We ought to formally rename December to “Cinnamon Roll Month” as a result of there’s really nothing higher than a heat, gooey cinnamon roll proper now. But 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 subsequent vacation season. A 12 months later, and right here she is in all of her glory! Trust me once I say that this snowflake cinnamon roll is less complicated to make than you suppose. Once you’ve mastered the rolls themselves, you’ll simply form the dough otherwise to create this stunning form!
I’ve included tons of step-by-step photographs in an effort to bake this up with success. Your family and friends will completely swoon over this vacation brunch deal with!
Everything you’ll must make this cinnamon roll snowflake
We’re really utilizing every thing in my well-known cinnamon roll recipe and easily shaping it right into a snowflake! Here’s what you’ll want:
- Milk: I at all times advocate utilizing complete milk or 2% milk, however see under for dairy-free choices.
- Yeast: I like to make use of quick rise or instant yeast to assist all of my cinnamon rolls rise quicker, however you can even use active dry yeast. Yes, they’re completely different! Scroll right down to get tips 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 possibly can 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 offer the dough moisture and richness.
- Bread flour: utilizing bread flour is absolutely what’s going to give the cinnamon roll snowflake its mild, fluffy-yet-chewy texture as a result of greater protein degree.
- For the filling: you’ll rub softened butter, brown sugar (I really like dark 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 can 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’t advocate a flour substitute to maintain this snowflake cinnamon roll gluten-free.
Looking for a vegan possibility?
Make the dough from my Vegan Banana Bread Cinnamon Rolls to make a yummy, vegan banana bread cinnamon roll snowflake!
Choose from 2 sorts 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 start baking. There are 2 sorts, they usually behave otherwise:
- Active dry yeast: this type of yeast should be dissolved in liquid, or additionally what’s often called 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 start to look within the liquid that you just dissolve the yeast in (for this recipe, it’s heat milk).
- Instant yeast: also referred to as quick rise yeast (that is the model I take advantage of and love!), and what we’re utilizing for this cinnamon roll snowflake recipe. It will 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. However, you’ll nonetheless need to dissolve it in a bit of little bit of milk and sugar to assist get it started.
Yes, we’re weighing our substances
I extremely advocate weighing your substances with a kitchen scale to make sure that your baked items (and this snowflake) prove completely each time. This 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 on.!
How to make a cinnamon roll snowflake (step-by-step)
Step 1: Start by mixing the cinnamon roll dough on this recipe, after which let it rise in a bowl till it doubles in measurement (this is able to be the primary rise).
Step 2: Mix your brown sugar and cinnamon collectively in a small bowl. This will likely be used later for the filling.
Step 3: Instead 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 should be good, however they need to be roughly the identical measurement 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 prime.
Step 6: Pat 3 tablespoons of the brown sugar and cinnamon combination into the butter. Repeat by including the second dough circle on prime 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: Top with the fourth, remaining dough circle, and don’t add butter or cinnamon sugar. Place a small metal cookie cutter within the middle of the dough.
*The cookie cutter is there as a information so that you just don’t lower by the middle of the dough, and it’ll create a cute center to your snowflake!
Step 8: Cut the dough in the direction of you into 4 equal items, beginning on the middle the place the cookie cutter is. Think of it as chopping on the 12, 3, 6, and 9 of a clock.
Step 9: Cut every of the 4 items in half so that you’ve got 8 items complete.
Step 10: Cut every of these 8 items in half so that you’ve got 16 items.
Step 11: Grab two sections of dough and thoroughly twist them away from one another about 2 occasions.
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 whilst you preheat your oven.
Step 14: Bake the snowflake till calmly golden brown, then unfold half of the cream cheese frosting on prime, 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! Here’s the best way to do it:
- Follow the recipe by Step 6, after you’ve twisted the dough into your snowflake form and brushed it with milk.
- Cover the 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.
- In 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 take advantage of all-purpose flour? The snowflake will nonetheless work with all-purpose flour, however I HIGHLY advocate sticking with bread flour to get that lovely, fluffy texture.
- Can I double the recipe? Yes, you possibly can double the recipe if you wish to make TWO separate snowflakes.
- What if my dough is simply too sticky to knead? Simply add a bit of extra flour, a couple of tablespoon at a time, till it’s simpler to work with.
- Can I add nuts? Yes, yum! You can sprinkle them onto every layer of the butter/sugar/cinnamon combination earlier than slicing and twisting into your snowflake.
Storing tips
Feel free to retailer the baked snowflake cinnamon roll lined at room temp for 1-2 hours, then wrap utterly or switch items to an airtight container and retailer within the fridge for as much as 5 days. Reheat items within the microwave to get them tender and gooey once more!
How to 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 might be 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 come back 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.
Tools you’ll want
Get all of my kitchen necessities here!
More brunch treats you’ll love
Get all of our scrumptious breakfast & brunch recipes right here!
I hope you like this cinnamon roll snowflake! If you make it, be sure you go away a remark and a score so I understand how you preferred it. Enjoy, xo!
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Festive cinnamon roll snowflake sliced, twisted, and baked for the right vacation deal with! Get simple, step-by-step directions for turning my well-known cinnamon roll dough into a wonderful snowflake. Such a enjoyable baking mission to shock and delight family members throughout the vacation season!
Ingredients
- 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
Instructions
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Make the dough: Make my cinnamon roll dough and permit it to rise till doubled in measurement as directed (also referred to as 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. Set apart.
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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 should be good however they need to be roughly the identical measurement.
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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. Spread 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. Finally, prime with the fourth (and remaining) dough circle (don’t add butter or cinnamon sugar on prime of the final one).
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Cut the dough: Place a small steel cookie cutter within the middle of the dough. This will likely be your chopping information so that you don’t lower during the center of the dough. Cutting from the sting of the cookie cutter in the direction of you, lower the dough into 4 equal items. Use 12 o’clock, 3, 6 and 9 as your information. Once you might have these 4 cuts, lower every of these sections in half for a complete of 8 sections. Then lower these 8 sections in half once more for a complete of 16 even sections.
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Assemble the snowflake: Next seize two items of the dough at a time and twist away from one another about 2 occasions. Then pinch the ends of the dough collectively. Repeat the method all the way in which across the circle. Lightly brush the complete dough with milk or heavy cream. Once completed, 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: Once preheated, bake the snowflake within the oven for 25 to half-hour till good and calmly golden brown.
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Prepare the cream cheese frosting: In 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 prime the snowflake: Add about half of the frosting on prime 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:
- Follow the recipe by Step 6, after you’ve got twisted the dough into your snowflake form and brushed it with milk.
- Cover the 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.
- In 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 put up for a visible, step-by-step information, tips, FAQs, and extra.
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | Photography by Eat Love Eats
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