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If there’s one thing December needs, it’s this Snowflake Pull-Apart Monkey Bread. If you love cinnamon rolls, then you will absolutely love this cinnamon roll snowflake brunch recipe.
Ingredients
- Warm whole milk
- Instant Dry Yeast
- Honey
- Eggs (3)
- Salted Butter
- All-purpose flour
- Kosher Salt
Filling
- Butter
- Light Brown Sugar
- Cinnamon
Butterscotch Sauce
- Dark Brown Sugar
- Whiskey
- Heavy Cream
- Vanilla Extract
What you will need in the kitchen to get started:
- Mixing bowl
- large bowl
- plastic wrap
- parchment paper
- baking sheet
- 2 inch wide drink glass
- small saucepan
Would love to see some snow here, but since I can’t control the weather, I’m making snowflakes!
It’s weird, by this time of year we always have snow on the ground, and not just a thin layer, but lots of it. I can’t remember a year when we haven’t had piles of snow all over the place by now, so the fact that we have so little snow is weird…and kind of sad. Snow in December is my absolute favorite. Snow in March…April…May? No thanks, but snow in December, yes please. Obviously, there’s not much I can do about the lack of white stuff here in the west, but what I can do…is make deliciously gooey and sweet monkey bread that looks like a giant snowflake. Yup, that I can do.
For real though, how cute is this snowflake monkey bread? I’ve seen these snowflake breads all over my Pinterest page for years now and always thought they were the cutest. It wasn’t until this year that I had the idea to recreate my mom’s butterscotch monkey bread recipe into this festive snowflake. But I’m so glad the idea came to mind, because not only is this bread cute, it’s also incredibly delicious.
Warm, doughy, gooey, extra sweet, and loaded with cinnamon and butterscotch. It’s basically the ultimate Christmas morning breakfast.
Couldn’t love it more.
Now, I know what you guys are thinking, this looks so hard to make. Trust me though, this is not hard to make. I know it looks fancy, but in all honesty, it’s kind of easier than making monkey bread. I mean, it’s not as easy as my mom’s monkey bread, because her recipe doesn’t use homemade dough, or homemade butterscotch sauce and filling, but the process of actually making the snowflake is pretty easy…and fun!
And once you finish? You’ll feel a little proud that you created such a pretty looking bread…
Or at least I did anyway. Hey, I am not a professional pastry baker. I can bake, but making things look extra pretty? Not necessarily my thing.
Point is, even if you think you can’t make this, you can!
I tried to snap a bunch of photos of the twisting process so that you can use those as a guide when making your own bread. I am such a visual person, so at least for me, photos always help.
It’s really just a matter of layering the dough and then twisting. Pretty simple. And even if your snowflake doesn’t end up looking very “snowflake…ish”, don’t worry. All that matters is how the bread tastes, and it’s going to taste great in whatever shape or form.
Think of this snowflake monkey bread like your favorite gooey sticky bun, but instead of in bun form, they’re in cute, pull-apart snowflake form.
If like me you plan to make this for Christmas morning, you can form the snowflake on Christmas Eve, pop it in the fridge and let it sit overnight. In the morning, remove the snowflake from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats, then just bake and eat!
Since I wanted my bread to be extra, extra gooey, like my mom’s monkey bread that we traditionally eat on Christmas morning, I ended up making an extra butterscotch sauce to lightly drizzle over the snowflake. In full disclosure, the butterscotch sauce is totally not needed. The bread is sweet enough on its own, but it’s the holiday’s and let’s be real, while the bread is good enough on its own, it’s better with that additional butterscotch sauce.
And a dusting of confectioners sugar…you know, for the snow effect.
Obviously.
