Delightful Christmas Tree Rolls

Featured in: Desserts

This easy holiday breakfast turns ordinary Pillsbury dough into festive trees by unwrapping and rearranging the cinnamon rolls, topped with sweet icing and holiday sprinkles.
Twistytaste.com
Updated on Sat, 26 Apr 2025 17:15:43 GMT
A festive pile of cinnamon rolls shaped like a tree, covered with white icing and dotted with red and green sprinkles, presented on a white dish with holiday decorations nearby. Pin it
A festive pile of cinnamon rolls shaped like a tree, covered with white icing and dotted with red and green sprinkles, presented on a white dish with holiday decorations nearby. | twistytaste.com

Can't wait to let you in on these Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls! They've become my go-to way to add sparkle to Christmas morning. My little ones grin from ear to ear whenever these cute trees show up at breakfast. And guess what? They're incredibly easy to whip up, leaving plenty of time for gift unwrapping and soaking up those precious family holiday moments.

What Makes These Holiday Delights So Special

There's pure wonder in watching these adorable tree-shaped goodies come out of the oven. That wonderful cinnamon aroma fills every corner of the house and just feels like Christmas. I adore how the gooey rolls and sweet frosting blend into the ultimate festive nibble. They're so quick to make that I actually get to kick back and enjoy family time instead of being stuck cooking all morning.

Only Three Basic Components Needed

  • Sprinkles: Colorful Christmas sprinkles to add festive flair.
  • Icing: The one that comes with your rolls or whip up some homemade cream cheese frosting.
  • Cinnamon Rolls: A can of Pillsbury™ Grands!™ Cinnamon Rolls or whatever brand you prefer.

Crafting Your Holiday Trees

Decorate
Drizzle the warmed rolls with icing and scatter sprinkles on top. Serve them right away for maximum enjoyment!
Bake
Arrange your shaped rolls on the ready baking pan. Cook for 23–27 minutes until they turn golden brown. Take them out and let them cool a bit.
Shape the Cinnamon Rolls
Unwrap each roll and zigzag the dough back and forth to make a tree pattern. Squeeze the tips together so they don't come undone while baking.
Preheat the Oven
Turn your oven to 350°F (175°C). Give a baking pan a quick spray with non-stick coating or put down some parchment paper for easier cleanup afterward.

Tucking Away The Extras

Should you end up with any leftovers which hardly ever happens at my place make sure they've cooled down completely. Pack them in a sealed container and keep them in a single layer. They'll stay yummy in your fridge for around 3 to 5 days.

Getting Them Toasty Again

When you're craving another taste wrap your rolls loosely in aluminum foil and warm them in a 300°F oven for about 5 to 7 minutes. The frosting might get a little runny but honestly that just makes everything taste even better.

A Treasured Holiday Breakfast Tradition

These sweet little trees have grown into such an important part of how we celebrate Christmas. They're easy enough that anyone can make them even before coffee and the kids always jump in to help with decorating. Take my word for it these will quickly become your family's must-have holiday morning treat.

A festive cinnamon roll shaped like a Christmas tree, topped with white icing and colorful sprinkles, sits on a plate surrounded by holiday decorations. Pin it
A festive cinnamon roll shaped like a Christmas tree, topped with white icing and colorful sprinkles, sits on a plate surrounded by holiday decorations. | twistytaste.com

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Why should I press the roll edges together?
Pressing helps keep the tree shape intact while they bake. Skip this step and your dough might pull apart and lose the pretty tree design.
→ What should I do if the dough pulls apart during baking?
If you notice gaps forming, quickly take them out of the oven and gently push the pieces back together, then continue baking.
→ Can I use my own cinnamon roll recipe instead?
It's doable but not ideal. Store-bought rolls work better because they're made to stay intact when you unroll and reshape them.
→ Why wait before adding the icing?
A short cooling time keeps the icing from totally running off while still letting it spread nicely across the warm rolls.
→ Which sprinkles should I pick?
Any Christmas sprinkles will work fine, but the tiny rod-shaped or round ones spread better than bigger decorative sprinkles.

Tree Shaped Cinnamon Rolls

Turn packaged cinnamon rolls into cute Christmas trees by twisting the dough into a tree pattern and finishing with sweet frosting and colorful sprinkles.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
23 Minutes
Total Time
33 Minutes

Category: Desserts

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 5 Servings (5 trees)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 1 tube ready-made Cinnamon Rolls.
02 Frosting packet included with rolls.
03 Holiday-themed sprinkles.

Instructions

Step 01

Heat your oven to 350°F. Cover your baking tray with cooking spray or a sheet of parchment for easy cleanup.

Step 02

Pull apart each roll. Slowly unfold and fold back each strip to make a zigzag tree pattern. Press dough ends firmly to hold shape.

Step 03

Pop in oven for 23-27 minutes till they turn nice and golden. If parts start drifting apart during baking, quickly take them out and push together.

Step 04

Cool for a few minutes. Drizzle with frosting and scatter sprinkles on top.

Notes

  1. Keep an eye out as pieces might pull apart while cooking.
  2. Wait till they're not too hot before adding frosting.

Tools You'll Need

  • Cookie sheet.
  • Non-stick paper.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Milk products.
  • Egg content.
  • Wheat components.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 300
  • Total Fat: 12 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 45 g
  • Protein: 4 g