March 15, 2022
Review RecipeCinnamon Roll Cookies
Table of Contents
Cinnamon roll cookies are a fun twist on a classic cinnamon roll. A simple, buttery, from scratch sugar cookie dough is swirled with a delicious cinnamon-sugar mix, baked to golden, and drizzled with a sweet glaze.
Want more cookie recipes to satisfy your sweet tooth? These crowd-pleasing copycat Doubletree cookies have been a reader favorite for years. Of course, traditional chocolate peanut butter no-bake cookies are always yummy!
CINNAMON ROLL COOKIES INGREDIENTS
You’ll need:
For the Sugar Cookies
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1½ cups sugar
- 2 eggs, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon almond extract
For the Cinnamon Filling
- 8 tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 tablespoons cinnamon
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
For the Icing
- 2 cups + ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4-5 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons melted Crisco (original or butter)
- ½ teaspoon almond extract, optional
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
SUGAR COOKIES: If you have a preferred sugar cookie recipe, you can substitute your own recipe for ours.
HOW TO MAKE THIS CINNAMON ROLL COOKIES RECIPE
STEP ONE: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together and set dry ingredients aside.
STEP TWO: Using the bowl of a stand mixer with a paddle attachment or a hand mixer and a large bowl, add the butter and beat on medium speed until soft and fluffy, about two minutes. Add the cream cheese and continue to beat together until creamy and no lumps remain (about two minutes). Add the sugar and continue beating for another 2 minutes, or until fluffy. After scraping down sides with a rubber spatula of your mixer bowl, turn the mixer on medium speed and add the eggs, pure vanilla extract, and almond extract. Allow to mix until fluffy, about two minutes.
STEP THREE: Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixture while on low speed and allow the mixture to slowly incorporate until a dough forms. Again, you’ll want to be sure to scrape the sides down with a rubber spatula as needed. Do not over mix!
STEP FOUR: Divide dough into two equal amounts, placing each in a piece of plastic wrap. Wrap plastic wrap around dough and refrigerate for 1 hour before rolling dough.
STEP FIVE: While your dough is chilling in the refrigerator, make your cinnamon filling. Combine all ingredients for the cinnamon filling in a small bowl, stir together and then divide it in half and leave sitting out until chilling time for the dough is complete. Do not refrigerate the cinnamon filling so it stays soft and spreadable.
STEP SIX: After chilling, remove dough from the fridge. Dust powdered sugar on your whole area (Silpat mat works best or a clean counter), dust the log and dust your hands. You can use a rolling pin but it’s easier to get your measurements quicker if you press it out by hand. Roll out one log at a time to roughly 8×9 inches. You want the rolled dough to be about ¼-inch thick. You don’t want it to be too thick or it will lose the cinnamon roll shape while baking in the oven!
PRO TIP:
Flipping the cinnamon roll cookie dough over while rolling will prevent the dough from sticking to your silicone mat. I also rolled out the dough on a floured surface to help keep it from sticking.
STEP SEVEN: One log at a time, evenly spread ½ of the cinnamon mixture over the dough, and get ready to roll! It’s important that whatever end you choose to be the inside of the roll has cinnamon all the way to the edge.
STEP EIGHT: The opposite end (which will be the largest end part of the spiral within the roll, you want to leave a ¼-inch of the area along the whole edge that does not have cinnamon filling on it. Leaving a bit of plain dough helps the dough glue to itself, completing the perfect spiral without having to deal with the butter in the cinnamon filling that could make it unstick in the baking process leaving you with a loose sloppy spiral. Tightly roll the dough into a 9-inch log. The center of the cookie is the start of the rolling process so go slowly, if it starts to crack or bunch, hold your hand over that area for a few seconds so the warmth from your hands warms the dough. By warming the dough it makes it more elastic so you can easily patch a little crack or hole with your fingers and continue rolling.
STEP NINE: Once logs are tightly rolled, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
STEP TEN: Remove your cinnamon roll cookie logs and place them on a large cutting board. Preheat your oven now to 350°F. Serrated knives can work to cut the cookies but dental floss works best. Put a long piece of dental floss underneath the log in place to make a cut for a ½-inch cookie. Pull each piece of floss to the opposite side of the log, slicing gently through the dough. The gentleness of the floss cutting from one side to the other helps the log not to be squished down by the knife. If you do use a knife, be very gentle while pressing down to cut through the log. You want to work quickly to ensure the logs are still chilled when you cut them. Cut each cookie to a thickness of about ½-inch slice. Again, you don’t want it to be thicker than that so it doesn’t lose its shape.
