Happy Valentine’s Day, everyone!
On a whim, I decided to try making heart-shaped cinnamon rolls for a fun Valentine’s Day treat. I had no idea if it would work, but I was thrilled with the results. They turned out so cute, I had to share the technique with you even if it’s a bit late to make them for today’s Valentine’s breakfast.
But who says you can only eat heart-shaped food on Valentine’s Day?
You can make heart-shaped rolls from any regular cinnamon roll recipe, but I happen to really like a dough made with buttermilk. I improvised the dough for these rolls from the cinnamon bun recipe in The Bread Baker’s Apprentice. Enjoy!
Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls
4 tablespoons butter (1/2 stick), softened
4 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 egg, at room temperature
2 cups flour (plus extra as needed)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast (or use rapid rise or bread machine yeast)
1/2 cup warm buttermilk (90 – 110 degrees F)
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
Cream butter and sugar using a stand mixer, or in a large mixing bowl with a hand mixer, until light and fluffy; beat in egg. In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, salt, and yeast. Add buttermilk and flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix on low speed until all the flour is incorporated.
If using a stand mixer, switch to the dough hook and knead on medium speed for 6 minutes, adding a bit of flour if necessary to form a very soft dough (will most likely be very sticky and that’s fine). If kneading by hand, scrape dough onto a floured counter top or board and knead, adding only as much flour as necessary to keep dough from sticking, for 8 to 10 minutes. Place dough in an oiled bowl and turn once to coat both sides of dough with oil. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for about an hour and a half.
Gently push dough down to deflate and turn out onto a floured counter top or board. Press dough out into a small rectangle then cover and let rest for ten minutes. Meanwhile, mix together brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. After dough rests, roll it out into a 20″ x 7 ” rectangle. Brush surface of dough with melted butter then sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the dough. Gently press the sugar down into the dough with the palm of your hand.
Starting on a long side, begin rolling the dough towards the center, stopping before reaching the very center. Repeat with other side then roll the two sides together until they meet in the middle. Gently press together.
Slice the rolls into one-inch pieces then transfer to parchment or silpat-lined baking sheets. Shape the pieces into hearts by pinching the bottom of the roll between two fingers.
You should end up with 20 -24 cinnamon rolls, divided between two baking sheets. Cover with greased plastic wrap and let cinnamon rolls rise for 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees during last 15 minutes of rising time.
Bake cinnamon rolls at 350 degrees for a total of 15 minutes (or until lightly browned), rotating sheets from top to bottom halfway through baking time if using two oven racks.
Cream Cheese Glaze
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 ounces butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar (more to taste, if desired)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
splash of milk to thin, if necessary.
Beat together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add vanilla then gradually beat in powdered sugar. Spread glaze on warm cinnamon rolls and serve immediately. You may also thin the glaze with a bit of milk to drizzle over the rolls, or decorate cooled rolls using a piping bag and round tip as shown below.
Those look wonderful, Nicole! I definitely want to try this shaping method–I’m sure my kids will love it. Especially if I add the sprinkles. =)
11:09 am Feb 14th, 2010How clever! And I don’t see why anyone would want to make round cinnamon rolls after seeing these…
11:29 am Feb 14th, 2010So happy to see this post! It’s a darling idea and I especially love the colored sprinkles <3
11:51 am Feb 14th, 2010These are truly adorable. Cinnamon rolls never go out of season. And neither do hearts. Therefore, I’m pretty sure these could be served year-round with no adverse side effects.
I am SO bookmarking them!
12:17 pm Feb 14th, 2010I love your heart-shaped cinnamon rolls! So festive and creative.
12:27 pm Feb 14th, 2010Cute buns! I love the whimsical shape. They turned out beautifully! Once my own buns recover from all the BBA breads I’ll give these a try.
12:34 pm Feb 14th, 2010Those are so cute! What a great idea!
12:39 pm Feb 14th, 2010Very cute! Perfect for Valentine’s Day. I ended up making some heart-shaped pancakes this morning.
12:40 pm Feb 14th, 2010Completely charming. Who wouldn’t love to wake up to a heart-shaped cinnamon roll any time?
1:55 pm Feb 14th, 2010cute!!! love this.
2:37 pm Feb 14th, 2010Absolutely adorable. Totally agree that heart-shaped food shouldn’t be confined to one day a year!
3:04 pm Feb 14th, 2010These are fabulously cute. Such a good idea! I definitely will have to use these as inspiration to make some cinnamon rolls again soon.
4:13 pm Feb 14th, 2010Love these! And it works out great since our Valentine’s Day celebrations are delayed due to some untimely illnesses! We might have to whip these up for our belated brunch celebration! Thanks for being so clever!
4:48 pm Feb 14th, 2010These are really cute!
