Christmas Cinnamon Pies
Source/Author: Mary
This festive cinnamon star is made from soft, layered dough twisted into a beautiful snowflake shape. Warm, buttery, and fragrant with winter spices, it turns any holiday table into something magical the moment it comes out of the oven.
Ingredients:
| • sugar | 90 g |
| • salt | 6 g |
| • vanilla extract | to taste |
| • flour | 580 g |
| • milk | 250 ml |
| • eggs | 3 |
| • flour for rolling | as needed |
| • cinnamon | 10 g |
| • sugar (for syrup) | 1.5 tablespoons |
| • dry yeast (or fresh compressed yeast) | 7 g (21 g) |
| • neutral oil (canola, avocado, etc.) | 30 ml |
| • soft unsalted butter | 40 g |
| • vegetable oil for greasing the dough | 1–2 tablespoons |
| • melted butter (for brushing) | 50 g |
| • sugar for the filling | 60 g |
| • milk for brushing the pies | 2 tablespoons |
| • boiling water | 100 ml |
1. Warm the milk. It should be warm, not hot.
2. Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk.
3. Add 1 tablespoon of sugar and 2 tablespoons of sifted flour to the milk with yeast. Whisk to combine. Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let the sponge rise in a warm place for 20–30 minutes.
4. Separate 2 eggs into yolks and whites.
5. Add 2 tablespoons of milk to the yolks. Mix. Cover and set aside — this is the egg–milk wash for brushing the pies.
6. In a large bowl (or stand mixer bowl), combine the sponge, 1 whole egg, the 2 egg whites, the remaining sugar, salt, and 30 ml of vegetable oil. Gradually add the flour and knead until you get an elastic dough. (If kneading by hand, knead for about 10 minutes after all the flour is added.)
7. Knead the soft butter pieces into the dough.
8. Shape the dough into a ball, grease it lightly with vegetable oil, and place it into a large greased bowl. Cover with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let rise for at least 1 hour, preferably 1.5 hours.
9. Mix 60 g sugar with 10 g cinnamon.
10. Divide the dough into 2 equal parts, then divide each part into 3 pieces. Roll each piece into a ball — you’ll have 6 balls total. Keep them covered so they don’t dry out. Each pie uses 3 dough balls.
11. On a lightly floured surface, roll out one ball into a circle about 5 mm thick. Transfer it to a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon–sugar mixture.
12. Roll out the second ball into a circle of the same diameter. Place it on top of the first circle. Brush with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon–sugar.
13. Roll out the third ball into a circle of the same diameter. Place it on top. Do not brush the top layer.
14. Mark a small circle in the center (using a cutter or glass). From that circle, cut the dough outward to the edge: first into 4 sections, then each section into 2 — you’ll have 8 segments. In each segment, make a slit in the middle, cutting through all layers. Turn each segment inside-out through the slit, then pinch the outer corners together. Twist all segments this way to form a snowflake shape. (Make sure the layers are slightly visible; gently separate them if needed.)
15. Cover the pie with a towel and let it proof in a warm place for 20–30 minutes.
16. Repeat steps 11–15 with the second pie.
17. Preheat the oven to 385°F (195°C).
18. SYRUP. Mix 1.5 tablespoons sugar with vanilla extract and 100 ml boiling water. Stir until the sugar dissolves.
19. Brush the pies with the yolk–milk mixture. Bake in the preheated oven (no convection) on the middle rack for 20–25 minutes, until beautifully golden.
20. Brush the hot pies with the syrup and transfer to a rack to cool completely.
SERVING IDEAS:
- Serve with hot chocolate, mulled wine, spiced tea, or a latte — the cinnamon pairs perfectly.
- Warm a slice for 10–15 seconds — it becomes soft, buttery, and perfect with morning coffee.
- Pair slices with bowls of whipped cream, vanilla yogurt, or mascarpone for dipping.
- Wrap in parchment and twine; it makes a beautiful homemade holiday gift.