Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree

Are you looking for a sweet, festive, and delicious Christmas breakfast recipe for your Christmas morning? This Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree is made with either homemade cinnamon roll dough or store-bought options like Rhodes frozen cinnamon rolls and covered in a creamy frosting. It can even be decorated with “red ornaments” — maraschino cherries.

Christmas morning breakfast has always been a big deal in our home. Growing up, my Mom always made an egg casserole, cinnamon rolls, and a special ice cream egg nog drink. I thought it would be fun this year since we have almost all of our kids home for Christmas morning to make cinnamon rolls shaped into a Christmas tree. So fun and festive!

I wanted to recipe test this two ways — one using homemade cinnamon rolls and the other using frozen Rhodes cinnamon rolls. I actually love Rhodes rolls so I wanted to try that timesaver and they worked like a charm. We need all of the timesaving tips we can get around Christmas time. Am I right?

How to shape the Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree:

I used 12 cinnamon rolls to make my Christmas tree shape. You can use Rhodes frozen cinnamon rolls (in a bag), my homemade cinnamon roll recipe, or even refrigerated cinnamon rolls (I haven’t recipe tested this one).

• Begin by placing a piece of parchment paper on a large baking sheet. If you don’t have parchment paper, spray with non-stick cooking spray or grease the pan so the cinnamon rolls don’t stick.
• Begin by placing one cinnamon roll at the top center of your baking sheet to form the treetop.
• Below it, arrange a row of two cinnamon rolls. Below that, a row of three, and then a row of four, so you create a triangle tree shape.
• Add a single or double cinnamon roll at the bottom center as the tree trunk.

Adjust the rolls slightly so they touch one another—this helps them bake together into a cohesive shape.

Let the cinnamon rolls rise according to package instructions or the homemade cinnamon roll recipe.

How to Bake, Frost, and Decorate Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree:

Once the cinnamon rolls have risen, bake the rolls as directed in your recipe or on the package. Keep an eye on them as they near the end of the recommended baking time — don’t overbake as you want a lightly golden, fluffy texture.

Cool Slightly Before Frosting:
Once baked, let the cinnamon roll tree cool to room temperature. You don’t want it piping hot, or the frosting will melt right off.

Frost Your Tree:
If using Rhode’s frozen cinnamon rolls, you may want to make some more frosting. I added 4 ounces of cream cheese and 3/4 cup of powdered sugar to the frosting. Spread the frosting generously over the cinnamon rolls in a swirly pattern.

Add Festive Decorations:

• Place maraschino cherries as “red ornaments” throughout the tree.
• Sprinkle on holiday sprinkles, green sanding sugar, or edible glitter to make it sparkle.
• Add a star-shaped cookie, candy, or a yellow frosting star at the top of the tree for the finishing touch.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s):

Can I use refrigerated cinnamon rolls (like Pillsbury) instead of frozen Rhodes cinnamon or homemade cinnamon rolls?
Yes! Refrigerated cinnamon rolls work great. Just arrange them in the tree shape right out of the can and follow the package baking instructions.

What if I don’t like maraschino cherries?
Feel free to skip them if you want a natural looking Christmas tree, or substitute dried cranberries, pomegranate arils, or red M&M’s for a pop of festive color.

Can I prepare the cinnamon roll tree the night before?
With homemade dough, you can shape it and refrigerate overnight. Let it come to room temperature and rise (if needed) before baking in the morning. For frozen rolls, follow package instructions for overnight thawing and rising.

Do I have to use cream cheese frosting?
Not at all! A simple powdered sugar glaze, vanilla icing, or buttercream frosting will work just fine. If I am using Rhodes frozen cinnamon rolls, I like to add some cream cheese and extra powdered sugar to the frosting.

You can also use an orange roll recipe to make an Orange Roll Christmas Tree.

Sweet Roll Recipes:

Hayley’s Famous Cinnamon Rolls

TikTok Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Orange Rolls

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls