Description
This festive Cinnamon Swirl Christmas Tree bread is a delightful holiday treat that combines soft, fluffy dough with a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling. Shaped like a Christmas tree and topped with a simple vanilla glaze, it’s perfect for holiday breakfasts, brunches, or dessert spreads. The dough is enriched with eggs and butter, making the bread tender and rich, while the cinnamon swirl adds a warm, aromatic sweetness throughout each slice.
Ingredients
Scale
Dough
- 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet)
- 1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 3/4 cup whole milk, warmed to 110°F
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
Cinnamon Filling
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
Egg Wash
- 1 large egg
- 1 tablespoon milk
Icing (Optional)
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 to 2 tablespoons milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Combine dry ingredients: In a stand mixer bowl or large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, granulated sugar, instant yeast, and fine sea salt until well combined.
- Incorporate wet ingredients: Add the warmed whole milk (110°F), melted unsalted butter, and room temperature eggs to the dry mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms, ensuring all ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Knead the dough: Knead the dough by hand or using a dough hook attachment on a stand mixer for 6 to 8 minutes until the dough becomes smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
- First rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl and cover it loosely with a towel or plastic wrap. Allow it to rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
- Prepare cinnamon filling: In a small bowl, mix together packed brown sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined and set aside.
- Shape dough for filling: Once risen, punch down the dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 16 by 12-inch rectangle.
- Apply filling: Evenly spread the softened unsalted butter over the surface of the rolled-out dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges. Then sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture uniformly on top of the butter layer.
- Form dough log: Starting from one of the long edges, tightly roll the dough into a log shape, sealing the edge as you go to keep the filling inside.
- Cut and twist: Using a sharp knife, carefully cut the rolled log lengthwise down the middle, resulting in two long halves. Twist these halves around each other, exposing the beautiful cinnamon swirls.
- Shape Christmas tree: Arrange the twisted dough into a Christmas tree shape on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Start with a wider base and narrow the shape towards the top, tucking the ends underneath to secure.
- Second rise: Cover the shaped dough loosely with a cloth or plastic wrap and let it rise for 30 minutes. Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Apply egg wash: Whisk together one egg and one tablespoon of milk. Brush this mixture gently over the surface of the dough to give a shiny, golden finish once baked.
- Bake: Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 25 to 28 minutes until the bread is golden brown and cooked through.
- Optional icing: While the bread cools slightly, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until smooth. Drizzle this icing over the warm bread before serving for an extra touch of sweetness and festive flair.
Notes
- For best results, ensure the milk is warmed to approximately 110°F to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
- If you don’t have a stand mixer, kneading by hand on a floured surface works equally well.
- You can prepare the dough the night before and let it rise slowly in the refrigerator for a more developed flavor, then shape and bake the next day.
- Ensure the dough is tightly rolled to prevent the filling from leaking out during baking.
- Use a sharp serrated knife for cutting the dough log to avoid squishing the filling.
- This recipe can be doubled for larger gatherings—just increase the rising times accordingly.
