An Easter-ready twist on classic cinnamon rolls.
Cinna-Bunnies
Chef Bethany Michaels
12
2 hours
20 minutes
Breakfast
An Easter-ready twist on classic cinnamon rolls.
These soft, spiced rolls skip the cream cheese and lean into warm spring flavors with a touch of cardamom. They're shaped to spread out more like bunnies on a tray—so we skip the cream before baking—but they're every bit as tender and sweet. Perfect for Easter morning or a cozy spring brunch.
Inspired by Living Sky Grains's delicious Cinnamon Roll recipe
Ingredients
Dough
- ¼ oz active yeast (1 tbsp)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ cup white sugar
- 1 cup warm milk (105–110°F)
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups Living Sky Grains White Ultra-Fine Whole Wheat Flour
- 1/3 cup melted butter
Filling
- 1 cup brown sugar
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp ground cardamom ← our springy upgrade
Icing (no cream cheese)
- ½ cup butter, softened
- 1/8 tsp salt
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- Milk, added slowly until smooth and fluffy (Note: If you're making regular cinnamon rolls, feel free to pour ½ cup room temp cream over the rolls before baking. But for these bunnies—skip it.)
Tools
- Hestan Stainless Steel Roaster
- Staub Ceramic Baking Pan
- Mixing Bowl
- Whisk
Directions
Make the Dough. Add all dough ingredients to your bread machine (dough setting), or mix and knead by hand until smooth. Let rise 1 hour or until doubled.
Roll & Fill. Roll dough into a 21" x 16" rectangle (¼" thick). Spread butter over the surface, then sprinkle with the cinnamon–cardamom sugar mix. Roll tightly from the long edge. Slice into 12 pieces.
A tip for success: when rolling it out, thinner is better: 1/4 in thick or less. Rolling a thinner/bigger rectangle is better so as to have a bit longer thinner strips for shaping the bunny ears and still have a decent swirl in the bunny face.
Shape & Rise. Place rolls on a parchment-lined tray, spaced slightly apart for a more “bunny-shaped” look. Let rise again until puffy, about 30–45 minutes.
Bake. Preheat to 375°F. Bake for 20–22 minutes until golden and fluffy.
Ice. Beat icing ingredients until smooth and fluffy. Add milk a splash at a time to get your desired consistency. Ice generously while warm.
Make Ahead Tip: Shape the rolls and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, bake as usual (no cream needed for these spread-out cuties).