Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Cinnamon Roll Cookie Recipe – All the illusion of the cinnamon roll swirls with the allure of the cookies into one amazing recipe. This sugar cookie based treat with cinnamon sugar filling makes for a great dessert.
Not just a cinnamon roll. Not just cinnamon cookies. These, my friends, are Cinnamon Roll Cookies! Let’s pause and relish the idea.
Why? Why not leave things be and let a spice cookie be a spice cookie and a cinnamon roll be a cinnamon roll?
Well for starters, I’m an overachiever.
Second, cinnamon cookies and spice cookies are generally not that visually appealing.
Third, cinnamon rolls take all day to make.
Fourth, cinnamon rolls do not fit in your pocket.
…I knew you’d see it my way sooner or later.
Cinnamon Roll Cookies for the Holidays
Cinnamon Roll Cookies, however, are perfect for lunchbox treats and your holiday cookie exchange. They look as good and they smell, and taste EVEN BETTER.
There are two secret ingredients that take these little beauties to the next level.
First, cream cheese because:
- The cream cheese gives the cookies a light and tangy flavor with a tender texture.
- It makes the chilled dough easier to roll out.
- It helps the cookies to stand up a little–like cinnamon rolls!
Second, dry active yeast because it gives the cookies that underlying flavor that makes cinnamon rolls so irresistible.
The goal here is to include the yeasty essence without activating it. So mix the yeast with cool vanilla prior to adding it to the dough. As long as it’s not warm, it will infuse with the vanilla, but shouldn’t foam and cause the cookie dough to rise more than needed.
Ingredients Checklist
- Unsalted butter softened
- Softened cream cheese
- Vanilla extract
- Dry active yeast
- Granulated sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Salt
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Whole milk
- Powdered sugar
How to Make This Cinnamon Cookie Recipe
Instructions…
Mix 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract with 1 teaspoon of dry active yeast.
Cream the butter, cream cheese, vanilla with yeast, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until the wet ingredients are light and fluffy—2-3 minutes.
Turn the mixer on low. Add the salt, then slowly add the flour. Scrape the sides of the bowl and mix until the dry ingredients are well combined.
Press the dough into a flat disk. Wrap and refrigerate the dough for (at least) 30 minutes.
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon together in a small bowl.
Cut the dough in half and leave one half in the fridge while working with the first half.
Flour a piece of wax paper and roll the dough into a 7×13-inch rectangle that is approximately 1/4-inch thick. Then cut the dough into two sections to make the rolling easier.
Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar mixture over the dough leaving 1 1/2 inches bare along the long edge. Starting on the cinnamon-covered side, carefully roll the dough tightly toward the bare edge. Press the seam firmly on the sugar cookie dough log.
Repeat with the remaining dough and cinnamon sugar. Place the rolls back in the refrigerator to chill for at least 30 minutes to harden the dough. *At this point, you can wrap the rolls with plastic wrap and refrigerate them for 2-3 weeks if needed.
Cut the roll into 1/3- to 1/2-inch slices and lay on parchment paper lined or silicone baking mat lined cookie/baking sheets.
Bake for 9-12 minutes. Cool completely. Then whisk the powdered sugar, milk, and remaining vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Dip the face of each cookie into the glaze and set them on a wire rack to dry.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Make This Dough Ahead Of Time?
Sure you can! Make a batch and bake half the cookies now. Then wrap the other roll for later. They can be stored in the fridge for 2 to 3 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months. You can slice and bake homemade Cinnamon Roll Cookies in minutes whenever you need them!
How Long Do These Cookies Last?
You can store the baked cookies at room temperature in an airtight container for up to 6 days.
More Fabulous Cookies:
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- Peanut Butter Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (Monster Cookie Recipe)
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- Cherry Ginger Thumbprints Recipe
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- Potato Chip Cookies with Chocolate Drizzle
- Chocolate Pretzel Cookies ~ Smitten Kitchen
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- Pumpkin Whoopie Pies ~ Steamy Kitchen
Check the printable recipe card below for the nutrition information including calories, carbohydrates, protein, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, potassium, fiber, vitamin, and calcium percentages.
Cinnamon Roll Cookies
Ingredients
- 1 1/4 cups unsalted butter softened
- 4 ounces softened cream cheese
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract divided
- 1 teaspoon dry active yeast
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons whole milk
- 1 cup powdered sugar
Instructions
- Mix 2 teaspoons vanilla extract with 1 teaspoon of dry active yeast.
