Easy Homemade Cinnamon Roll Recipe, Plus 8 Cinnamon Roll Variations

A cinnamon roll is a sweet rolled pastry made with a yeasted dough, gooey cinnamon-sugar filling, and topped with cream-cheese icing. In Denmark, cinnamon buns are known as Kanelsnegl, or "cinnamon snails," that have the same spiral shape but typically lack the cream-cheese icing.

1. 1. Prep the dough the night before: Since most of us don’t want to wake up before sunrise to make cinnamon rolls, it’s best to make the dough the day before and let the cinnamon rolls proof in the refrigerator until you’re ready to bake.
2. 2. Proof the dough: Proofing is a step in bread and viennoiserie baking that activates the yeast in the dough. What’s most important in the proofing step is to make sure the dough is neither overproofed (where it’s proofed up so much that it eventually collapses, causing the layers to separate and the butter to leak) or underproofed (which will result in a tight crumb and you won’t get those fluffy, flaky layers).
3. 3. Think about thickness. If you like more filling to dough ratio, roll dough closer to 1/4-inch thick and roll the pastry up tightly. If you’re a fan of doughy texture, roll out the dough to about 1/2-inch thick and form looser rolls when shaping.
4. 4. Roll your spiral tight. Whether you want lots of rolls or just a few, keep your spiral tight while you work so the cinnamon rolls keep their shape while they bake. Form C-shapes with both of your hands, with your thumbs pressing at the base edge of the dough, keeping the roll tight as you work. Continue pushing the dough up with your thumbs to roll it into a spiral.
5. 5. Use a serrated knife: A serrated knife is best to cut through the delicate layers of the roll. Dental floss or thin twine can also be used for clean cuts.

Just as you can refrigerate unbaked cinnamon rolls ahead of time, you can freeze them as well. Simply assemble them in the greased pan, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and freeze. When you’re ready to bake, remove them from the freezer, and allow them to thaw to room temperature (this can take a couple hours), then bake as the recipe instructs.

1. 1. Swedish Kanelbullen: Swedish kanelbulle dough typically contains cardamom spice, giving it a distinctive flavor.
2. 2. Salted Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls: Fold chopped green apples and rich caramel sauce into the filling. Sprinkle flaky sea salt over the top to balance out the sweetness.
3. 3. Pistachio, Orange, and Dark Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls: Pack melted chocolate, salty pistachios, and fragrant orange zest into cinnamon roll dough for an elevated flavor combination.
4. 4. Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls: Swap out the cinnamon for a white sugar and vanilla filling, then top with funfetti frosting.
5. 5. Raspberry Swirl Sweet Rolls: Bright pink and colorful, filled with juicy fresh raspberries that bake into a jam-like finish.
6. 6. Gingerbread Cinnamon Rolls: Get in the holiday spirit with gingerbread-inspired rolls filled with chopped candied ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and extra cinnamon.
7. 7. Banana Cinnamon Rolls: Incorporate roasted, caramelized, or flambéed bananas and nuts such as pecans or walnuts into the filling.
8. 8. S’mores Rolls: A classic twist on the campfire favorite with mini marshmallows, chopped chocolate, and graham cracker crumbs folded into the roll instead of the cinnamon-sugar filling. Add more marshmallows on top and broiled before serving.

Cinnamon rolls are finished with a smooth and soft cream cheese frosting, but you can also try these variations on that classic.

1. 1. Orange Icing: For a zingy finish to your rolls, add 2 tablespoons fresh orange juice and 1 tablespoons orange zest to the frosting.
2. 2. Eggnog Icing: Spread some holiday cheer onto your rolls, add 6 tablespoons eggnog, and additional confectioners sugar to the frosting until thickened.
3. 3. Chai-Spiced Icing: Add chai spices to your frosting with ¼ teaspoon each of cinnamon, ground ginger, nutmeg, and cardamom to the glaze. For those that want an extra kick, add a big pinch of freshly ground black pepper.
4. 4. Maple Icing: For a nutty maple glaze, add 2 teaspoon maple syrup and 1/4 teaspoon maple extract.
5. 5. Chocolate Icing: For a decadent chocolate frosting, add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder.
6. 6. Lemon Icing: For a bright, tart finish to your rolls, add the zest and juice from 1 lemon to the frosting.
7. 7. Coffee Icing: For a morning eye opener, add a pinch or two of espresso powder to the frosting.
8. 8. Matcha Icing: Add 1 tablespoon of matcha powder to the frosting.