Cinnamon Roll Pull-Apart Snowflake (Printable)

Golden cinnamon swirl dough shaped like a snowflake with sweet vanilla icing, ideal for cold mornings and sharing.

# What You Need:

→ Dough

01 - 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
03 - 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
04 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
05 - 3/4 cup warm milk (approximately 110°F)
06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
07 - 1 large egg, room temperature

→ Filling

08 - 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
09 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

→ Icing

11 - 1 cup powdered sugar
12 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
13 - 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large bowl, combine warm milk, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes until frothy.
02 - Add melted butter, egg, and salt to the yeast mixture. Gradually incorporate flour until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 5 to 7 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
04 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
05 - Punch down the risen dough and divide into three equal portions. Roll each portion into a 12-inch circle.
06 - Place one dough circle on the prepared baking sheet. Spread half the softened butter evenly, then sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar mixture over it. Repeat with the second circle using the remaining butter and cinnamon sugar. Top with the third circle.
07 - Place a small glass in the center of the stacked dough (do not cut through the glass). Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 16 equal strips radiating outward from the glass.
08 - Twist pairs of adjacent strips away from each other twice and pinch the ends together to form points. Repeat for all pairs to create the snowflake design.
09 - Remove the glass. Cover the shaped dough with a towel and let rise for 15 minutes.
10 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
11 - Cool for 10 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth, then drizzle over the warm snowflake.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the kind of breakfast that makes people think you woke up at 5 AM when you actually just had good timing and a working oven.
  • Pulling apart warm, gooey cinnamon layers while standing around a kitchen table creates this unspoken joy that no single pastry can match.
  • The snowflake shape gives you bragging rights, but the technique is honestly forgiving if you're not perfectionist about it.
02 -
  • Temperature is everything—cold dough won't rise properly, and warm milk that's too hot will kill your yeast before it even starts.
  • The glass in the center isn't just decorative; it keeps the snowflake from collapsing in on itself and prevents strips from sealing together as they bake.
  • Don't be precious about perfect strips or uniform twists—slight irregularities make it look homemade and charming instead of factory-perfect.
03 -
  • Keep your dough and butter cool but workable—cold butter won't spread evenly, but warm butter melts into the dough instead of creating layers.
  • The glass trick is non-negotiable; without it, the center collapses and your snowflake loses its architectural integrity, so trust the process here.
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