easy heart shaped cinnamon rolls for Valetine's Day

So before we get started I have to tell you a funny story. As I was working on today’s recipe (these adorable heart shaped cinnamon rolls) I tried out a couple variations, which means we ended up with a gazillion cinnamon rolls.

After I got them all photographed and let the kids each eat one I suggested that we put the rest on a plate and take them to a neighbor. One of my kids said, “Well, mom, since these aren’t from scratch I’m not sure they’re actually good enough to give away to neighbors…” and I got worried maybe they didn’t taste that great…until I realized my scheming child just wanted to make sure that not one cinnamon roll left our home to be eaten elsewhere 🙂

Heart-Shaped Cinnamon Rolls - the cutest and best cinnamon rolls ever, made into heart shape and stuffed with red cherries. So adorable!

Valentine’s Day is coming up in less than 10 days and I am sure you love birds are looking for creative ideas to make for the special day.

I have the perfect recipe for you; check out these cutest, most romantic and the best cinnamon rolls recipe ever, stuffed with red cherries!

These are the only kind of refrigerated cinnamon rolls that are actually a roll of dough that you can unwind and shape. The other ones are just little hockey pucks of dough. We actually tried making hearts with them and it just doesn’t work. So go with the Grands (although I did also try my store brand’s version and it worked perfectly!).

Grands have 5 big cinnamon rolls; I cut each one in half and made 10 hearts. Place the hearts on a lightly greased cookie sheet and back at 350 degrees until lightly golden brown:

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup milk
• 1/3 cup butter
• 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 packet active quick rise yeast
• 1 large egg
• 4 tablespoons butter melted
• 3/4 c brown sugar packed
• 2 tablespoons cinnamon
• Maraschino cherry
• Powdered sugar

Instructions

1. In a saucepan over medium heat, add the milk and butter. Stir until melted & remove from heat.
2. In a mixing bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups flour, sugar, salt. Add the yeast and the milk mixture. Stir to combine well, then add the egg and mix well.
3. Using the dough hook attachment on your mixer, knead while slowly adding in 1 cup of flour until the dough forms a ball & pulls away from the edges of the bowl. You can also knead by hand.
4. Let the dough rest for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350F.
5. On a floured surface, roll out the dough into a rectangle. Spread melted butter on top. Combine cinnamon and sugar, then sprinkle the mixture on top of the dough.
6. Cut the dough into 10 strips and make each strip into a heart shape. Transfer the cinnamon roll onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Cover the rolls with a damp towel and allow to rise 25 minutes.
7. Place a cherry into each cinnamon roll. Bake 10-12 minutes, or until slightly golden. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm.