemade sauce, divided
- 3 cups mini pepperoni slices, divided
- 8 ounces mozzarella cheese, cut into 25 equal-sized cubes, divided
Garlic Butter
- ¼ cup (½ stick / 57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ teaspoon garlic salt
- ¼ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ cup (25 g) parmesan cheese, grated
- parsley, chopped for garnish
Instructions
- Remove the Rhodes rolls from the package. Place frozen rolls onto a large greased baking sheet. Cover with greased plastic wrap.
- To thaw the rolls, you can either place them on the counter to thaw and rise or let them thaw in the refrigerator overnight.Countertop Thaw: Place the baking sheet in a warm location and allow them to thaw and rise in the pan. They should be doubled in size. From frozen, that will take between 3-5 hours.Overnight Thaw: Place the baking sheet in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, take the rolls out of the refrigerator and place them in a warm location to rise until doubled (about 1-2 hours).
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
- Working one roll at a time, flatten the roll on the counter to about 3 inches wide. Place 1 tablespoon of pizza sauce in the center, followed by 1 tablespoon of mini pepperoni slices and 1 cube of mozzarella cheese. Wrap dough around the filling, pinching the edges to seal and form a ball. Repeat with the remaining dough and filling.
- Arrange the dough balls onto the prepared baking sheet in a circular pattern.
- Bake until golden brown, about 30-34 minutes.
- Set the baked rolls aside to cool slightly.
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and parmesan cheese.
- Brush the garlic butter mixture over the tops of the rolls.
- Garnish with parsley. Serve with the remaining pizza sauce for dipping.
Did you make this recipe?
You can tag me at @iamhomesteader.
What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This is such a fun (and delicious) idea for pizza night! I can't wait to try it with other fillings, too!
Elizabeth
I love pizza, and this was so good! It's a neat idea, and the garlic butter really takes the flavor to a whole new level. Yum!
Annabelle
This is a pretty neat way to get your pizza fix!
Bella
I didn’t expect to love this as much as I did! The garlic butter on top gives it an amazing flavor, and the pizza sauce for dipping is a must.
Selena
I’m a huge fan of pizza, and this is the ultimate way to enjoy it! The combination of the buttery crust and pepperoni in the filling is perfect. Easy to make and always a hit!
