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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.
how hot should the milk be?
Hi Blaise,
The milk should be warm:) Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
Hello! I’m making this now and my dough doesn’t seem to be rising much, if at all. Anything I can do? Thanks!
I’m having the same issue – I wonder if the yeast, milk and honey step needs to be added in a particular order?
Hi Mike,
What kind of yeast did you use? Was your milk too hot or too cold? Let me know if I can help! xTieghan
Mike did you figure it out? I tried several batches and never got it to work quite right. I wonder if sugar would work better than honey?
Make sure your milk is between 105 and 110°F?
Hi Erica,
Sorry to hear this. What kind of yeast did you use? I would let it sit a little longer. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I used a new container of active dry yeast. It did activate well, but the dough just never rose much (I tried both GF and regular flour.) I’ve got my 4th attempt in the oven now, I’m hoping it turns out!
Merry Christmas!
Let me know how it goes!
Can you make the dough overnight? I’d like to make this Christmas morning, but I don’t have time to do all of the recipe at once. Thanks!
Hi Ally,
You bet! just allow it to come to room temp before baking. I hope you love the recipe and Merry Christmas! xTieghan
Alley, Thanks for asking this question!! I was thinking of doing the same. I am going to make this tonight! Merry Christmas!!
Same!!!
I believe in another one of her bread recipes you can refrigerate overnight after the second rising. Let it sit out at room temperature 30 mins before baking. This is what I’m going to do.
Hi there!
What can you do if you don’t have a standing mixer for the dough? mix by hand?
Hi Michael,
You can mix with a wooden spoon and knead by hand. I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Great recipe. Was a hit with the whole family.
Hey there,
Fantastic! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Happy New Year!? xxT
How big should the size of the tube pan be?
Hi Eve,
You will want to use at least a 10 inch tube pan. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Do you think this can be made with pillsbury biscuits to make easier?
Hi Annie,
I probably wouldn’t recommend that for this recipe. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This looks amazing, I have a child with an egg allergy but would love to make something like this! Is there any way to tweak this recipe so that it could be made without eggs? Thoughts?
Hi MJ,
Sorry, I have not tested this without the egg, but you could try using an egg substitute like chia or flax eggs. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
Yum! This looks great! Any tips for making part or most the night before so it is easier to get out Christmas morning??
Hi Krystal,
Yes, you can bake up until baking, keep covered in the fridge, remove the morning of and bake once it comes to room temp. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Can you make the dough overnight? I’d like to make this Christmas morning, but I don’t have time to do all of the recipe at once. Thanks!
Hey Ally,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
hi! can i use almond milk?
Hi Gina,
Yes, almond milk will work well here. I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can rapid rise instant yeast be used instead of active dry yeast?
Hi Mary,
You bet! Just mix that in with the flour and follow the recipe as is. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the dish! xTieghan
This was amazing and I want to make it again to bring to my parent’s house for Christmas. Is it OK to bring this while it’s in the final stage before baking? It’s a 2 hour drive!
Hi Stephanie,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Yes, that will be just fine to do! Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
All I can say, if you’re hesitant to make it…make it! It’s delicious! Don’t worry about what your “books” look like, mine were pretty funny. However it baked perfectly. My kids loved it! They added a little whipped cream on top of the their warm cinnamon pull apart and devoured it.
Hi Shawn,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
All I can say, if you’re hesitant to make it…make it! It’s delicious! Don’t worry about what your “books” look like, mine were pretty funny. However it baked perfectly. My kids loved it! They added a little whipped cream on top of the their warm cinnamon pull apart and devoured it.
Hey Shawn,
Awesome! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it. Happy Holidays!❄️ xT
Hi!
How long should cook time be for baking this recipe in two loaf pans?
Thank you so much for sharing all of your creativity. I am really enjoying it!
Hi Sarah,
I would follow the baking time as is. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try! xTieghan
Can you make this receipe ahead of time, like the day before?
Hi Christine,
You bet, you could assemble up until baking, keep in the fridge, then bring out the morning of baking. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan