This Cinnamon Star Bread is a beautifully twisted, buttery bread filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with cream cheese frosting. It’s soft, sweet, and perfect for sharing during the holidays—or anytime you’re craving something special.
A Little Story
When our friends came to stay with us over the holidays, I wanted to make something special for breakfast—something that would wow both the kids and adults. Everyone loves cinnamon rolls, but I wanted to try something a little more festive.
That’s when I decided to make this Cinnamon Star Bread. It looks intricate, but it’s surprisingly simple—just layers of soft, buttery dough twisted with cinnamon sugar and baked into a star shape. The kitchen smelled like warm cinnamon, and when I pulled it from the oven, it was golden, puffy, and perfect.
We drizzled it with cream cheese frosting and set it in the center of the breakfast table. It looked like a bakery-worthy centerpiece, but it tasted just like a cozy homemade cinnamon roll. Everyone loved it—kids and adults alike—and now it’s our go-to holiday breakfast tradition.
Ingredients
Cinnamon Star Dough
- 1 cup warm (not hot) milk (regular or plant-based)
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup melted butter (regular or plant-based)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2½ cups regular all-purpose flour
Cinnamon Star Filling
- ½ cup softened butter (regular or plant-based)
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese (regular or plant-based)
- 4 tablespoon softened butter (regular or plant-based)
- 1½ cups powdered sugar
How To Make Your Star Points
Full Instructions
- Prepare the Dough:
In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, melted butter, maple syrup, and salt. Sprinkle yeast over the top, stir gently, and let sit for 10 minutes.
Add the flour and mix until a dough forms. Shape into a round mound, cover with plastic wrap or a towel, and let rise for 1 hour in a warm spot (on top of a preheated oven or in the sun). The dough should nearly double in size. - Shape the Star:
After the dough rises, place it on a floured piece of parchment paper. Divide into 3 balls.
Roll the first ball into a ?-inch-thick circle. Spread half of the butter, sugar, and cinnamon mixture on top.
Roll out the second dough ball and layer it on top; spread remaining butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
Roll the third ball into another circle and place it on top. - Create the Star Shape:
Press a small bowl in the center to mark a circle. Slice the dough into strips from the circle outward. Twist two strips together to form one star point. Repeat with all strips until a star shape forms. - Final Rise & Bake:
Transfer the parchment paper with the star onto a baking sheet or round pan. Cover and let rise 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F and bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. - Frost & Serve:
While baking, mix frosting ingredients with an electric mixer until smooth.
Spread over warm bread and enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Perfect for holidays, brunches, or cozy weekends
- Looks impressive but is easy to make
- Tastes like a cinnamon roll with a festive twist
- Vegan-optional and made with simple ingredients
FAQs
1. Can I make the dough the night before?
Yes! Prepare the dough, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let it come to room temperature before shaping and baking in the morning.
2. Can I make this vegan?
Absolutely. Just use plant-based milk, butter, and cream cheese for the frosting.
3. How do I store leftovers?
Keep covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the fridge for up to 4. Reheat in the oven or microwave until warm and soft.
4. Do you have a classic cinnamon roll recipe?
Yes we do! Click here for our classic bakery style cinnamon rolls.
Cinnamon Star Bread Recipe
Ingredients
Cinnamon Star Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup warm (not hot) milk regular or plant-based
- 2 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ cup melted butter regular or plant-based
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 3 teaspoon active dry yeast
- 2 ½ cup regular all purpose flour
Cinnamon Star Filling Ingredients
- ½ cup softened butter regular or plant-based
- ½ cup sugar
- 3 teaspoon cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting Ingredients
- 4 oz cream cheese regular or plant-based
- 4 tablespoon softened butter regular or plant-based
- 1 ½ cup powdered sugar
Instructions
Cinnamon Star Bread Recipe
- Prepare the cinnamon star roll dough by mixing the warm milk, melted butter, maple syrup, and salt. Sprinkle the active dry yeast evenly across the top of the mixture, stir gently, and let it sit for about 10 minutes.
- Add the all-purpose flour and mix until a dough forms. Leaving the dough in the bowl, form it into a round mound and cover the bowl with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel. Allow it to sit for an hour. I like to sit my bowl on top of an oven preheated to 350 or in the sun. The warmth helps the dough rise faster. Expect the dough to nearly double in size.
- After the dough has risen for an hour place it on a floured sheet of parchment paper and divide it into 3 balls. On the parchment paper, roll one dough ball into a ⅓ inch thick circle (add more flour if the dough is too sticky to roll). Spread half of the the softened butter, sugar and cinnamon on top. Roll out your second ball into another ⅓ inch thick circle and place it on top of the first. Spread the other half of the butter, sugar, and cinnamon on top. Roll out the third ball of dough and place it on top of the stack.
- Place a small bowl in the center of the dough and press down gently to create a circle within the center of the dough. Then, using a sharp knife, slice strips of dough around the circle slicing from the circle to the outer edge of the dough.
- Use your hands to take two strips that are side by side and twist them together to form a point of your star. Repeat until you've used all of the strips of dough. You should have many points on your star now. See photos for helpful instructions here. Transfer the entire sheet of parchment paper with the cinnamon star on it into your round baking dish or onto a baking sheet.
- Preheat the oven to 350. Cover your star with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel and let it rise again in your warm spot, this time only for 30 minutes. Once it is done rising, place it in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
- While the Cinnamon Star Bread is baking, make the cream cheese frosting by using an electric hand mixer to mix together the softened butter, powdered sugar, and cream cheese together. Allow the cinnamon star bread to cool and spread the icing over top. Serve warm and enjoy!
Paul Basilone says
This lasted about 5 minutes with my coworkers