The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe
Prepare to fall in love with The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies—a delightful twist on your favorite classic pastry, baked into a soft, buttery cookie form. With tender spirals of cinnamon sugar and a sweet vanilla glaze, every bite captures the essence of a fresh cinnamon roll, but in a convenient, shareable cookie. These beauties are perfect for holiday trays, afternoon treats, or just satisfying that cinnamon craving any time of year!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The magic of The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies starts with a handful of simple, everyday ingredients. Each one is handpicked to deliver that signature soft, chewy texture and the swirled flavors you know and love. Don’t skip or substitute—every piece plays a starring role!
- All-purpose flour: This essential base gives your cookie dough the structure it needs for perfect spirals.
- Baking powder: Lifts the dough ever so slightly for a tender bite.
- Salt: Balances out the sweetness and enhances all the warm notes.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Creamy, rich fat makes the cookies irresistibly tender—room temperature is key for an easy blend.
- Granulated sugar: Keeps things classic and guarantees a sweet, crisp edge that bakes up just right.
- Large egg: Binds the dough, adding richness and chew.
- Vanilla extract: Rounds out the flavors and adds depth to both cookie and glaze.
- Brown sugar (packed): Brings a deeper, molasses sweetness and that iconic cinnamon roll gooeyness.
- Ground cinnamon: The star of the show—choose the freshest you can for bold, aromatic swirls.
- Unsalted butter (melted): Helps the cinnamon sugar filling stick and keeps those centers soft and decadent.
- Powdered sugar: The dreamy, sweet foundation for your silky drizzle on top.
- Milk: Just enough to create a pourable, glossy glaze.
- Vanilla extract: (Yes, again!) Gives that finishing flavor in the glaze that ties everything together.
How to Make The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Step 1: Make the Dough
Start by whisking together your flour, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl—this helps ensure your baking powder is evenly distributed for an even lift. In a separate large mixing bowl, cream softened butter with granulated sugar until it looks light and fluffy. This important step traps air and gives your cookies that perfect soft-but-structured bite! Beat in the egg and vanilla extract, then slowly work in the dry ingredients until a soft, smooth dough comes together.
Step 2: Chill the Dough
Divide your dough in half and wrap each portion snugly in plastic wrap. Let it chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. This not only makes the dough easier to handle but also helps the cookies hold their pretty swirled shapes during slicing and baking.
Step 3: Roll, Fill, and Shape
Dust your counter lightly with flour and roll out one dough half into a neat rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Brush the surface with melted butter, then generously shower it with your brown sugar and cinnamon mixture. The aroma alone is pure heaven! Roll up the dough from the long side into a tight log, sealing in all that cinnamon swirl magic. Repeat with the second half. Wrap both logs and return them to the fridge for at least 1 hour to firm up—this step is crucial for those Instagram-worthy spirals.
Step 4: Slice and Bake
When the dough logs are firm, use a sharp knife to cut them into 1/4-inch thick rounds. Arrange your cookies about 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets—they do spread a touch. Bake in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges just turn golden. This helps keep the centers soft while giving the outside a gentle crisp.
Step 5: Glaze and Enjoy
Let the cookies cool completely on a wire rack. For the finishing touch, mix up a simple glaze with powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until it’s smooth and pourable. Drizzle liberally over the cooled cookies and let it set for a few minutes… or devour them right away if you can’t resist. That sweet vanilla finish is the ultimate signature of The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies!
How to Serve The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Garnishes
For an eye-catching finish and a pop of flavor, try a light dusting of extra cinnamon or a sprinkling of finely chopped toasted pecans over your glazed cookies. A little orange zest or even a tiny pinch of sea salt can be just the thing to elevate The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies to bakery-worthy treats.
Side Dishes
These cookies shine next to a steaming mug of coffee, chai, or classic hot cocoa. If you’re serving them as part of a dessert spread, pair with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or fresh fruit salad for a balanced and utterly inviting treat.
Creative Ways to Present
Package up a stack of The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies in a festive box with a ribbon for the sweetest homemade gift. Or, arrange them in a spiral pattern on a platter and drizzle the glaze at the table for extra drama. For parties, pop each cookie in a mini cupcake liner for easy, elegant serving.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you somehow have leftovers, keep The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days. They stay soft and swirl-y, perfect for surprise snack cravings or lunchbox treats.
Freezing
The dough logs freeze beautifully! Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil, and freeze for up to 2 months. When you’re ready, simply thaw overnight in the fridge, slice, and bake. You can also freeze baked (unglazed) cookies and glaze them just before serving for that freshly-baked look and taste.
Reheating
While these cookies are wonderful at room temperature, a few seconds in the microwave (about 8-10 seconds) will revive their fresh-baked warmth and make the glaze just a little gooey—just like a cinnamon roll straight from the oven.
FAQs
Can I add nuts or raisins to the filling?
Absolutely! Chopped pecans or walnuts, or even a handful of plump raisins, can be rolled into the dough for a lovely textural twist. Just make sure to chop nuts finely so the roll slices cleanly.
How do I keep the swirl from unraveling when slicing?
The key is to chill the dough logs until they’re very firm. Use a sharp, serrated knife to gently slice without pressing too hard. If your dough gets soft, just pop it back in the fridge for a few minutes!
Can I make The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies gluten-free?
Yes, you can! Substitute your favorite cup-for-cup gluten-free flour blend—just make sure it contains xanthan gum or add a teaspoon if not, to help with texture and binding.
Is it possible to double the recipe for a larger crowd?
Definitely! The recipe scales up beautifully. Just be sure to divide the dough into more logs for easier rolling and chilling, and you’ll have plenty of The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies to share.
What’s the best way to package these cookies as a gift?
Let the glaze set fully, then layer cookies between sheets of parchment in a bakery box or tin. A little ribbon or a handwritten tag makes these irresistible as holiday or thank-you treats.
Final Thoughts
The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies are truly the best of both worlds—warm cinnamon swirls and nostalgic cookie softness, all in one delicious bite. Bring a batch to your next gathering, tuck a few in your lunch bag, or surprise a friend and watch these sweet spirals disappear. You owe it to yourself to bake them soon…and savor every single cookie swirl!
Print
The Best Cinnamon Roll Cookies Recipe
- Total Time: 37 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Yield: 36 cookies 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the delightful flavors of cinnamon rolls in cookie form with these delicious and easy-to-make cinnamon roll cookies. A perfect treat for any occasion!
Ingredients
Dough:
- 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Filling:
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
Glaze:
- 1/2 cup powdered sugar
- 1 tablespoon milk
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Dough: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Gradually add the dry ingredients until a soft dough forms. Divide the dough, chill.
- Roll: On a floured surface, roll out dough into rectangles. Brush with melted butter, sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll tightly. Chill.
- Bake: Slice chilled dough, bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes. Cool.
- Glaze: Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle over cookies.
Notes
- Enhance with a pinch of nutmeg in the filling
- Dough can be frozen for up to 2 months
- Prep Time: 25 minutes (plus chilling time)
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dessert, Cookies
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cookie
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 35 mg
- Fat: 5 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 18 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
