This snowflake cinnamon roll turns your regular breakfast into something fun. You roll dough into circles, stack them with butter and cinnamon, then twist them into a snowflake shape.
Everyone will want to pull off a piece and the whole thing tastes amazing.
Table of Contents
What You Need
For The Dough:
- 1 1⁄2 cups warm milk
- 4 1⁄2 teaspoons yeast
- 1⁄2 cup sugar
- 2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
- 1⁄2 cup melted butter
- 6 cups bread flour
- 1 1⁄2 teaspoons salt
For The Filling:
- 1 1⁄3 cups brown sugar
- 3 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1⁄2 cup soft butter
For The Topping:
- 1 beaten egg
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3⁄4 cup powdered sugar
- 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 pinch salt
Winter Snack Ideas For Party
This snowflake cinnamon roll works great for parties because everyone can just pull off a piece. No need for plates or forks.
You can make this the night before and bake it fresh in the morning. Your house will smell like a bakery and your guests will love it.
The twisted snowflake shape looks fancy but it’s really easy to make. Just cut and twist the dough and you’re done.
How To Make It
Step 1: Mix warm milk with yeast, sugar, eggs, and melted butter in a big bowl. Add flour and salt. Mix until you get dough. Let your mixer knead it for 8 minutes. Put a little olive oil in the bowl and roll the dough in it. Cover the bowl and wait 1 to 2 hours until the dough gets twice as big.
Step 2: Cut your dough into 4 equal pieces. Roll each piece into a circle about 10 inches wide. Use a little flour so nothing sticks.
Step 3: Put your first circle on a baking sheet with parchment paper. Spread butter on top. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over it. Add the second circle and do the same thing. Add the third circle and repeat. Put the fourth circle on top but leave it plain.
Step 4: Put a small cup in the middle of your dough. Cut from the cup edge out to the outside edge of the circle. Make 16 cuts total going all the way around. Take the cup out.
Step 5: Grab two dough sections next to each other. Twist one section away from you and twist the other section toward you. Pinch the ends together at the tips. Do this all the way around the circle with all 16 sections.
Step 6: Heat your oven to 350 degrees. Brush the beaten egg all over the snowflake. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes until it turns golden brown. Let it cool for 10 minutes. Mix cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until smooth. Spread the frosting on your warm snowflake.
Winter Brunch Food Ideas
Brunch needs food that looks good and tastes even better. This cinnamon roll snowflake does both.
Make it the main dish at your brunch table. Put it in the center and let everyone reach in and grab a piece. Serve it with coffee or hot chocolate.
You can add extra frosting on the side for dipping. Some people like a lot of frosting and some people like just a little bit.
The brown sugar and cinnamon filling makes every bite warm and sweet. The dough stays soft and pulls apart easy.
Why This Works For Winter Gatherings
Winter parties need warm food that brings people together. This snowflake cinnamon roll does exactly that.
The twisted shape looks like real snowflakes you see outside your window. Kids think it’s really cool and adults love how it tastes.
You can make smaller snowflakes if you want individual servings. Just divide your dough into more pieces and make mini versions.
Tips For The Best Results
Use warm milk but not hot milk. If the milk is too hot it will kill the yeast and your dough won’t rise.
Don’t skip the waiting time for the dough to rise. This makes it fluffy and soft. If you rush it the dough will be hard and dense.
When you twist the sections, be gentle. If you twist too hard the dough will tear and your snowflake won’t look as pretty.
Watch your oven closely after 20 minutes. Every oven bakes a little different. You want golden brown not dark brown.
Let the snowflake cool before you add frosting. If it’s too hot the frosting will melt and slide right off.
Easy Winter Breakfast Ideas
Breakfast in winter should be warm and filling. This cinnamon roll snowflake checks both boxes.
Make it on weekend mornings when you have extra time. The whole family can help twist the dough sections.
Serve it right out of the oven while it’s still warm. The butter and cinnamon smell fills up your whole kitchen.
You can freeze leftover pieces and heat them up later. Just wrap them in foil and warm them in the oven for a few minutes.
Make It Your Own
Add chopped nuts to the filling if you like crunch. Pecans or walnuts work really well with cinnamon.
Try using maple syrup instead of brown sugar for a different flavor. You can also add a little orange zest to the filling for something special.
If you don’t want frosting just dust it with powdered sugar. It looks pretty and tastes sweet without being too much.
Some people like to add raisins to the filling. Sprinkle them between the layers with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
Serving Ideas
Put the snowflake on a big wooden board in the middle of your table. Let everyone pull off pieces with their hands.
Serve it with fresh fruit on the side. Strawberries and blueberries add color and balance out the sweetness.
Hot drinks go great with this. Coffee, tea, or hot chocolate all work perfectly.
If you’re having a party, make two snowflakes. One plain with just powdered sugar and one with cream cheese frosting. People can pick which one they want.
Common Questions
How long does this take to make?
You need about 2 hours for the dough to rise and 30 minutes to bake. The actual hands on work is about 30 minutes.
Can I make this ahead of time?
Yes. Make it the night before up to step 5. Cover it tight and put it in the fridge. In the morning let it sit out for 20 minutes then bake it.
What if I don’t have bread flour?
Regular all purpose flour works fine. Your dough might not be quite as fluffy but it will still taste good.
Do I have to use the egg wash?
No but it makes the snowflake shiny and golden. You can skip it if you want.
How many people does this feed?
About 18 people can get a good piece. If you’re serving other food too it can feed more.
Final Tips
This snowflake cinnamon roll is easier than it looks. Don’t be scared to try it even if you’ve never made bread before.
The hardest part is waiting for the dough to rise. Once that’s done everything else goes pretty fast.
Your first snowflake might not look like the pictures and that’s okay. It will still taste amazing and everyone will love it.
Make this for your next winter breakfast or brunch. People will talk about it for weeks and ask you to make it again.
