Christmas Tree Coffee Cake
Transform your holiday mornings with this festive **Christmas Tree Coffee Cake**, a show-stopping centerpiece that's as delicious as it is decorative. Made with pillowy, yeast-raised dough and swirled with a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, this delightful treat is shaped into a whimsical tree, complete with twisted "branches" for extra charm. Topped with a rich vanilla glaze and a sprinkle of holiday cheer, it’s the perfect combination of warmth and sweetness. Whether you're hosting a cozy brunch or looking for a fun holiday baking project, this Christmas Tree Coffee Cake is a must for the season. Ready in under two hours and serving up to 12, it’s guaranteed to bring festive joy to your table.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 3.5 cups All-purpose flour
- 0.25 cups Granulated sugar
- 2.25 teaspoons Active dry yeast
- 0.75 teaspoons Salt
- 0.75 cups Whole milk
- 0.25 cups Butter
- 2 pieces Large eggs
- 1 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 cups Brown sugar
- 1.5 cups Powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoons Vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons Heavy cream or milk
- 3 tablespoons Holiday sprinkles (optional)
Instructions
In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 cups of the flour, granulated sugar, yeast, and salt.
In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter over low heat until very warm (120–130°F). Pour the warm mixture into the flour mixture.
Add the eggs and beat with an electric mixer on medium speed for 2 minutes until well combined.
Gradually stir in the remaining 1.5 cups of flour to form a soft dough.
Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead for about 8 minutes, or until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
Meanwhile, prepare the filling by mixing the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
After the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a large triangular shape, about 15 inches at the base and 18 inches in height, resembling a Christmas tree.
Spread the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the dough triangle, leaving a 1/2-inch border around the edges.
Carefully roll up the triangle from the base to the tip, shaping it into a tree. Tuck and pinch the ends to seal and adjust the tree shape as needed.
Place the shaped dough onto a parchment-lined baking sheet and make small, angled cuts along both sides of the tree, about 1 inch apart. Twist each cut piece slightly to form 'branches.'
Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm place for another 30 minutes.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the coffee cake for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
While the cake is cooling, prepare the glaze by whisking together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and heavy cream or milk until smooth.
Drizzle the glaze over the cooled tree-shaped coffee cake and decorate with holiday sprinkles, if desired.
Serve warm or at room temperature and enjoy your festive Christmas Tree Coffee Cake!
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
2854 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 77.1 g | 99% | |
| Saturated Fat | 39.6 g | 198% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.6 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 560 mg | 187% | |
| Sodium | 2315 mg | 101% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 470.2 g | 171% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 14.2 g | 51% | |
| Total Sugars | 141.3 g | ||
| Protein | 65.3 g | 131% | |
| Vitamin D | 4.2 mcg | 21% | |
| Calcium | 459 mg | 35% | |
| Iron | 22.6 mg | 126% | |
| Potassium | 1145 mg | 24% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
