Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees Recipe

This whimsical Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees Recipe turns a tube of refrigerated dough into a festive holiday treat with just a few clever folds. Baked until golden and puffed, these accordion-style pastries are decorated with vibrant green frosting and colorful sprinkle ornaments, making for a fun, kid-friendly project that brings edible magic to your Christmas morning table.

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Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees Ingredients

The Base:

• 1 tube (17.5 oz) refrigerated large cinnamon rolls: Use a brand like Pillsbury Grands! for the best size and fluffiness.
• Nonstick cooking spray: To prevent the sugary dough from sticking to the pan.

The Decoration:

• 1 container (16 oz) cream cheese or vanilla frosting: Provides a sturdy base for the decorations.
• Reserved icing: From the cinnamon roll tube, used for piping the garland.
• Green food coloring: Essential for the pine tree look.
• Holiday-themed sprinkles: Red and green nonpareils, stars, or pearls act as ornaments.
• 5 yellow candy-coated chocolates: (Like M&M’s) or yellow gumdrops for the tree topper star.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees

1. Prep the Dough: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet generously with nonstick spray. Open the tube of cinnamon rolls and set aside the small container of white icing for later use.
2. Form the Trees: Take one cinnamon roll and carefully unravel it into a long, single strip of dough. Starting at one end, fold the strip back and forth in a zigzag (accordion) motion. Start with a very small fold at the top and make each subsequent fold slightly wider than the last to mimic the triangular shape of a pine tree.
3. Bake: Transfer the shaped trees to the baking sheet, spacing them apart as they will puff up significantly. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes until they are golden brown and cooked through.
4. Tint the Frosting: While the trees bake, open the tub of frosting. Stir in green food coloring (start with 10 drops and add more as needed, usually around 30 drops) until you achieve a festive evergreen shade.
5. Cool and Pipe: Let the baked trees cool on a wire rack until they are room temperature to the touch (if they are hot, the frosting will melt and slide off). Transfer the reserved white icing from the tube into a small ziplock bag and chill it slightly to firm it up.
6. Decorate: Spread the green frosting over the surface of each tree. Snip a tiny corner off the bag of white icing and pipe a zigzag “garland” across the branches. Sprinkle with holiday ornaments. Finish by pressing a yellow candy onto the very top point as the star.

Recipe Tips

• Secure the Shape: If your accordion folds are springing apart before baking, you can insert a toothpick horizontally through the layers to hold the tree shape. Just remember to remove it before serving!
• Cooling is Crucial: Do not rush the cooling step. Cinnamon rolls hold heat in their center swirls. If you frost them too soon, you will have a green puddle instead of a tree.
• Homemade Frosting: You can make your own buttercream, but store-bought frosting is often stiffer and holds the shape better for this specific craft-style treat.
• Tree Trunks: For an extra touch, stick a pretzel stick into the bottom of the tree while it’s warm to create a trunk.

What To Serve With Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees

• Hot Cocoa: The perfect dipping companion.
• Fruit Skewers: Alternate red strawberries and green grapes for a “Grinch” kebab side.
• Scrambled Eggs: Balance the sugar rush with some protein.
• Bacon: Salty meat contrasts perfectly with the sweet glaze.

How To Store Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees

• Room Temperature: Store decorated trees loosely covered on the counter for up to 2 days. An airtight container might make the icing sweat.
• Reheat: These are best eaten fresh, but you can warm leftovers in the microwave for 10 seconds (note that the frosting will melt).
• Freeze: Freeze the baked, undecorated trees for up to 1 month. Thaw and decorate before serving.

Cinnamon Roll Christmas Trees Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 350 kcal
• Fat: 14g
• Carbohydrates: 52g
• Sugar: 28g
• Protein: 4g

Nutrition information is estimated per decorated tree.

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