Description
Discover how to create a stunning Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree that will impress your holiday guests. Follow our easy recipe for a delicious festive treat!
Ingredients
Scale
- 3/4 cup (185ml) whole milk
- 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter
- 2 1/2 cups (300g) all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) coarse salt
- 1 (7g) package or 2 1/4 teaspoons Red Star Active Dry Yeast
- 1 large egg
- 1/3 cup (75g) unsalted butter, melted
- 1/2 cup (105g) light or dark brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup (56g) unsalted butter (at room temperature)
- 2 ounces (56g) cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 2 cups (227g) powdered sugar, sifted
- 2–3 tablespoons (38 ml) milk or fruit juice
- Holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
- Heat the milk and butter in a saucepan over medium-low heat until the butter is fully melted and the temperature is between 120-130°F.
- In a stand mixer bowl with a dough hook attached, or a large bowl if mixing manually, combine 1 1/2 cups of flour, sugar, salt, and yeast.
- Pour in the warm milk and butter blend along with the egg, stirring to form a wet dough.
- While the mixer is on, gradually add the rest of the flour, 1/4 cup at a time, until the dough nearly pulls away from the bowl sides but remains slightly sticky. Knead until smooth and stretchy.
- Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and place it in a warm spot to let the dough rise until it doubles in size, about an hour.
- Deflate the dough gently to release any air, then knead it back into a round shape. Allow it to rest for a few minutes as you prepare the filling.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangle roughly 12×17 inches, being flexible with the size.
- Evenly coat the rolled-out dough with melted butter, then sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon across the top.
- Roll the dough into a log starting from a long side. Trim the ends for a clean edge and slice into 11 pieces using a sharp knife or dental floss.
- Arrange the rolls on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a tree formation: 1 roll on the top row, 2 on the next, 3 on the following, 4 on the row after that, and 1 more for the trunk at the bottom.
- Wrap with plastic and let them rise in a warm area until doubled once more, for 20-30 minutes. Preheat the oven to 350°F during this time.
- Bake the rolls until they turn golden brown, approximately 22-25 minutes.
- For the frosting, in a bowl, use an electric mixer to blend the butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and milk or juice until smooth and creamy. Adjust with more liquid if needed for a spreadable texture.
- Apply the frosting over the warm or cooled rolls and, if you like, add holiday sprinkles on top.
Notes
- Consider using dark brown sugar in the filling for a richer caramel flavor.
- Add a splash of lemon juice to the cream cheese frosting for a tangy twist.
- Sprinkle chopped nuts or raisins over the cinnamon-sugar filling for extra decadence.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 300
- Fat: 12g
- Protein: 4g
Keywords: cinnamon rolls, holiday baking, cream cheese frosting, sweet dough, festive dessert, warm and gooey