Snowflake Pull-Apart Monkey Bread
Servings: 10 servings
Calories Per Serving: 740 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup warm whole milk
- 1 packet instant dry yeast
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
- 3 1/2-4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg beaten, for brushing before baking
Filling
- 6 tablespoons butter, very warm, but not melted
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
Butterscotch Sauce
- 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons whiskey
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. To make the dough. Combine the milk, yeast, honey, 2 eggs, butter, 3 1/2 cups flour, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Mix on medium speed until the dough comes together and pulls away from the side of the bowl. The dough should be sticky, but if it seems too sticky, add the remaining 1/2 cup flour.2. Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a lightly floured surface. Kneed into a smooth ball. Grease a large bowl and add the dough to the bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let sit 45 minutes-1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.3. Meanwhile, make the filling. Mix the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon to a bowl.4. Lightly dust a surface with flour. Once the dough has doubled in size, punch the dough down and roll into a ball. Cut the dough evenly into 4 pieces and roll each piece out into a 10 inch circle. Place 1 circle on a parchment lined baking sheet with sides. Spread 1/3 of the filling over the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border around the edge. Place another piece of dough on top and spread with 1/3 of the filling. Add the 3rd layer of dough and spread with the remaining filling. Finish with the 4th dough round.5. Place a 2 inch wide drink glass in the center of the dough and use as a guide when cutting the strips. Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 4 triangles, then cut each triangle in half creating 8 triangles. Now cut each triangle in half again to make a total of 16 triangles (see photos above for a guide). 6. Remove the drink glass. Lift the edges of 2 wedges that are next to each other and twist them away from each other twice. Pinch the ends to seal (see photos above for guide). Repeat with the remaining pairs of wedges. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 45 minutes, or let rise overnight in the fridge. 7. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and position a rack in the center. Brush the snowflake with the beaten egg. Bake for 15 minutes, remove from the oven and carefully spoon any sauce that has leaked out of bread back over the bread. Return to the oven and bake another 15 minutes or until golden brown. 8. Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, combine the butter, brown sugar, and heavy cream. Bring to a boil and boil 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the whiskey and vanilla.8. Drizzle the snowflake with butterscotch sauce and dust lightly with confectioners sugar. Eat warm. Enjoy!
The best piece…the one with with extra butterscotch sauce…because it’s Christmas!
PS. have you guys entered my Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer giveaway over on Instagram yet?
This post was originally published on December 12, 2017
I’ve got to try one of these Tieghan! It’s just beautiful and sounds delicious!
Yes! I hope it turns out amazing for you Mary Ann! Thank you!
Oh, Tieghan! You have found the magic ingredients! I have made this star shaped bread with a cinnamon /sugar filling. It’s beautiful, but it needed “something” to make it taste as fabulous as it looks! Butterscotch will be ahhhh-mazing!
It really is rather easy to make, too! It doesn’t matter if each circle,is not exactly the same…the rising evens things out. I’m very anxious to try your recipe! Thank you!
Thank you so much! I am really glad you like this and hope it turns out amazing for you!
I tried this with a pesto, toasted pine nuts, and Parmesan filling tonight. Oh my….!!
Tho, if you try this…use a rimmed sheet! Some pesto dripped off the parchment and I made a mess of my oven! We had some marinara sauce for dipping…hubby declared it a Keeper!
I am so happy you and your husband loved this! Thank you!!
This looks amazing! I am planning on bringing it in for an office holiday party, but I won’t be able to warm it up. If I top it with the sauce the morning of, then sprinkle with sugar right before, think it will be as splendid?
That should be great! If you can warm it up at all, that would be ideal. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂
This looks absolutely amazing and and I wish I had it in front of me right now haha! So delicious!!
Thank you so much Lili!
What an adorable and festive bread Teighan. Adore the sauce and everything about it. It would make a perfect centerpiece for our Christmas table.
xx
Thank you so much Asha! I am so glad you like this!
Can the pull apart snowflake be made with gluten free flour?
I am not sure, I have not tested the recipe with GF flour. If you feel comfortable doing so, go for it! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? 🙂
I don’t see why this couldn’t be made, shaped, and then frozen–to be taken out the day before, thawed and baked in the morning. Has anyone done this? I have done it with many a puff pastry item and yeast rolls. Thoughts?? I am going to make this and possibly eat it by myself while I wait for my college children to wake up on Christmas morning. I think it would pair nicely with champagne as well. Merry Christmas to me!