PRO TIP:
These cookies need to be placed in the oven while still cold! This is what helps them to maintain their rolled shape!
STEP ELEVEN: Place each cookie on the silicone baking mat or prepared baking sheet 2-inches apart from each other or about 12 on a sheet.
STEP TWELVE: Bake for 8 to 11 minutes. Remove from the oven right as they start to brown on the edges. Do not overcook these cookies. They are best when they are taken out of the oven when they are still light and golden brown. They may appear to be undercooked but will continue cooking inside after removing from the oven.
STEP THIRTEEN: Leave on the baking mat or cookie sheet for 3 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
For the Icing
STEP ONE: While the cookies are cooling, make your icing. Whisk all icing ingredients together in a bowl. If the mixture is too thick for your liking, add additional milk ½ teaspoon at a time. Add powdered sugar 1 teaspoon at a time if it is too thin until desired consistency is reached.
STEP TWO: Drizzle the icing over the cookies.
PRO TIP:
Leave the cookies on the wire rack while drizzling the icing so that it doesn’t pool around the cookies.
HOW TO SERVE
These delightful cookies will be a welcome treat any time the craving strikes. Enjoy them with a cup of coffee, whipped hot chocolate, or a homemade pumpkin spice latte.
MORE CINNAMON ROLL RECIPES
STORAGE
ON THE COUNTER: Store cookies in an airtight container on the counter for 3 to 4 days.
IN THE FREEZER: Freeze these delicious cookies in an airtight container for up to three months.
These delish cookies offer a winning flavor that is the perfect easy, comforting dessert to serve year-round or as part of your holiday baking. You’ll want to make these easy cinnamon roll cookies again and again (try our copycat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, too!) (try our copycat Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, too!) (try our yummy crescent roll cinnamon rolls, too!) (try our yummy crescent roll cinnamon rolls, too!)!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Yes! Just wrap the dough in plastic wrap and freeze. Thaw frozen dough, slice, and bake.
If you have a preferred sugar cookie recipe, you can certainly use that in this recipe.
These cookies will be fine stored in an airtight container on the counter for up to four days.
MORE RECIPES YOU’LL LOVE
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
- Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookie Recipe
- Neiman Marcus Cookies
- Chocolate Chip Cheesecake Bars
- Oreo Pie
- Haystacks
- Gingerbread Cookies
- Candy Cane Kiss Cookies
- No Spread Sugar Cookies
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Ingredients
Sugar Cookies
- 3 cups flour
- 1½ teaspoons baking powder
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 cup unsalted butter room temperature
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 1½ cups granulated sugar
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- ¾ teaspoon almond extract
Cinnamon Filling
- 8 tablespoons butter melted
- 4 tablespoons cinnamon
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup brown sugar
Icing
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ½ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 to 5 tablespoons whole milk
- 2 tablespoons melted Crisco original or butter
- ½ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
Instructions
- In a medium mixing bowl combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Whisk together and set aside.
- Using a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, add the butter and beat on medium until soft and fluffy, about two minutes. Add the cream cheese and continue to beat together until creamy and no lumps remain, about two minutes. Add the sugar and continue beating for another 1 to 2 minutes, or until fluffy. After stopping the mixer, scrape down sides with a rubber spatula. Turn mixer on medium speed and add the eggs, pure vanilla extract, and almond extract. Allow to mix until fluffy, about two minutes.
- Slowly add the flour mixture to the butter mixer while on low speed and allow the mixture to slowly incorporate. Again, you’ll want to be sure to scrape the sides down with a rubber spatula as needed. Do not over mix!
- Divide the dough into two equal amounts, placing each in a piece of plastic wrap. Wrap plastic wrap around dough and refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours before rolling dough.
- While your dough is chilling in the refrigerator, make your cinnamon filling. Combine all ingredients for the cinnamon filling in a small mixing bowl, stir together and then divide it in half and leave sitting out until chilling time for the dough is complete. Do not refrigerate the cinnamon filling so it stays soft and spreadable.
