Homemade Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree

Jump to Recipe

Looking for a unique and delicious way to celebrate the holidays this year? Then look no further than this adorable homemade cinnamon roll Christmas tree! This show-stopping breakfast or dessert is made with everyone's favorite cinnamon rolls and is sure to be a hit with family and friends.

baking sheet of cinnamon rolls with cream cheese icing

Jump to:

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make a Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree
How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Recipes
📖 Recipe

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Who wouldn’t love a delicious, festive cinnamon roll Christmas tree made from homemade cinnamon buns? This recipe is perfect for the holidays and it’s so easy to follow. Even beginners can make this tasty treat.

Imagine the look of surprise and delight on your friends and family’s faces when they see this amazing Cinnamon roll Christmas tree. It will be the talk of the party – and everyone will want to know how you did it.

I love to have these as a special dessert served with this aromatic stove-top spiced apple cider. Even though it may be a traditional breakfast food, they are also great for serving as a dessert any time! Especially at holiday parties!

strawberry slices on cinnamon roll christmas tree

Ingredients

This recipe has three parts to prepare. You will start with the dough that is the base of your cinnamon roll. Then you will mix the simple filling that gives that sweet and cinnamon flavor you love. Lastly, a simple homemade cream cheese icing/frosting can be spread or drizzled over the top. Below you will find what is needed to make each of these steps.

For the cinnamon roll dough

¾ cup milk, warmed to 110°F-130°F (175ml)
2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (7g)
¼ cup granulated sugar (50g)
1 large egg
1 egg yolk
¼ cup unsalted butter, melted (57g)
3 cups bread flour, plus additional for dusting (408g)
¾ teaspoon salt (4g)

Note: If using all-purpose flour, you will need 384g plus additional for dusting.

For the filling

⅔ cup packed brown sugar (125g)
1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon (12.5g)
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened (57g)

For the frosting

4 ounces cream cheese, softened (120g)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened (43g)
¾ cup powdered sugar (75g)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract (2.5ml)

Handy Kitchen Tools

cream cheese icing on top of cinnamon rolls in shape of Christmas tree

How to Make a Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree

This recipe has three basic steps. I recommend preparing by measuring everything for the dough first, then while it rises, you can prepare the filling and the frosting to use later as needed.

Start by whisking together the milk, yeast, sugar, egg, egg yolk, and butter until it's all combined nicely.

Then, you will stir into this wet mixture, the salt, and all 3 cups of flour.

Use a spatula or spoon and stir it just until it forms a sticky ball of dough.

Now you will transfer that ball of dough to an oiled bowl and cover it with a damp kitchen towel or plastic wrap. Set it in a warm place and let it rise for 1 hour, or until it has doubled in size.

Once it has risen, you will lightly flour a clean surface, and place the dough ball onto it. Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out into a rectangular shape.

Spread the softened butter over the dough evenly.

Then, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle them over the butter-coated dough. I like to run the rolling pin over it once it has been sprinkled into place to make sure it doesn't fall out when cutting.

rolling pin pressing cinnamon sugar into dough

Next, you roll the dough into a tube shape. I like to start closest to myself, then roll tightly until it is all in a tube.

Using a sharp knife or kitchen twine, cut the dough into 1" thick rounds.

Then place the rounds onto the baking pan, in the shape of a tree. Let them rise again for an additional 30 to 45 minutes.

raw cinnamon rolls in christmas tree shape on baking dish

Heat the oven to 340°F/170°C and bake the rolls for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown and have risen more. Cool for 10 minutes before spreading the top with frosting.

cooked christmas tree cinnamon rolls on baking sheet

How to Make Cream Cheese Frosting

In a large bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until combined and smooth.

beaters in white bowl with cream cheese and powdered sugar

After the rolls have cooled, spread the frosting over the top.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Best Flour to Use For Cinnamon Rolls?

The best flour to use for cinnamon rolls is bread flour, however, you can use all-purpose flour easily for this recipe.

Bread flour will give a better texture to the end result, but all-purpose flour is also great since it is a blend of wheat flour and has a nice amount of gluten. The gluten protein helps to give baked goods their structure. Too much gluten and the cinnamon rolls will be tough, not enough and they will be crumbly.

But don’t worry, you don’t need to be a baking expert to make perfect cinnamon rolls. Just follow the recipe and you’ll be sure to get delicious results.

Why Are My Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Hard?

There are a few reasons why your homemade cinnamon rolls might be hard. Consider these before making your next batch of rolls.

One reason could be that you overworked the dough. When you’re mixing the dough, be careful not to overdo it. Mix it just enough to form a smooth, soft ball.

Another reason could be that you didn’t let the dough rise long enough. The dough needs to double in size, so make sure you give it plenty of time to rise. Set the bowl in a warm place for the best results. I like to put the oven on the lowest temperature setting and sit the bowl on top of the stove, but if doing so, don't use a plastic bowl and watch carefully to make sure nothing gets too hot.

And finally, you may have overcooked the rolls. Slow and low is almost always the best bet. This recipe usually takes around 25 minutes to bake. Don't try to rush that by raising the temperature. It will result in tough and hard rolls.

How Do You Keep Cinnamon Rolls Soft and Moist?

There are a few things you can do to keep your cinnamon rolls soft and moist. When it comes to making the cinnamon rolls, you want to make sure of a few things in order to keep the cinnamon rolls soft and moist.

First, make sure you use fresh ingredients. Old, stale ingredients will make for dry, hard rolls. Secondly, don’t overwork or over-knead the dough. Knead it just enough to form a smooth ball. And finally, brushing the tops of the rolls with melted butter before baking can help keep them softer and add a bit of flavor.

Once the rolls are baked, in order to keep them soft and moist, you’ll want to keep them covered. This will help to prevent the rolls from drying out.
You can store the rolls in an airtight container or wrap them in plastic wrap.

If you plan on storing them for more than a day or two, you can freeze the rolls and then reheat them when you’re ready to eat them. When you reheat the rolls in the oven, make sure to wrap them in foil so they don’t dry out. And if you want to really keep them moist, you can brush them with a little bit of milk before reheating. If you are reheating them in the microwave, cover them with a moist paper towel.

What Can I Put On Top of My Cinnamon Rolls?

There are so many different things you can put on top of your cinnamon rolls. One popular topping is frosting, which you can make at home or buy pre-made. You can make a simple cream cheese icing by mixing together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract as directed above. Or you can get creative and add in other flavors like cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin spice.

If you want to keep things simple, you can just top your rolls with a little bit of butter. Or you can get fancy and make a glaze by mixing together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.

You can also use jams or preserves as a topping. Just spread a little bit on top of each roll before serving.

And if you want to get really creative, you can even add in some savory toppings like bacon or sausage. Just cook them up and then sprinkle them on top of the rolls.

candy beads on top of cinnamon rolls on blue plate

More Easy Recipes

Whether it is breakfast or a snack you are looking for, we have some great holiday and Christmas-themed recipes for you. Make sure that you take a moment to bookmark these recipes, print out the recipe tutorial, or just pin them to a holiday food board on Pinterest to keep handy for when you are ready to make them!

📖 Recipe

Yield: 12