Easy Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree for Christmas Morning

Learn how to make the cutest easy cinnamon roll Christmas tree for to put on your breakfast menu Christmas morning or any holiday occasion. No need to make homemade cinnamon buns to delight your kids with an easy, special breakfast that lets you enjoy the magic of the day without stressing over another big meal.

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If you have little kids, Christmas morning is one of the absolutely busiest, craziest, but most magical mornings of the year.

While they are certainly distracted by the presents (OMG SANTA!!!), kids need to eat.

But, you, my fellow tired parent warrior, do not have to break a sweat making homemade cinnamon buns or waffles for a special Christmas morning breakfast.

No. Hard pass.

If your morning looks like mine, it involves way more coffee than average or maybe a festive Christmas morning mimosa and a desire to snooze after being up late building toys and wrapping gifts and making *MaGiC*

So, I skip the hard stuff and do easy things that get big results.

Like this cinnamon roll Christmas tree.

It’s super easy thanks to storebought slice and bake cinnamon rolls and canned frosting, but let me just tell you, kids think it is the best thing ever.

Cinnamon rolls! Icing! Candy! For breakfast!

Mommy, you’re the best.

Ingredients and Kitchen Tools

• Cinnamon rolls– The kind in the can you find in the refrigerated section. This honestly is one of my favorite Pillsbury cinnamon rolls recipes.
• Icing– You can get rid of te icing that comes with the cinnamon rolls. Pick up a can of vanilla or cream cheese frosting. Sometimes you can find premade green icing this time of year as well.
• Food coloring– Green food coloring
• Decorations– You can get creative here and use what you like. We used holiday M&M’s, holiday sprinkles, red decorating icing, and a peppermint lollipop as a topping.

In terms of supplies and tools, you don’t need much, but these make it easier:

• Cookie sheet
• Foil
• Cooling rack
• Spatula

How to Make an Easy Cinnamon Roll Christmas Tree

1. Open the cinnamon rolls and arrange them on a baking sheet.

Using 7 cinnamon rolls, arrange them on a baking sheet lined with foil.

To make the Christmas tree shape, use one roll at the top of the tray.

Directly below that top roll, put two rolls so that the top roll is in the center.

Make the next row a row of three rolls so that the other two rolls are centered and you get a triangle shape for the tree.

Finish the tree shape by placing the remaining roll in the center of the bottom row to form the stem.

2. Bake the rolls according to the directions on the package.

Once the rolls are arranged into the tree shape, bake them according to the directions on the package.

Keep in mind the rolls may need a little extra time because they are all pushed together and touching.

Remove them from the oven when they are golden.

3. Let the rolls cool.

You want the rolls to cool before you decorate them so they aren’t too hot to touch. You can either let them cool right on the tray or carefully transfer them to a cooling rack.

How to Decorate

1. Make the icing green.

Remove the top of the icing can and the foil layer.

Microwave it for 30 seconds so it melts and gets liquidy.

Stir in a few drops of green food coloring until it makes a green color you like for the tree.

2. Pour the icing over the cinnamon rolls.

Make sure to evenly cover the rolls, but leave the bottom roll bare so it looks like a tree trunk.

3. Decorate with candy, sprinkles, etc.

Go to town or unleash the kids and let them go to town.

We used red decorator icing for garland, Christmas sprinkles, M&M’s and a peppermint lollipop for a tree topper.

Tips and Tricks

• You can use store brand cinnamon rolls or homemade, but honestly we always use Pillsbury cinnamon rolls for this recipe.
• Feeding lots of people? Either use 2 cans of cinnamon rolls and arrange them on a bigger tray to make a bigger tree or make two trees on two separate trays.
• Get the kids involved. My daughter (7) and son (3) both helped make this last year from start to finish and it was really fun.
• Use any candy, frostings, sprinkles, etc, that you like to decorate this cinnamon bun tree. Which would you use?
• Just bake the extra cinnamon roll on its own separate little tray.

Other Breakfast Menu Christmas Ideas

Not into cinnamon rolls but still want something festive and easy to feed the family Christmas morning? Try these ideas:

• Pumpkin French Toast Casserole
• Cranberry Orange Baked Pancake
• Easy Baked French Toast Casserole
• The Best Ham and Cheese Frittata (Ham and Cheese Crustless Quiche)
• Cheesy Asparagus Frittata
• The Best Easy Fried Apples
• Cranberry Apple Baked Oatmeal
• Chocolate Cheesecake Crepes

And check out my Homemade Christmas Tree Chocolate Candy if you want another Christmas tree themed food!

Did you make this? Let me know!

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