Easy Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Enjoy this easy homemade cinnamon roll muffin recipe, these deliciously soft mini brioche buns, are filled with a cinnamon sugar mixture, and topped with an irresistible cream cheese frosting. 

Jump to:

• Why you'll love this recipe
• Ingredients You Notes
• How to Make Cinnamon roll muffins
• Serving Suggestions
• Tips for this recipe
• Storage instructions
• Variations & Substitutions
• Recipe Questions
• More Cinnamon Roll Recipes
• Cinnamon Roll Muffins

These traditional cinnamon roll muffins, baked in a muffin form, are based on my classic cinnamon roll recipe. Prepared in a muffin tin, they turn into small, soft brioche buns, perfect for individual cinnamon rolls.

These rolls are distinguished by their soft, richly buttered brioche dough, generously filled with a delicious cinnamon sugar mixture, creating a delightful cinnamon swirl of butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, all topped off with exquisite cream cheese cinnamon rolls icing.

Easy to customize and versatile, these cinnamon roll buns are perfect for a decadent breakfast or a comforting snack, offering a multitude of flavor options.

Craving for more Cinnamon recipes? Give these a try, Cinnamon pie, Cinnamon sugar pretzels, snickerdoodle cookies,

Ingredients You Notes

You need these ingredients to make these cinnamon roll muffins with cream cheese icing:

Cinnamon roll dough

• Flour: Use all-purpose flour or bread flour for best results.
• Milk: Whole milk or 2% milk is ideal, but you can also use water or a plant-based milk.
• Butter: Unsalted butter, softened or melted butter and slightly cooled, gives the brioche a rich flavor.
• Yeast: Instant yeast or dry active yeast rehydrated in warm liquid, or fresh yeast if available.
• Sugar: Granulated sugar or light brown sugar, depending on your preference.
• Egg: At room temperature for easy mixing.
• Salt: Table salt to enhance the flavor.

Cinnamon filling

• Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon is the key ingredient in the filling, giving the rolls their cozy and comforting flavor
• Brown Sugar: Brown sugar complements the cinnamon and adds a delightful caramelized sweetness to the filling.
• Butter: Use unsalted butter, preferably melted and cooled or very softened. (You can also use softened brown butter directly from my recipe for homemade brown butter).

Cream cheese glaze

• Cream cheese: Use full-fat cream cheese like Philadelphia and remember to bring it to room temperature.
• Butter: Only unsalted butter, well softened for a smooth, lump-free texture.
• Powdered sugar: Preferably sifted confectioner's sugar.
• Vanilla: Pure liquid vanilla extract that imparts a delightful vanilla flavor to the icing.

How to Make Cinnamon roll muffins

Here are some quick visual instructions. Don't forget that full recipe instructions with exact ingredients can be found in the recipe card below!

• Mixing Milk and Yeast: Rehydrate the dry baker's yeast in warm milk and let it rest for a few minutes.
• Combining Dry Ingredients: In your stand mixer fitted with a dough hook, mix the flour, sugar, and salt. Then add the milk/yeast mixture, the egg, and the softened butter to the flour mixture.
• Kneading the Brioche Dough: Knead for 5 to 7 minutes, then cover the dough with a plastic wrap and let it rise in a warm place for 1.5 to 2 hours until it doubles in size.

• Mixing the Filling: In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients: softened butter, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and vanilla.
• Preparing the Brioche Dough: Punch down the brioche dough and roll it out on a floured surface with a rolling pin to form a large rectangle.
• Applying the Cinnamon Mixture: Spread the cinnamon mixture evenly over the entire surface of the dough.
• Rolling the Dough: Roll the dough lengthwise to form a long log.

• Cutting the Dough: Cut the dough log into 12 pieces, each 2-3 cm wide, using a large knife or dental floss.
• Placing in the Muffin Tin: Place the dough pieces into a muffin pan or in muffin cups tin that has been greased with butter for easy removal.
• Second Rise: Cover again with a kitchen towel and let rise for a second time for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
• Baking: Preheat the oven to 356°F (180°C) and bake the cinnamon rolls for about 20 minutes or until they are golden brown on top.
• Leave to cool: Leave them to cool slightly in the tin before placing them on a wire rack.

• In a large bowl, place all the ingredients: cream cheese, powdered sugar, softened butter, and vanilla.
• Mix with an electric mixer or a hand whisk for about 2 minutes until the mixture is creamy and smooth.
• Spread this icing over the top of each muffin rolls and enjoy the buns while they are still warm.

Serving Suggestions

• Top with Cream Cheese Frosting: Spread a generous amount of cream cheese frosting on each muffin for a classic finish.
• Drizzle with Caramel Sauce: Add a rich caramel drizzle for an extra layer of sweetness.
• Sprinkle with Powdered Sugar: Dust the muffins with powdered sugar for a simple, elegant presentation.
• Serve with Fresh Fruit: Pair with fresh berries or apple slices for a refreshing contrast.
• Add a Scoop of Ice Cream: Serve warm with a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream for a decadent dessert.
• Garnish with Nuts: Sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts for added crunch and flavor.
• Top with Maple Syrup: Drizzle warm maple syrup over the muffins for a delicious breakfast treat.

Storage instructions

At room temperature: Store cinnamon roll muffins in an airtight container for up to 5 days (without the icing). You can gently reheat them in the microwave or oven to refresh them.

Freezing: Once completely cooled and when that irresistible cinnamon rolls craving hits, place your buns in freezer bags and keep them in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Recipe Questions

Why use a muffin pan for cinnamon rolls?

Baking in a muffin pan helps create a uniform shape, makes the rolls easier to serve, and adds a slightly crisp edge while keeping the centers soft and gooey

How do I prevent sticking in the muffin pan?

Grease the muffin pan well or use muffin liners to prevent the rolls from sticking and ensure easy removal.

How do I reheat cinnamon roll muffins?

Reheat in the microwave for 20-30 seconds or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes to enjoy them warm and soft.

Can I make a gluten-free version?

Yes, you can use a gluten-free flour blend in place of regular flour to make gluten-free cinnamon roll muffins.

More Cinnamon Roll Recipes

I hope you love this cinnamon roll muffins recipe If you make it, be sure to leave a comment and a rating so I know how you liked it. Happy Baking!

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