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 truly first posted this attractive cinnamon roll snowflake on Instagram final yr, and knew that I needed to share it on the weblog the following vacation season. A yr later, and right here she is in all of her glory! Belief me after I say that this snowflake cinnamon roll is simpler to make than you suppose. When you’ve mastered the rolls themselves, you’ll simply form the dough in another way to create this stunning form!
I’ve included tons of step-by-step pictures with the intention to bake this up with success. Your family and friends will completely swoon over this vacation brunch deal with!
All the pieces you’ll have to make this cinnamon roll snowflake
We’re truly utilizing the whole lot 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 on the spot yeast to assist all of my cinnamon rolls rise sooner, however you can too use energetic dry yeast. Sure, they’re totally different! Scroll right down to get suggestions 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 may 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 actually what is going to give the cinnamon roll snowflake its gentle, fluffy-yet-chewy texture as a result of larger 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 possibly 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 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 varieties of yeast
For all of my cinnamon roll recipes (and different yeasted breads), it’s vital to know precisely which yeast you’re utilizing earlier than you begin baking. There are 2 sorts, and so they behave in another way:
- Energetic dry yeast: this sort of yeast should be dissolved in liquid, or additionally what’s generally known as being “proofed” earlier than it’s added to the remainder of the dough elements. You’ll know this 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).
- On the spot yeast: often known as 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 take a seat and watch the yeast to verify it bubbles. Nonetheless, you’ll nonetheless wish to dissolve it in slightly little bit of milk and sugar to assist get it began.
Sure, we’re weighing our elements
I extremely suggest weighing your elements with a kitchen scale to make sure that your baked items (and this snowflake) end up 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 one 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 is able to be the primary rise).
Step 2: Combine your brown sugar and cinnamon collectively in a small bowl. This might be used later for the filling.
Step 3: As a substitute of rolling all the 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 need to be excellent, however they need to be roughly the identical dimension as they may 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, last dough circle, and don’t add butter or cinnamon sugar. Place a small steel cookie cutter within the middle of the dough.
*The cookie cutter is there as a information so that you just don’t reduce by means of 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 middle 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 got 8 items complete.
Step 10: Reduce every of these 8 items in half so that you’ve got 16 items.
Step 11: Seize two sections of dough and punctiliously 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 when you preheat your oven.
Step 14: Bake the snowflake till flippantly 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 evening earlier than
Save time on Christmas morning by prepping the snowflake the evening earlier than! Right here’s the best way to do it:
- Comply with the recipe by means of Step 6, after you’ve twisted the dough into your snowflake form and brushed it with milk.
- Cowl the whole 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 stunning, fluffy texture.
- Can I double the recipe? Sure, you may double the recipe if you wish to make TWO separate snowflakes.
- What if my dough is simply too sticky to knead? Merely add slightly extra flour, a few tablespoon at a time, till it’s simpler to work with.
- Can I add nuts? Sure, yum! You possibly can sprinkle them onto every layer of the butter/sugar/cinnamon combination earlier than slicing and twisting into your snowflake.
Storing suggestions
Be at liberty to retailer the baked snowflake cinnamon roll lined at room temp for 1-2 hours, then wrap utterly 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 gentle and gooey once more!
How one can freeze this snowflake cinnamon roll
- To freeze earlier than baking: freeze the complete 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: enable 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
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I hope you’re keen on this cinnamon roll snowflake! For those who make it, you should definitely depart a remark and a score so I understand how you preferred it. Take pleasure in, xo!
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Festive cinnamon roll snowflake sliced, twisted, and baked for the right vacation deal with! Get straightforward, step-by-step directions for turning my well-known cinnamon roll dough into a stupendous snowflake. Such a enjoyable baking venture to shock and delight family members throughout the vacation season!
Components
- 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 (often known 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. 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 need to be excellent 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 last) 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 middle of the dough. This might be your reducing information so that you don’t reduce during the center of the dough. Slicing 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. Upon getting 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 occasions. Then pinch the ends of the dough collectively. Repeat the method all the best way across the circle. Calmly brush the whole 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 flippantly 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 pace for 30 seconds, then improve to medium-high pace 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:
- Comply with the recipe by means of Step 6, after you’ve got twisted the dough into your snowflake form and brushed it with milk.
- Cowl the whole 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 complete publish for a visible, step-by-step information, suggestions, FAQs, and extra.
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Bold Kitchen | Images by Eat Love Eats
