If you’re a fan of Cinnabon, you know how delicious their cinnamon rolls can be. But did you know that you can make your own (perhaps even better) version at home? With this Cinnabon copycat recipe, you’ll be able to recreate the classic cinnamon roll flavor in your own kitchen. This recipe is perfect for anyone who loves the taste of Cinnabon but wants to make their own homemade version. Plus, fresh out of the oven fluffy, soft, cinnamon rolls just cannot be beat!
Why Make a Cinnabon Copycat Recipe?
If the phrase “ooey gooey cinnamon rolls slathered in cream cheese frosting” doesn’t convince you, here are some reasons I love to make these at home versus going to a Cinnabon shop to get them. Firstly, it’s a fun and rewarding baking project that will make your house smell amazing! Secondly, you can customize the recipe to suit your preferences, whether that means adding extra cinnamon, adding in pecans, or reducing the amount of sugar in the frosting. Finally, making your own cinnamon rolls at home is often cheaper than buying them from a bakery, and you’ll be able to enjoy them fresh out of the oven. I might even go as far as to say that these cinnamon rolls may even be BETTER than what you can get at Cinnabon.
The Ingredients You’ll Need
To make these delicious cinnamon rolls, you’ll need a few key ingredients:
- Milk
- Butter
- Sugar
- Active dry yeast
- Eggs
- All purpose flour
- Salt
- Cinnamon
- Brown sugar
- Nutmeg
- Cream cheese
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
Tips for Making the Best Cinnabon Copycat Recipe
If you want to make the best cinnabon copycat recipe possible, there are a few tips you should keep in mind:
Use High-Quality Ingredients
The quality of your ingredients will directly impact the flavor and texture of your cinnamon rolls. Use fresh, high-quality ingredients wherever possible, including flour, butter, and cinnamon. Don’t skimp on the cream cheese for the frosting, either!
Follow the Recipe Carefully
Cinnamon roll dough can be temperamental, so it’s important to follow the recipe carefully. Make sure you measure your ingredients accurately and follow the instructions for kneading the dough. Don’t rush the rising process, either – give your dough plenty of time to rise in a warm, draft-free spot.
Get Creative with the Frosting
While cream cheese frosting is the traditional choice for cinnamon rolls, you can get creative with your toppings. Try adding a drizzle of caramel sauce or a sprinkle of chopped nuts for added texture and flavor. Frosting is much easier to experiment with than the dough.
Variations on the Cinnabon Copycat Recipe
While the classic cinnabon copycat recipe is always a winner, there are a few variations you might want to try:
Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
For a decadent twist on the classic cinnamon roll, try adding chopped pecans and a drizzle of caramel sauce to the filling. Top with cream cheese frosting as usual, and enjoy the perfect combination of sweet and nutty flavors.
Orange Cinnamon Rolls
To add a citrusy twist to your cinnamon rolls, try incorporating orange zest into the dough or frosting. You can also add a splash of orange juice to the frosting for added tanginess.
Cinnabon Copycat Recipe Video
Cinnabon Copycat Recipe
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 1 cup milk scalded
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
- 2 eggs
- 4.5 cups flour divided
- 1 tbsp salt
Filling Ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted or softened
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 1/2 tbsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
Cream cheese frosting ingredients
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1/2 cup cream cheese
- 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 2 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Make the dough:
- Scald the milk by bringing the milk to a boil in a small saucepan. As soon as it’s at a boil, remove from heat.
- Add butter to a bowl and pour scalding milk over it.
- Mix with an electric mixer until butter is melted completely, then add the sugar.
- Add ½ cup of the flour. Mix until the temperature is close to room temperature or lukewarm.
- Stir in the yeast and let sit for approximately 10 minutes until it forms a foamy layer on top.
- Slowly add eggs, salt, and remaining flour into the dough mix and knead by hand or with a bread mixer until smooth. Continue kneading until dough stretches (about 10 minutes with a mixer).
- Cover the bowl for about 60-90 minutes until it doubles in size.
Make the filling:
- Mix ingredients for the filling (butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg) and keep at room temperature.
- When the dough has doubled in size, flour a surface and stretch the dough out, folding into thirds and pressing flat into a rectangle.
- Use a rolling pin to flatten into a 16×20 rectangle.
- Spread the cinnamon filling over the dough.
- Roll the cinnamon rolls up on the long edge and cut the log into 12 rolls.
- Place rolls onto a lined and greased baking dish and let rise for 20-30 minutes while preheating the oven.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes.
Make the frosting:
- Beat the butter, cream cheese, vanilla, and powdered sugar until smooth.
- When the rolls come out, glaze with half the frosting so it melts and soaks into the bread.
- Wait until rolls are cooled, about 10 more minutes, and add the other half of the frosting.
These are the bomb!