4:50 pm Feb 14th, 2010Aww so cute! And they look like they’re smiling!
5:39 pm Feb 14th, 2010I love the cinnamon rolls. I recently ordered the book The Bakers Apprentice because of your site and the wonderful breads that were created. Thank you.
6:10 pm Feb 14th, 2010HOW CLEVER… saving this idea!
6:31 pm Feb 14th, 2010They look delicious! I am definitely saving this recipe.
6:36 pm Feb 14th, 2010What a great idea! I’m defiantly trying this one.
6:57 pm Feb 14th, 2010A perfect treat for Valentine’s Day!
7:03 pm Feb 14th, 2010Really adorable idea! Glad they worked out!
7:24 pm Feb 14th, 2010These look fantastic, but I can’t help but seeing the Grinch’s (Who Stole Christmas) face & ears.
7:36 pm Feb 14th, 2010I just love these and will definitely make them! Made apple cinnamon muffins this morning and they are almost gone! Hearts are great all year..I agree!
8:00 pm Feb 14th, 2010Anything cinnamon always works for me!
These are so cute and creative, am glad they turned out so well!
9:19 pm Feb 14th, 2010Those are adorable!!!
9:30 pm Feb 14th, 2010Oh my gosh! That is about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen! I am definitely going to try this next year!
10:06 pm Feb 14th, 2010Good idea. I bet they taste as good as they look.
10:14 pm Feb 14th, 2010those are just too cute for words. love the idea – very creative.
1:31 am Feb 15th, 2010i can’t decide if i’m more impressed with, enamored of, or hungered by your phenomenal rolls! very, very excellent work.
3:35 am Feb 15th, 2010The not only will bring adoration but they taste good too:D
8:34 am Feb 15th, 2010You are so the Queen of adorable edible things!
8:40 am Feb 15th, 2010Love this! Your blog is so wonderful. Thanks for the great photos/ideas.
9:37 am Feb 15th, 2010How sweet is this.. love the idea.. simple and so effective!!
1:57 pm Feb 15th, 2010I can’t help but smile when I look at these. So cute!
3:09 pm Feb 15th, 2010What are a really neat idea, I love cinammon swirls, and these look really tasty, it’s a clever idea to make them into hearts, i’m not sure about using non pareils, I think the white icing alone look better – great blog, thank you.
2:51 am Feb 16th, 2010That is a really cute (and delicious) idea!
5:37 am Feb 16th, 2010Am going to copy it now and make it first chance I get….Valentines Day or not.
I’m catching up on my RSS reader a bit late this week… Even though I missed Valentine’s day I had to leave you a comment to let you know that these are absolutely adorable! I think I’ll save this recipe and make these for my hubs for his birthday or our anniversary!
11:28 am Feb 16th, 2010Cinnamon rolls are the ultimate aphrodisiac for my husband–he would have loved waking up to these on Sunday. Thanks for the idea for next year!
4:15 pm Feb 16th, 2010Such a cute idea and impressive….with a simple trick!
7:50 am Feb 17th, 2010I love it. Only… I wish I’d come up with it. But I will for sure be using this idea for Valentine’s to come!
10:30 am Feb 17th, 2010How cute! I’ve never made homemade cinnamon rolls, but have always wanted to try!
10:47 am Feb 17th, 2010Aw those are precious! And it’s looks so easy to do, I am suprised I haven’t seen more like that. What a special way to start the morning!
7:22 pm Feb 17th, 2010These are adorable! So perfect for v-day.
7:15 pm Feb 19th, 2010I love what you did with the cinnamon rolls! They are so cute!
8:45 pm Feb 19th, 2010Wow, these turned out great. I’m embarrassed to say that I never thought of this. I love shaped foods and own a whole assortment of molds, etc. I make cinnamon rolls fairly regularly and freeze them before baking (now that the kids are all mostly gone). Thanks for a great Idea, and great photos too. BTW, I love your blog. I lurk here often.
7:46 pm Feb 20th, 2010Diane Watkins
these are just FANTASTIC!! prettiest cinnamon rolls ever.
9:46 pm Feb 20th, 2010I wish I’d come up with it. But I will for sure be using this idea for Valentine’s to come!
12:30 am Feb 21st, 2010What a cute idea — they look delicious!
8:10 pm Feb 21st, 2010Double wow. On Twitter, did I see you call yourself a slacker?! Um, slackers don’t take the time to make the cutest heart-shaped cinnamon rolls of all time.
9:29 am Feb 22nd, 2010What an adorable idea! Can’t wait to try this!!
1:23 am Feb 23rd, 2010What a super sweet idea!! They’re adorable and I will be making them for my anniversary this year, and add them to my list of Valentine treats! Thanks!
