Cinnabon Copycat Recipes
The smell alone is worth the trip, but now you can make Cinnabon's famous cinnamon rolls at home.
4 recipes
Cinnabon's whole identity is one thing done obsessively well: a soft, enriched yeast dough rolled with a thick cinnamon-and-brown-sugar smear and finished with a tangy cream cheese frosting that's almost as famous as the roll itself. The magic lives in three places: a properly proofed enriched dough (milk, butter, egg, and plenty of time), a generous filling with bold cinnamon and enough brown sugar to caramelize into gooey ribbons, and frosting applied while the rolls are still warm so it half-melts into the layers. Our Cinnabon copycats break the whole system down: the classic Cinnamon Rolls, the signature cream cheese frosting on its own (it works on everything), the Cinnamon Sticks, and the Caramel PecanBon with its sticky caramel-pecan topping. Master the dough and frosting once and you can build any of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't my homemade cinnamon rolls taste like Cinnabon?
Two reasons: the cinnamon and the frosting. Cinnabon uses an unusually bold, high-oil cinnamon that's much stronger than most supermarket cinnamon, and the cream cheese frosting goes on warm so it soaks in. Use the freshest, boldest cinnamon you can find and frost the rolls while they're still hot.
What's the secret to the gooey center?
Use enough filling and pull the rolls a touch early. The center rolls stay softest, and a generous brown-sugar-butter-cinnamon smear melts into that classic gooey ribbon. Take them out when the centers are just set, not browned through.
Can I make the dough the night before?
Yes. Assemble and shape the rolls, cover them, and refrigerate overnight. In the morning let them come to room temperature and finish their final proof before baking, so you get fresh rolls without a 5am start.
Is the cream cheese frosting worth making on its own?
Absolutely. It's the most versatile recipe on this page, great on carrot cake, banana bread, or graham crackers. Our copycat nails the tangy, not-too-sweet balance that sets Cinnabon's apart from a basic powdered-sugar glaze.
What is a Caramel PecanBon?
It's a classic Cinnabon roll finished with caramel and toasted pecans instead of (or alongside) the cream cheese frosting. Our copycat layers a quick caramel and pecans over the baked roll for that sticky-bun crossover.