We must always formally rename December to “Cinnamon Roll Month” as a result of there’s really nothing higher than a heat, gooey cinnamon roll proper now. However what if I took my well-known cinnamon roll recipe and turned it into one thing much more festive?!
Okay, I DID. I really first posted this attractive cinnamon roll snowflake on Instagram final 12 months, and knew that I needed to share it on the weblog the following vacation season. A 12 months later, and right here she is in all of her glory! Belief me after I say that this snowflake cinnamon roll is less complicated to make than you assume. When you’ve mastered the rolls themselves, you’ll simply form the dough otherwise to create this lovely form!
I’ve included tons of step-by-step photographs to be able to bake this up with success. Your family and friends will completely swoon over this vacation brunch deal with!
All the things you’ll have to make this cinnamon roll snowflake
We’re really utilizing all the pieces in my well-known cinnamon roll recipe and easily shaping it right into a snowflake! Right here’s what you’ll want:
- Milk: I at all times suggest utilizing complete milk or 2% milk, however see beneath for dairy-free choices.
- Yeast: I like to make use of fast rise or prompt yeast to assist all of my cinnamon rolls rise quicker, however you too can use lively dry yeast. Sure, they’re totally different! Scroll all the way down to get ideas for utilizing yeast on this recipe.
- Granulated sugar: we’re sweetening with granulated sugar, which additionally helps to activate the yeast.
- Butter: I like utilizing salted butter in my cinnamon rolls, however you’ll be able to at all times use unsalted. You’ll want it for the dough, filling, and icing.
- Eggs: we’re utilizing 1 egg and 1 egg yolk to provide the dough moisture and richness.
- Bread flour: utilizing bread flour is de facto what is going to give the cinnamon roll snowflake its mild, fluffy-yet-chewy texture because of the greater protein degree.
- For the filling: you’ll rub softened butter, brown sugar (I really like darkish brown sugar), and cinnamon into the dough after you roll it out.
- For the icing: we’re nonetheless making a scrumptious cream cheese frosting for the snowflake made with cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. You’ll be able to both ice the snowflake or simply sprinkle it with powdered sugar and make the icing to make use of as a dip!
Can I make it dairy-free or gluten-free?
- To make it dairy-free: use dairy-free milk, vegan butter, and vegan cream cheese.
- I can not suggest a flour substitute to maintain this snowflake cinnamon roll gluten-free.
Searching for a vegan choice?
Make the dough from my Vegan Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls to make a yummy, vegan banana bread cinnamon roll snowflake!
Select from 2 forms of yeast
For all of my cinnamon roll recipes (and different yeasted breads), it’s essential to know precisely which yeast you’re utilizing earlier than you begin baking. There are 2 varieties, they usually behave otherwise:
- Energetic dry yeast: this sort of yeast should be dissolved in liquid, or additionally what’s often known as being “proofed” earlier than it’s added to the remainder of the dough substances. You’ll know the sort of yeast is activated when little bubbles begin to seem within the liquid that you just dissolve the yeast in (for this recipe, it’s heat milk).
- Instantaneous yeast: also called fast rise yeast (that is the model I exploit and love!), and what we’re utilizing for this cinnamon roll snowflake recipe. It may be added to the dough with none ‘proofing’ required, so that you don’t want to sit down and watch the yeast to ensure it bubbles. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless need to dissolve it in somewhat little bit of milk and sugar to assist get it began.
Sure, we’re weighing our substances
I extremely suggest weighing your substances with a kitchen scale to make sure that your baked items (and this snowflake) prove completely each time. That is how I take a look at my recipes to make sure accuracy.
Plus, it helps with cleanup since you received’t have to scrub tons of additional bowls, measuring cups, and so forth.!
How you can make a cinnamon roll snowflake (step-by-step)
Step 1: Begin by mixing the cinnamon roll dough in this recipe, after which let it rise in a bowl till it doubles in dimension (this might be the primary rise).
Step 2: Combine your brown sugar and cinnamon collectively in a small bowl. This shall be used later for the filling.
Step 3: As an alternative of rolling the entire dough out, divide the dough into 4 equal-sized items.
Step 4: Roll out every of the items into about an 8-inch circle. It doesn’t must be good, however they need to be roughly the identical dimension as they’ll all be stacked.
Step 5: Place one of many dough circles onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and rub 2 tablespoons of butter on high.
Step 6: Pat 3 tablespoons of the brown sugar and cinnamon combination into the butter. Repeat by including the second dough circle on high of the primary one, spreading butter, and rubbing within the cinnamon sugar, then repeat as soon as extra with the third dough circle.
Step 7: High with the fourth, remaining dough circle, and don’t add butter or cinnamon sugar. Place a small steel cookie cutter within the heart of the dough.
*The cookie cutter is there as a information so that you just don’t reduce by the middle of the dough, and it’ll create a cute center to your snowflake!
Step 8: Reduce the dough in direction of you into 4 equal items, beginning on the heart the place the cookie cutter is. Consider it as reducing on the 12, 3, 6, and 9 of a clock.
Step 9: Reduce every of the 4 items in half so that you’ve 8 items whole.
Step 10: Reduce every of these 8 items in half so that you’ve 16 items.
Step 11: Seize two sections of dough and thoroughly twist them away from one another about 2 instances.
Step 12: Pinch the ends of these two twisted sections collectively. Repeat throughout the circle.
Step 13: Brush the entire snowflake with milk or heavy cream, then cowl the entire snowflake with a heat towel to let it rise when you preheat your oven.
Step 14: Bake the snowflake till evenly golden brown, then unfold half of the cream cheese frosting on high, or simply sprinkle it with powdered sugar and use the frosting as a yummy dip!
