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This festive Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Wreath is light, soft, extra sweet, cinnamony, and SO delicious. It even has a bit of melted chocolate. Serve this right out of the oven while the bread is still sticky and warm. This bread is melt in your mouth good…and oh so impressive. It’s also simpler than you’d think to make. Plus, it’s always a crowd pleaser during the holidays.
I had a perfectly good and very delicious recipe all set and ready to go for today, but…it just didn’t feel like the right recipe for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
So I changed things around and here we are with this pretty and oh so festive cinnamon sugar wreath. What’s the right recipe for the Tuesday before Thanksgiving? Who know, but this feels good to me!
It’s sweet, cinnamony, and extra delicious. It makes a yummy breakfast or dessert. It will of course be great for Thanksgiving morning (maybe while enjoying the Macy’s Day Parade?). But it’s equally awesome for the entire month of December.
I know this bread might look like it takes hours to make, but trust me, it’s really pretty simple. I used my favorite base brioche dough, so it’s really light and soft. You’ll roll the dough out with cinnamon sugar, cut it into squares, and arrange it in a tube pan.
What’s great about this pull apart bread is that while it’s a nice addition to your holiday brunch or dessert table, it also works as an afternoon snack that people can enjoy after coming in from the cold. It’s always nice to have something for people to graze on while chatting away.
The dough is the simplest to make. Simply mix the yeast with warm milk and a small touch of honey. It’s important to let that mix sit for a few minutes to allow the yeast to “activate”.
Next, add the butter, eggs, flour, and salt. Mix until smooth and let the dough rest until doubled in size. Then it’s time to assemble.
It’s super simple. I love to use a mix of brown sugar and cinnamon. The brown sugar adds a nice depth of flavor. And the cinnamon adds a nice cozy festive touch.
And of course, there’s the chocolate. You can leave it out, of course, but I think the mini chocolate chips add a little something special.
Once the bread has risen, simply roll the dough out, then spread with butter, and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and chocolate. Cut the dough into squares, then layer the squares, and arrange in a tube pan. If you don’t own a tube pan, I’d recommend dividing the dough between two traditional bread pans. That works great too!
Let the bread rise until it’s puffy on top, then bake. Wonderful smells will waft from your oven…nothing really beats cinnamon sugar baking away.
Here’s the thing, you can’t stress if your unbaked bread dough looks a little crazy. Know that the layers of dough do not need to be perfect…just bake the bread. As soon as you pull this out of the oven you’ll be impressed. And no matter what, it’s going to be delicious.
The most important thing you must do? Serve the bread while it’s still warm and sticky and the chocolate is melty.
Very few things are more delicious. I’m already excited to bake this again…and I’ve made it five times in a three day span. Sooo, I will wait until the family shows up later in December for Christmas. But I really am excited to share it with the fam!
Looking for other cinnamon recipes? Here are a few ideas:
Cinnamon Knots with Coffee Icing
Easy Fluffy Eggnog Cinnamon Rolls
Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts with Cinnamon Maple Glaze
Vanilla Chai Pumpkin Latte Cupcakes with Cinnamon Brown Sugar Frosting
Lastly, if you make this Chocolate Cinnamon Sugar Pull Apart Wreath be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Hi Tieghan,
What do I do with the leftover chocolate chips? If I use 2 tablespoons for each of the 4 rectangles, I only use half a cup and am left with another half cup of chocolate chips.
Hey Sarah,
Sorry for any confusion, you will want to use the full cup of chocolate chips, so just use 1/4 cup for each rectangle. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Loved this recipe. I must have a smaller bundt pan than most because mine was overflowing, but it was so tasty. Making it again today for family Christmas.
Hey Shelby,
Fantastic! Thank you so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed! Happy Holidays!? xx
Hi there! I don’t have a fancy mixer, will a normal mixer work with this or is there an alternative store bought dough that will work?
Hi Kelsey,
You can just mix with a wooden spoon and knead by hand. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I want to make this for Christmas morning. Can I assemble everything the day before, put it in the refrigerator over night and bake Christmas morning?
Hey Maria,
You bet! just allow the wreath to come to room temp before baking. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
What are your thoughts on making this up until the baking step right before hopping in the car for a 3 hour drive to my in-laws for Christmas? I was thinking I could let it rise in the car and then pop it in the oven once I got there!
Hi Evelyn,
I think that would work well for you! Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
I was wondering the same thing! Can this be made ahead of time?
Hey Sarah,
You bet, make up until the point of baking and cover to keep in the fridge or on the counter depending how far in advance you are making. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
what if I roll this out as a cinnamon rolls?
Hi Teresa,
You could definitely do that! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Do you think this recipe would work with gluten free flour (King Arthur Unbleached All-Purpose Flour?
Hi Brittney,
Yes, that will work well for you. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Hi there! I was curious. Can this bread be made in a a loaf pan? I was thinking of making some for friends to give away in containers.
Hi Ari,
Yes, you will want to use 2 loaf pans. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope it turns out amazing for you! xTieghan
So yummy and pretty straight forward. It was a hit with my friends. I over proved it the second time but it still turned out great.
Hi Shelby,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I am thrilled to hear that it was enjoyed. Happy Holidays! xTieghan
Thanks so much!!
Hi Tieghan,
I’m preparing to make this for a party this week and have a tube pan, but it’s the two-piece kind that separates for angel food cake. (I can’t tell from the photos if yours separates.) Will that be a problem with filling running out? Should I do something to prevent leakage?
Thank you!
Hey Stacey,
That should work just fine for you! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
I tried it – the filling leaked out and the bread ended up dry and lacked flavor. The two-piece tube pan does not work. Just in case anyone else is wondering!
Oh no!! Sorry to hear this!
Looks delish! I’ll be trying this for Christmas brunch! Is there any way to do some of the prep ahead of time?
Hi Ashley,
You can make up until baking, cover and pop in the fridge for the night, allow to warm the next morning and bake. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
How long/how hot would you recommend reheating if I make the whole thing ahead of time? Thank you!!
Hi Rachel,
I wouldn’t:) Once made you will want to serve or just eat at room temp. You could even pop some pieces in the toaster. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
Just made this for a special occasion breakfast and it was SO delicious! I paired it with an egg bake for something satiating with something sweet and it could not have been better!
Hey Alexis,
Happy Sunday! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
1. Can a Bundt pan be used?
2. Can unsalted butter be substituted?
Hi Kari,
Yes, you can use a bundt pan or 2 loaf pans. Yes, you can use unsalted butter, just add 1/4 teaspoon of salt. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Could this be made gluten free and dairy free?
Hi Amy,
Yes, that should work well for you. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan,
Would that bring the total of salt to 3/4 teaspoon? Don’t want to over salt it.
Also if I make this the night before, do I let it rise the second time then refrigerate? Or does the second rise happen in the refrigerator and then leave it come to room temp before baking?
Thank you!
Hi Kari,
I would just do 1/4 teaspoon to avoid over salting:) You will do the second rise after the fridge! xTieghan
So good! A big hit with my mom’s group. I didn’t have mini chocolate chips so I used regular chocolate chips. It made the wreath very chocolate-y and very yummy. My husband thought it was too much, but I disagree. I’ll have to try with mini chocolate chips next time to settle the debate.
Hi Jenna,
Awesome!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! Have the best weekend! xTieghan