- After chilling, remove dough from the fridge. Dust powdered sugar on your whole area (Silpat mat works best or a clean counter), dust the log and dust your hands. You can use a rolling pin but it’s easier to get your measurements quicker if you press it out by hand. Roll out one log at a time to roughly 8×9 inches. You want the rolled dough to be about ¼-inch thick. You don't want it to be too thick or it will lose the cinnamon roll shape while baking in the oven!
- One log at a time, evenly spread ½ of the cinnamon mixture over the dough and get ready to roll! It’s important that whatever end you choose to be the inside of the roll has cinnamon all the way to the edge.
- The opposite end (which will be the largest end part of the spiral within the roll, you want to leave a ¼-inch of area along the whole edge that does not have cinnamon filling on it. Leaving a bit of plain dough helps the dough glue to itself, completing the perfect spiral without having to deal with the butter in the cinnamon filling that could make it unstick in the baking process leaving you with a loose sloppy spiral. Tightly roll the dough into a 9-inch log. The center of the cookie is the start of the rolling process so go slowly, if it starts to crack or bunch, hold your hand over that area for a few seconds so the warmth from your hands warms the dough. By warming the dough it makes it more elastic so you can easily patch a little crack or hole with your fingers and continue rolling.
- Once logs are tightly rolled, wrap in plastic wrap and chill for 2 hours.
- Remove your cinnamon roll cookie logs and place them on a large cutting board. Preheat your oven now to 350°F. Serrated knives can work to cut the cookies but dental floss works best. Put a long piece of dental floss underneath the log in place to make a cut for a ½-inch cookie. Pull each piece of floss to the opposite side of the log, slicing gently through the dough. The gentleness of the floss cutting from one side to the other helps the log not to be squished down by the knife. If you do use a knife, be very gentle while pressing down to cut through the log. You want to work quick to ensure the logs are still chilled when you cut them. Cut each cookie to a thickness of about ½ -inch slice. Again, you don't want it to be thicker than that so it doesn't lose its shape.
- Place each cookie on a silicone baking mat and place in the oven 2-inches apart from each other or about 12 on a sheet.
- Bake for 8 to 11 minutes. Remove from the oven right as they start to brown on the edges. Do not overcook these cookies. They are best when they are taken out of the oven when they are still light and golden. They may appear to be undercooked but will continue cooking inside after removing from the oven.
- Leave on the baking mat for 3 minutes before removing to a cooling rack.
For the Icing
- While the cookies are cooling, make your icing. Whisk all icing ingredients together in a bowl. If the mixture is too thick for your liking, add additional milk ½ teaspoon at a time. Add powdered sugar 1 teaspoon at a time if it is too thin until desired consistency is reached.
- Drizzle the icing over the cookies
Comments
Toni Thomason says
So delicious!!! Love these!
Treena says
Wonderful recipe! I have to admit in the past I have always bought my cinnamon cookies but this recipe was quite simple and the cookies are very tasty.
Patricia Nugent says
There is no temperature listed.
Layne Kangas says
It’s 350 degrees, enjoy!
Taylor says
Hello,
May I replace the cream cheese with anything?
Thank you
Layne Kangas says
I haven’t tried making it without the cream cheese, so I am not sure how well it would work to leave it out!
Patty says
Can I freeze the cookie logs?
Layne Kangas says
Yes! Just wrap and freeze. Enjoy 🙂
Marilyn winstead says
I will have fun making this recipe my husband loves cinnamon rolls.
Carol E. Giovannoni says
I don’t have any sugar in my house and have not used sugar in any of my cooking or baking for many years. I love baking and making lunch and dinner receipts 😋 for large crowds. We raised 2 sons and boy could they eat. I use Stevia. Splenda is not good for diabetics. I buy sugarfree brown sugar and confectioer sugar. I can make any recipe sugarfree.
Carol E. Giovannoni says
I love your recipe for cinnamon cookies. I am going to make them but sugar free.
Sue says
Can you add. Chopped walnuts to the recipe?
Layne Kangas says
Hi, Sue – I haven’t tried that, so I’m not sure how it would turn out!