Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls
If you’re looking for a fun twist on a classic Christmas breakfast, these Christmas cinnamon rolls are the answer. Only requiring one rise, these cinnamon rolls are delicious, fun, and festive. Shaped and decorated into a Christmas tree, these are a light, fluffy, and sweet brunch treat to make with your family on a lazy holiday morning.
Ingredients
- 8 tbsp unsalted butter room temperature, divided
- 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup dark brown sugar
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- 1 large egg + 1 large egg yolk
- ⅔ cup whole milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 pack instant yeast
- sprinkles
Instructions
- Whisk together 2 3/4 cups of all-purpose flour, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar,1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1 package of yeast.
- In a microwave-safe bowl, heat ¾ cup milk and 3 tablespoons of butter on 50% power. Remove after 1 1/2 minutes or when the butter is mostly melted.
- Give the butter mixture a stir and allow the butter to finish melting. Then, let the mixture cool slightly before adding it to the dry ingredients.
- To the mixture, add 1 large egg and one large egg yolk and mix with a spatula until a dough forms.
- Knead the dough with your hands for 5-6 minutes.
- Spray the dough with non-stick cooking spray and set aside.
- Place 5 tablespoons softened butter, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, and 1/3 cup brown sugar in a small bowl. Mix until a smooth paste forms.
- Roll the dough on a floured surface into a 9x14-inch rectangle.
- Spread the filling evenly across the dough.
- Rolling from the long end, roll the dough into a log.
- Using a serrated knife, slice the log into 12 slices. To do this, slice the log in half. Slice each half into thirds. Then slice each of these sections in half.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In roughly the middle of the sheet, create a pyramid. Arrange a row of four slices. Above the four slices, arrange a row of three slices, then a row of two, then a row of one.
- Create the trunk of the tree by placing the remaining two slices below the pyramid.
- Spray with non-stick cooking spray and cover with plastic wrap.
- Set aside for 75-90 minutes, or until the rolls have grown nearly double in size.
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Bake for 18-20 minutes.
- Remove rolls from the oven and allow to cool slightly.
- Whisk together 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of water until smooth.
- Place the icing in a plastic bag and snip off one corner of the bag. Glaze the rolls.
- Add sprinkles and other decorations. Enjoy!
Notes
When I knead the dough, I just do it right in the bowl. You can knead your dough on a floured surface, but why dirty another thing?
When you make the cinnamon rolls, watch them closely. The extra sugar in the dough means it can brown quickly. If they start taking color on quickly, cover them with a piece of tin foil.
Nutrition
Calories: 251kcalCarbohydrates: 39.12gProtein: 4gFat: 8.77gSaturated Fat: 4.175gFiber: 1gSugar: 16.87g
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