Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls

I love making simple holiday treats for my kids, especially ones that don’t require a lot of extra effort.

I keep things very realistic over here — I’m talking canned dough, store-bought icing, and tiny tweaks that make everyday food feel special.

That’s exactly what these Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls are.

Let’s be honest: they’re just canned cinnamon rolls.
But add a fun shape, a little green food coloring, and some festive sprinkles — and suddenly they feel magical.

My kids are picky eaters, and this kind of fun presentation is way more likely to be a hit than anything fancy. Plus, they love helping shape and decorate them.

How to Make Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls

Here’s how to make them!

Supplies to Make:

• Canned cinnamon roll dough
• Green food coloring
• Butter knife
• Small bowl & spoon (to mix icing)
• Optional: Christmas sprinkles

NOTE: Pilsbury brand cinnamon rolls DO NOT UNROLL! Pick another brand. Every single store brand I have ever tried unrolls. It pays to be cheap in this case!

STEP 1: Preheat

Preheat the oven according to the instructions on your can of cinnamon rolls.
Pay attention to the different temperatures and bake times depending on whether you’re using a non-stick pan or spacing the rolls apart.

STEP 2: Roll

Open the can of dough, separate the rolls, and lay them out on a lined baking sheet.

STEP 3: Shape

Unroll each cinnamon roll.

Starting at one end, roll the dough back and forth in a zig-zag shape to form a Christmas tree silhouette — wider at the bottom and narrower at the top.

Use your fingers to gently adjust the shape and create a small trunk at the bottom if you’d like.

STEP 4: Bake

Bake according to the package instructions.
For us, this was about 8 minutes at 400 degrees, but always follow the directions on your dough.

TIP: About halfway through baking, you can take the rolls out and gently re-shape the edges if they’ve spread a bit.

STEP 5: Mix Icing

While the rolls bake, add the icing from the package to a small bowl.
Mix in 2–3 drops of green food coloring and stir until fully combined.

STEP 6: Frost + Decorate

Once baked and slightly cooled, spread the green icing over each Christmas tree cinnamon roll.

If the icing won't spread easily, heat it in the microwave for 10 seconds!

Add Christmas sprinkles if desired — this is the kids’ favorite part!

Serve warm and enjoy!

These Christmas Tree Cinnamon Rolls are such an easy way to make a regular morning feel festive — perfect for Christmas Eve, Christmas morning, or any day during December.

And the best part?
You can use this same idea for any holiday — just change the shape, color the icing, and swap the sprinkles.

Simple, sweet, and full of holiday magic!