Make this snowflake cinnamon roll the night time earlier than
Save time on Christmas morning by prepping the snowflake the night time earlier than! Right here’s easy methods to do it:
- Observe the recipe by Step 6, after you’ve twisted the dough into your snowflake form and brushed it with milk.
- Cowl your complete snowflake tightly with plastic wrap and a towel, and place it within the fridge in a single day or as much as 18 hours.
- Within the morning, take away from the fridge 30 to 45 minutes earlier than baking whereas preheating the oven, after which bake as directed.
Cinnamon roll snowflake FAQs
- Can I exploit all-purpose flour? The snowflake will nonetheless work with all-purpose flour, however I HIGHLY suggest sticking with bread flour to get that lovely, fluffy texture.
- Can I double the recipe? Sure, you’ll be able to double the recipe if you wish to make TWO separate snowflakes.
- What if my dough is just too sticky to knead? Merely add somewhat extra flour, a couple of tablespoon at a time, till it’s simpler to work with.
- Can I add nuts? Sure, yum! You’ll be able to sprinkle them onto every layer of the butter/sugar/cinnamon combination earlier than slicing and twisting into your snowflake.
Storing ideas
Be at liberty to retailer the baked snowflake cinnamon roll lined at room temp for 1-2 hours, then wrap fully or switch items to an hermetic container and retailer within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Reheat items within the microwave to get them mushy and gooey once more!
How you can freeze this snowflake cinnamon roll
- To freeze earlier than baking: freeze the total snowflake proper after you’ve formed it. Place it right into a pan and canopy it properly, then place it within the freezer. When you find yourself able to bake, let the dough thaw within the fridge — ideally in a single day — then put it in a heat spot for half-hour to 1 hour earlier than baking to activate the second rise. Bake the snowflake as directed.
- To freeze after baking: permit the cinnamon roll snowflake to return to room temperature after baking, then wrap it properly and freeze it for as much as 3 months. When able to eat, defrost the snowflake at room temperature, then heat it within the oven at 350 levels F for 10-Quarter-hour.
Instruments you’ll want
Get all of my kitchen necessities right here!
Extra brunch treats you’ll love
Get all of our scrumptious breakfast & brunch recipes right here!
I hope you’re keen on this cinnamon roll snowflake! When you make it, you’ll want to go away a remark and a score so I understand how you appreciated it. Take pleasure in, xo!
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Festive cinnamon roll snowflake sliced, twisted, and baked for the proper vacation deal with! Get simple, step-by-step directions for turning my well-known cinnamon roll dough into a gorgeous snowflake. Such a enjoyable baking undertaking to shock and delight family members throughout the vacation season!
Substances
- Dough
- 1 recipe for cinnamon roll dough
- Filling and topping
- ⅔ cup (142 grams) packed darkish brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons floor cinnamon
- 6 tablespoons (85 grams) salted butter, softened
- 3 tablespoons or heavy cream, for brushing
- Frosting
- 4 oz (112 grams) cream cheese, softened
- ¾ cup (85 grams) powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
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Make the dough: Make my cinnamon roll dough and permit it to rise till doubled in dimension as directed (also called the primary rise).
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Make the cinnamon sugar filling: In a medium bowl, add the brown sugar and cinnamon collectively and stir with a fork till mixed. Put aside.
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After the primary rise of the dough, divide the dough into 4 equal items. Roll out every of these items into an approximate 8 inch circle. It doesn’t must be good however they need to be roughly the identical dimension.
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Roll out the dough: Line a big baking sheet with parchment paper and place 1 of the 8-inch dough circles on it. Unfold 2 tablespoons of softened butter evenly excessive, then evenly sprinkle about 3 heaping tablespoons of the brown sugar cinnamon combination over the butter and pat the cinnamon sugar into the butter. Repeat with the second dough circle, butter and cinnamon sugar, and once more with the third dough circle, butter and cinnamon sugar. Lastly, high with the fourth (and remaining) dough circle (don’t add butter or cinnamon sugar on high of the final one).
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Reduce the dough: Place a small steel cookie cutter within the heart of the dough. This shall be your reducing information so that you don’t reduce during the center of the dough. Chopping from the sting of the cookie cutter in direction of you, reduce the dough into 4 equal items. Use 12 o’clock, 3, 6 and 9 as your information. After you have these 4 cuts, reduce every of these sections in half for a complete of 8 sections. Then reduce these 8 sections in half once more for a complete of 16 even sections.
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Assemble the snowflake: Subsequent seize two items of the dough at a time and twist away from one another about 2 instances. Then pinch the ends of the dough collectively. Repeat the method all the best way across the circle. Frivolously brush your complete dough with milk or heavy cream. As soon as achieved, cowl with a heat towel to permit it to rise a bit whereas the oven preheats.
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Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 350 levels F.
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Bake: As soon as preheated, bake the snowflake within the oven for 25 to half-hour till good and evenly golden brown.
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Put together the cream cheese frosting: Within the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, mix the cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla. Beat on low velocity for 30 seconds, then enhance to medium-high velocity till easy and fluffy, 1 to 2 minutes. (Alternatively, whisk the frosting by hand.)
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Frost or high the snowflake: Add about half of the frosting on high of the snowflake if desired or simply mud with powdered sugar and use frosting for dipping the items. Serves 8 to 10.
Recipe Notes
To make in a single day:
- Observe the recipe by Step 6, after you’ve got twisted the dough into your snowflake form and brushed it with milk.
- Cowl your complete snowflake tightly with plastic wrap and a towel, and place it within the fridge in a single day or as much as 18 hours.
- Within the morning, take away from the fridge 30 to 45 minutes earlier than baking, preheat the oven, after which bake as directed.
See the total publish for a visible, step-by-step information, ideas, FAQs, and extra.
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Images by Eat Love Eats