4:22 pm Feb 23rd, 2010What a great idea! I don’t usually bake but you definitely inspired me to try. I LOVE cinnamon rolls and this looks so delish that I will have to look for that old rolling pin and give it a try. Thank you for sharing.
8:44 am Feb 28th, 2010Mmmm yummy! That looks tasty. Just heard about your blog today and wanted to check it out. I am hungry now.
12:47 pm Mar 1st, 2010I was going through all of the sites that are going to be in the 55knives book and stumbled across yours. Those cinnamon rolls look delicious!!
12:27 pm Mar 2nd, 2010[...] PINCH MY SALT is the provider of my two recent recipes, this one and the feta turnovers. Both were “nommm nommm” lol. So here’s my revised recipe/directions list if you decide to make some for yourself (and others of course). [...]
12:54 am Mar 6th, 2010They look really great and I love the idea of adding buttermilk
10:31 am Mar 6th, 2010iza:)
I will definitely try this, since I love cinnamon rolls, and this is something that you can do even when the Valentine’s season is over, just play up with other shapes and designs!
7:23 pm Mar 13th, 2010Nicole, these immediately made think “Dr. Seuss”! I’m sure they were fantastic!
9:49 am Mar 16th, 2010That’s right, heart-shaped food should not be reserved only for V-day. Something this lovely would be a great treat any day.
5:35 am Mar 30th, 2010I love cinnamon rolls and I often make them but I have never thought I could make such nice hearts! And the decorations are so cute. Next time I am going to try it this way.
2:22 am Apr 22nd, 2010These buns are delightful; I made them recently, and they were perfect! Thank you for such a great, easy to follow and accessible recipe! Pastries are usually a little temperamental, but there were perfect, and delicious!
(As indeed was your Red Velvet Cake recipe, which I made last tear. Everyone looked at me like I was mad, but it was a great hit in the end!)
Esther. xx
3:54 am May 6th, 2010I absolutely love this! I want to make these for no reason right away!
3:22 pm May 12th, 2010Brilliant! I am SO making these this weekend! I adore cinnamon rolls but all too often I shy away from making a batch because I know that I’m committed to a full tray of BIG rolls. Often times they feel like a full meal. With these I’d be inclined to pop them in the freezer and pull a few out when we fancy one without worrying about polishing off an entire tray of big rolls. One of the best ideas I’ve seen in a looong time. Thanks so much!
12:43 pm Jun 2nd, 2010thats great and lovely tastey rollet
3:04 am Sep 19th, 2010tanks for your education and i get highe like british airways
[...] February: Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls [...]
7:50 am Jan 1st, 2011Hi! I suppose I recently found this post from a link on another blog (sorry I don’t remember which one). I really like this recipe, but curious about how on earth they can be made fresh and ready first thing in the morning… short of getting up at 4:00am. Any ideas?
thanks!
8:48 pm Feb 8th, 2011[...] I’m breaking out the baking skills and making these Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls inspired by Pinch My Salt. I’ll let you know how it [...]
7:44 pm Feb 10th, 2011[...] 2 of Love Week was a success with my Mr. He loved these Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls inspired by Pinch My Salt, but they were quite an adventure to [...]
8:07 pm Feb 11th, 2011[...] Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls [...]
2:26 pm Feb 28th, 2011What an incredibly fun idea! Can’t wait to make them.
I’ll be featuring them today, thanks for sharing the tutorial!
8:09 am Jan 17th, 2012[...] You can make just about any food heart-shaped, but nothing tastes and smells as good as fresh baked cinnamon rolls. To speed things up, try buying frozen pre-made bread dough or preparing the dough the night before. Don’t limit these rolls to just Valentine’s day. Baking them for anniversaries and birthdays works just as well. Find the recipe and how-to at PinchMySalt.com. [...]
8:04 pm Jan 17th, 2012great idea, glad to find it this year even if it was too late in 2010!
9:18 pm Jan 27th, 2012Hey LOVE this idea! It’s going on my blog. Thanks for the inspiration!!
1:44 pm Feb 5th, 2012[...] “Heart Shaped Cinnamon Rolls” – Source: Pinch My Salt [...]
4:20 pm Feb 6th, 2012[...] Heart cinnamon rolls from Pinch My Salt No TweetBacks yet. (Be the first to Tweet this post) Filed Under: Uncategorized sr_widget_id = 2000000034272; sr_widget_width = 300; sr_widget_height = 250; [...]
8:55 pm Feb 8th, 2012[...] Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls [...]
11:26 am Feb 12th, 2012Hi Nicole,
11:57 am Feb 14th, 2012Thanks for re-posting this idea this year. I made them for an after-school snack for my kids. FYI, I tried adding pink sanding sugar to the filling. It melted and turned the cinnamon goo pink! It was a fun surprise for Valentines Day