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Every Christmas morning at our house revolves around my absolute favorite tradition that gets everyone pumped for holiday breakfast! These Christmassy Cinnamon Roll Trees bring such wonder to our morning table. I stumbled on this fun idea when searching for something both impressive and doable for our Christmas feast, and now the kids won't let me skip them. The tree-shaped pastries never fail to bring out huge grins around the table.
Simple Holiday Wonder
What's so great about these treats? They're super easy but look totally impressive! They work brilliantly for a big family gathering or just to make your quiet family Christmas feel extra special. I'm all about using those ready-made rolls to cut down on time, but once you've worked your magic, nobody will guess they weren't made from scratch.
Your Supplies
- Main Stuff: A single tube of those jumbo Pillsbury Grands! Cinnamon Rolls, which are just right for this project.
- Topping Touch: The ready-made icing that's packed with the rolls.
- Fancy Bits: Some Christmas-themed sprinkles, with green and red being top choices for that holiday vibe!
Creating Your Trees
- Prep Work
- Start by heating your oven to 350°F. I always hit my baking sheet with cooking spray or put down some parchment paper so nothing sticks later!
- Shape Those Trees
- Now for the creative bit! Crack open your cinnamon roll tube and slowly unwind each roll. Then arrange them into cute Christmas tree patterns on your sheet. They don't need to be perfect - that's what makes them charming! I sometimes gently squeeze parts of the dough to help the shapes stay put.
- Into The Oven
- Slide them into the oven for around 23-27 minutes. I can't resist watching them through the glass as they turn all golden and puffy. If they start to spread out too much, you can nudge them back into shape.
- Decoration Station
- After they've cooled slightly, smear on the sweet icing. This is when the little ones jump in to scatter all those colorful sprinkles everywhere!
Storage Tips
Got some left? That's rare in my home! Store them in a sealed container in your fridge and they'll stay tasty for 3-5 days. Just wait till they're totally cool before you pack them away. This way they won't get soggy and will taste awesome whenever you grab one for a quick holiday snack.
Reheating Trick
Want to know how I make day-old rolls taste amazing again? Just put them in a pan with some loose foil on top and warm them at 300°F for about 5-7 minutes. Yeah, the icing might get a bit runny but trust me, that just makes everything taste better! They'll seem like they just came out of the oven the first time.
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Family Kitchen Fun
This is definitely one of those treats that gets everybody wanting to join in! My kids go crazy for unrolling the dough and crafting their own unique trees. And when it comes to adding sprinkles? Total happiness! Seeing them carefully place each tiny colored bit and their proud smiles when looking at their finished trees makes those precious holiday moments we'll remember forever.
Festive Morning Delight
For Christmas morning or a special holiday get-together, these rolls truly bring the festive mood. I love setting them out while everyone's still walking around in jammies, with cinnamon smells filling every corner of the house. They go so well with hot chocolate or a fresh coffee, adding that extra bit of coziness to your morning.
Creating Family Memories
The best thing about these treats? How they become woven into your family's Christmas stories. At our place, the kids tumble out of bed knowing these magical tree treats await them downstairs. When they spot those cinnamon creations twinkling with colorful sprinkles, their joy captures everything wonderful about the holidays!
Custom Touches
Let me tell you some cool ways we change these up! Sometimes we'll add swirls of colored frosting like snow falling down. My daughter can't get enough of adding those sparkly sugar crystals, while my boy loves sprinkling crushed peppermint on top. We even tried dotting them with tiny chocolate chips as ornaments one year and wow, it tasted amazing!
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Frequently Asked Questions
- → Can I use a different brand of cinnamon rolls?
- Sure, just use large rolls. Smaller ones make a tinier tree and bake faster.
- → Why does my dough separate in the oven?
- Be sure to pinch the dough sections tightly before baking. If it separates, pause baking, then push it back.
- → Can I prep this ahead of time?
- It's best warm and fresh. You can reheat it briefly, but it tastes best straight from the oven.
- → Which sprinkles look best?
- Any festive sprinkles are fine, but red and green pop most. Add while the icing's warm so they stick well.
- → How do I know it's fully baked?
- The rolls should be golden and firm. Check the center to confirm it's no longer doughy.