Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree Idea

We have a really fun idea for a Christmas Morning Breakfast – our Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree. It is super easy, yet so incredibly festive and fun, the whole family will be thrilled to indulge in this simple recipe!

The fun part is that it looks complicated, but it isn’t! We even have a quick video showing how to make the Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree step-by-step.

This is a FUN recipe that will not disappoint. We have made this a few times and I have some tips, tricks, healthy alternatives. I have a dairy-free and gluten-free swaps that you can make to fit everyone’s dietary needs too. It is also nut-free, perfect for the nut allergies. 

Ingredients and Supplies needed for Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree:

• 2 packages of Pillsbury Crescent Dough Sheets (these are nut and dairy free) 
• 1 Cup of packed Brown Sugar (you can also use coconut sugar for a healthier swap – it will not be as sweet, but gives that homemade cinnamon roll appeal).
• 1/3 cup of Ground Cinnamon
• 2 TBSPS of melted butter (for a vegan, dairy-free, healthier swap – try melted coconut oil. This is our preferred choice). 
• Christmas Cookie Cutter Shapes for the dough ornaments
• Colored sugar, sprinkles and other cookie like toppings to decorate the ornaments
• Parchment paper
• Kitchen shears
• Dough rolling pin
• Pastry brush

For a gluten-free swap, make homemade cinnamon roll dough from the BEST gluten-free flour mix.

How to make the Christmas Tree Cinnamon Roll:

• Start by opening one package of the Pillsbury Dough Sheets onto a sheet of parchment paper and roll out to be as flat and rectangle as you can. 

• Open the second package and roll it out to the same shape and size as the first on a separate sheet of parchment paper. 
• Brush the melted butter or coconut oil onto the first sheet in the pan. 

• Then mix the sugar and cinnamon in a bowl by hand (as it is too clumpy if you use a fork). Then sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mix onto the bottom layer. 

• Apply the top sheet of dough to the bottom. 
• Using the kitchen shears, cut a triangle tree shape in both layers. 
• Once you have a tree shape, begin cutting branches, equal cuts on both sides. 

• Next twist the branches all the way up the tree!

•  Once twisted, sprinkle green sugar all over to give it a green color. 

• Flatten the remaining dough that you cut off initially to be cardstock paper thin. This is for the ornament shapes. It needs to be cardstock paper thin because if it is too thick, the ornaments will “puff up” too much in the baking and be unrecognizable and look like blobs on your tree. 

• Cut your ornament shapes and decorate with the sugars/sprinkles how you want. 
• Apply the shapes to your tree. 
• Bake at 350 degrees for about 17 minutes – or until nice and brown. 

• Serve it up and have fun! 

Here’s the video sharing the step-by-step instructions:

You can print this recipe too:

See more Recipes in our Recipe Art Gallery HERE (Including fun themed food)