HI! Yes, you can definitely freeze the shaped bread, then thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as directed. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? ?
PS. LOVE the way you think with the champagne!!
I have cognac on hand and not whiskey… Could it be substituted? Thanks!
Cognac will be great! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? ?
They look delicious, but they also look ummmm, like a lovely circle of a certain, specific anatomy?!?? Hahahaha! Sorry, but I can’t be the only one who sees this???
I do think your brother’s gf Lyndsie would agree!
Hi Ann! There are many things in nature that resemble the human anatomy. I am sorry if you found this offensive, that certainly was not the intent.
Not offended at all! I think it’s hilariously beautiful! Laughter is life! We should all giggle more! Happy Holidays to you!
I am glad! Happy Holidays!
My thoughts *exactly* – I’m glad I’m not the only one!
Teehee!!
I saw it too! I came to read the comments to see if anyone else had the same thoughts.
Do I need to make any adjustments for low altitude, since you are baking at high altitude?
Hi! No, you do not need to make any adjustments. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? ?
Well my goodness, that is showstopping-ly beautiful! Gorgeous.
Thank you!
Tieghan, this bread is so pretty!!
My first thought is that these snowflakes need to be shared! I love doing homemade Christmas gifts – do you think it would be feasible to make up the bread ahead of time, and gift it along with baking instructions and a jar of that (absolutely fabulous-sounding!) butterscotch sauce? Maybe if I made up the snowflakes and then froze them to keep the dough from rising out of control? I work at a school, so I’m thinking these would be the perfect thing for my coworkers to wake up to on the first day of Christmas Break!
I LOVE this idea. So cute! Yes, I would freeze the dough and then gift it frozen if possible. Then you coworkers can let it thaw in the fridge overnight and bake as directed. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? ?
Oh my, what a unique looking bread. I have never seen this done before. Like someone else mentioned I can never get my pizzas or pie crust in a complete circle. How did you do it? This is not only beautiful but looks delicious. Oh yes, I would want to add the sauce to make it more gooey. If I wasn’t doing low carb right now I would have to try this.
Speaking of snow…. We live in North GA and got 7-12 inches this past Fri. and Sat. We have not had this much snow in years. It shocked everyone I think. It was one of the prettiest snows I can remember but ready for it all to be gone.HA!!
Thank you so much Charlotte! I am so glad you like this & hope you get to try it soon!
You’re right, it’s not hard at all! I’ve made it myself 3 years ago, when I was even less experienced in cooking and baking than now.
In case you’re curious, check the link: http://nemehlo-v-kuchyni.blogspot.cz/2014/04/kakaovy-pletenec-daring-bakers.html
I know it under the name Beautiful bread – for a good reason.
This is a crowd pleaser because A) it looks fancy and spectacular; B) it’s delicious! I’ve made a chocolate one, more ‘babka’ style, but every member of our family loved it! And what can I say, they are a picky eaters as yours as well. You can always count on yeast dough and a chocolate filling in our house.
Thank you for reminding me this almost forgotten recipe, I need to take into consideration to make it again. But I have so many others in mind, I cannot decide what to bake first! Too many goodies and so little time..
It is super easy and just looks so nice right?! I love it! I am glad I could remind you of this and hope you enjoy yours at your holiday! It looks super nice on your site! Thank you!
Hi Tieghan!
This recipe looks and sounds amazing! I really want to make it, but can you please tell me how you manage to make all circles equal size like that? Whenever I roll out dough it always turns into an oval, square or misshapen circle, so I can’t even imagine making all 3 the same?
Thanks!
Linda
Haha! Trust me, I totally understand your frustration, I just use a dinner plate as a guide and trimmed away excess to get a better shaped circle. You don’t HAVE to do this, but it will give you a nice circle shape. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe! Happy Holiday’s ? ?