Let’s Make a Cinnamon Walnut Wreath to Share

Cinnamon Walnut Wreath with Enriched Sweet Dough

Making a cinnamon walnut wreath may seem daunting but with my easy-to-follow instructions, you will be on your way! The beautiful cinnamon walnut wreath makes a perfect addition to Sunday brunch, holiday table, or just a special treat for family, friends or coworkers.

This Looks so Hard to Make! Is it?

I design all my recipes to be step-by-step so even the most novice baker can find success. So, no, it is not hard, just follow the recipe and tips provided and you will have a beautiful sweet bread to serve. Check out this time lapse video for a preview.

What Does the Cinnamon Walnut Wreath Taste Like?

A cinnamon walnut wreath is similar in flavor to cinnamon rolls. However, the addition of nuts and a simple icing drizzle makes for a more refined nutty flavor without all the heaviness or extreme sweetness of a cinnamon roll. Also, the size and shape of the wreath make it a perfect treat to share. Just cut off as much or as little as you like rather than the typical large and bulky cinnamon roll.

How To Serve the Cinnamon Walnut Wreath?

The cinnamon walnut wreath is perfect for serving a small gathering. If sliced in small pieces, it could serve up to eight people (or six large pieces). It’s best to keep the wreath whole for presentation and slice right before you serve it. The wreath is ready to serve right from the oven, however, after cooling for 20 minutes, you can drizzle it with a decorative icing drizzle. I do not suggest you skip this step, as it adds to the overall appearance and taste of the wreath.

Are There Any Special Ingredients in the Cinnamon Walnut Wreath?

The wreath is made from an enriched sweet dough, just follow the link to find the recipe. The dough is fairly easy to prepare with pantry staples. The recipe link includes step-by-step instructions with photos so even a novice bread baker can feel confident.

Enriched Sweet Dough

This is a recipe and instructions for an enriched sweet dough used for a variety of sweet breads. It makes about 850 grams of dough. Enough for two loaves of bread or a dozen decorative pastries.

Check out this recipe

There are a few additional pantry staples needed to prepare the wreath, including walnuts, cinnamon, and brown sugar. However, if you want to add something special, you could use fresh squeezed orange juice, lemon juice, or a few teaspoons of rose water/orange blossom water to make the icing drizzle for added pizzaz. If you do not have any of those, no worries, just use a few drops milk or water to make the icing.

This recipe deserves a short discussion about cinnamon. Cinnamon does lose its potent flavor after sitting open for 6 months or longer. I suggest investing in a high quality cinnamon. If you do not use it often, only buy a small bottle so it does not lose its potency. Only have a generic grocery brand at your disposal? No worries, just make it a fresh bottle. The flavor is so much better when fresh.

New to Bread Baking?

If you are new to bread baking, take a few minutes to read through my article on the 12 Steps of Bread Baking. It discusses the steps used by professional bakers around the world to achieve consistently perfect bread. It will help you on your journey to becoming the best bread baker possible.

Sharing is Caring

As always, I wish you to give bread baking a go. Try your hand at making this Cinnamon Walnut Wreath then share it with someone you care about, a friend, a coworker, a neighbor, or family member. Nothing says love like a home-baked goodie! So Bake One Share One today, help me create a world where my vision comes true: Great Bread For All!  Please take a moment to comment below or share on social media and tag @christinasbreadbakes, I love to see your creations! Happy baking, Bread Bakers, from your friends here at breadbakes.com.

Cinnamon Walnut Wreath with Enriched Sweet Dough

Christina

This is a recipe for a Cinnamon Walnut Wreath that uses my recipe for Enriched Sweet Dough, Follow the link to find that recipe. The enriched sweet dough recipe makes enough for two Cinnamon Walnut Wreaths. These wreaths make lovely centerpieces for breakfast, brunch, afternoon tea, or holiday meal.

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 20 minutes mins

Cook Time 30 minutes mins

Proofing Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr 35 minutes mins

Course afternoon tea, Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine American

Servings 2 Wreaths

Equipment

• 1 Rolling Pin
• 1 Bench Scraper (or knife)
• 1 Spatula or Spoon to spread butter
• 1 Half Sheet Baking Tray
• Parchment Paper to line baking tray

Ingredients

  

Wreath

• 1 Recipe of Enriched Sweet Dough (full recipe makes two wreaths) find recipe at www.breadbakes.com/enriched-sweet-dough/
• 110 grams Light Brown Sugar ½ cup, packed
• 65 grams Walnuts finely chopped
• 1 tsp Cinnamon ground
• ¼ tsp Sea Salt
• 2 T Butter softened

Icing

• 125 grams Icing Sugar (powdered sugar)
• 2.5 tsp Milk (can substitute juice, water, orange blossom water, etc.)
• ¼ tsp Vanilla Extract (optional)

Instructions

 

Enriched Sweet Dough

• Make one recipe of Enriched Sweet Dough
  

Cinnamon Walnut Wreath

• Divide the enriched sweet dough into two portions. Form the two portions into loose dough balls, cover, and allow to rest for ten minutes.
  
• While dough is resting, mix chopped walnuts, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together.
  
• Roll one dough ball out into a 14" x 14" (35 cm x 35 cm) square. See video above in post for a time-lapse of how to form the wreath.
  
• Spread 2 T of softened butter over the rolled dough, avoiding the top 1" (2cm) but to buttering to three other edges.
  
• Sprinkle the cinnamon/walnut mixture evenly over the butter. Gently press it down.
  
• Moisten the unbuttered top edge with water.
• Roll up the dough, pulling and tightening it until you finish at the moistened edge.
  
• Pinch the seam closed.
  
• Turn the roll over so the seam is underneath.
• Curve the ends of the seam around until they meet and form a circle.
  
• Place one end inside the other and pinch the seams together, moistening slightly with water to ensure a good seal.
• Place the circle onto a piece of parchment paper and on to a baking tray.
• Using a bench scraper or knife, cut the roll 3/4 of the way through at the 12, 3, 6, and 9 position.
  
• Then cut each section twice more. Be very careful not to cut the roll in half.
  
• Pull each cut section slightly outwards, then turn it on it's side to expose the cinnamon roll center. Turn all subsequent sections the same way.
  
• Cover with plastic wrap and set aside to proof.
• Repeat with second dough piece.
• Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
• When wreaths have finished proofing (doubled in size and should be quite puffy), give them an egg wash and place in preheated oven.
  
• Bake wreaths for 25-30 minutes until golden brown and the cinnamon center is bubbly/melted.
  
• Remove dough wreath immediately to a cooling rack so the melted cinnamon sugar does not stick to the tray.
• Mix the icing sugar, milk and vanilla (if using) until smooth.
  
• When the wreath has cooled (20-30 minutes), drizzle with the topping.
  
• Serve.
• Store leftover wreath tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. Warm in a microwave for 30 seconds before serving.

Keyword bread crown, bread wreath, breakfast bread, cinnamon bread, cinnamon walnut bread, enriched sweet dough, sweet bread, sweet bun, sweet roll