Cinnamon Roll Pull-Apart (Printable)

A festive cinnamon pull-apart with pillowy dough, swirled sugar, and sweet vanilla icing drizzle.

# What You'll 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 (about 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

# Directions:

01 - In a large bowl, combine warm milk, granulated sugar, and active dry yeast. Let stand 5 to 10 minutes until frothy.
02 - Add melted butter, egg, and salt. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead 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 dough and divide into three equal pieces. Roll each piece into a 12-inch circle.
06 - Place one circle on the baking sheet. Spread half the softened butter over the surface, then sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly on top.
07 - Top with the second dough circle. Spread remaining butter and cinnamon sugar mixture. Place the third dough circle on top.
08 - Place a small glass in the center. Using a sharp knife, cut dough into 16 equal strips radiating outward from the glass, without cutting through the center.
09 - Take two adjacent strips, twist them away from each other twice, then pinch the ends together to form a point. Repeat all pairs around the dough to create a snowflake shape.
10 - Remove the glass. Cover with a towel and let rise 15 minutes.
11 - Bake for 22 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
12 - Cool for 10 minutes. Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth. Drizzle icing over warm snowflake. Serve pull-apart style.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks showstopping but requires no special skills—just a knife and a willingness to play with dough.
  • That moment when you twist the strips and the snowflake shape reveals itself never gets old, even on the hundredth time.
  • Pull-apart means everyone gets to eat with their hands, and somehow that turns breakfast into an event.
02 -
  • The glass in the center isn't just for show—without it, you'll either cut unevenly or accidentally slice through your layers, and the whole structure falls apart.
  • Those fifteen minutes before baking matter more than you'd think; they give the twisted pieces just enough time to puff and hold their shape while baking.
03 -
  • Chill your rolling pin before rolling the dough circles if your kitchen is warm; it keeps the dough from sticking and makes clean cuts easier.
  • That small glass is essential for keeping the center intact, but if you don't have one, use a biscuit cutter or even the rim of a wine glass turned upside down.
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