- Cream the butter, cream cheese, vanilla with yeast, and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until light and fluffy—2-3 minutes.
- Turn the mixer on low. Add the salt, then slowly add the flour. Scrape the bowl and mix until well combined.
- Press the dough into a flat disk. Wrap and refrigerate the dough for (at least) 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
- Cut the dough in half and leave one half in the fridge while working with the first half.
- Flour a piece of wax paper and roll the dough into a 7×13-inch rectangle that is approximately 1/4-inch thick. Then cut the dough into two sections to make the rolling easier.
- Sprinkle half the cinnamon sugar over the dough leaving 1 1/2 inches bare along the long edge. Starting on the cinnamon-covered side, carefully roll the dough tightly toward the bare edge. Press the seam firmly.
- Repeat with the remaining dough and cinnamon sugar. Place the rolls back in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes to harden the dough. *At this point, you can wrap the rolls and refrigerate for 2-3 weeks if needed.
- Cut the roll into 1/3- to 1/2-inch slices and lay on parchment paper lined cookie sheets.
- Bake for 9-12 minutes. Cool completely. Then whisk the powdered sugar, milk and remaining vanilla extract together in a small bowl. Dip the face of each cookie into the glaze and set on a rack to dry.
Thanks for checking out MichDish! These cookies were definitely the hit of the cookie exchange party! What’s your trick to getting them to look so pretty?
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When I saw these I knew I had to make them. I just finished frosting them an they are sooo yummy! My icing is a bit thicker but they look as good as they taste, Tonight is my Bunco holiday ornament game, can not wait to hear the ohh’s and awwhh’s when the group taste these! Thanks for posting this recipe
Made these over the weekend and they are as delicious as they are cute. Thanks for sharing the recipe!
What adorable little cookies! Looks like it makes a big batch, though. I’d definitely have to find someone to share them with!
Since I am totally in love with cinnamon rolls I cannot help but want one of these cookies. Great idea!
You’ve just hit a nerve. These cookies are gorgeous, and I can practically spell the cinnamon. I’m putting these on my holiday-cookie-bake list. I love your bright, beautiful blog–and the photos are wonderful.
Keep sending me your posts via StumbleUpon. I’m loving every minute!
Wow! What a great new cookie idea! I would love to add these to my holiday rotation. Thank you for sharing such an inspired treat! I hope you are having a lovely weekend :-)
Wow… these are absolutely incredible looking. I LOVE cinnamon & I love how these cookies are even iced. Fantastic recipe!!
xo
http://allykayler.blogspot.com
These were really hard to roll out. I put them in the frig for 30min. but I am wondering if they needed to be in longer because the dough was not real stiff. Is that what my problem is? The dough is really good. I am baking a batch right now even though they do not look as cute as your picture. I can’t wait to taste one.
Hi Aimee,
Sorry you had trouble! I’m guessing the dough needed to be in your fridge a little longer. The chill time does seem to vary based on the fridge used and the shape of the dough when you place it in the fridge. Thin wide disks take less time–I’ll put a note above. I hope you enjoy them!
Thank you. The ones that I did bake (not very pretty) but they were wonderful. My kids really love them.
I will try this recipe again with a little more frig. time.
Aimee
Oh these look so good!! I was needing an idea for simple dessert for our tailgate party this weekend!!
I FOUND IT!!! Thank you!! Can’t wait to try them!
Your cinnamon rolls are beautiful, Sommer and you make them sound so easy.
Oh wow! These are just heavenly and so darn adorable :)
These are awesome, so tru roll take ALLL day to make..and anything that fits into my pockret is a winner, lol!!
I tried making cinnamon rolls and it was a disaster… my kitchen. The rolls were decent but not worth all the time I put into them. My brother-in-law can make awesome cinnamon rolls. I need to visit them more often :)
cinnamon has been scientifically proven to be the most powerful aroma in the world. it both picks you up and relaxes you, makes you more alert without getting jittery, and makes everyone, from every culture, feel better about where they are. cheers!
These are heavenly! I live in a country where pre-packaged cinnamon rolls and sugar cookies do not exist… I’m so happy to have this recipe!
These loo to die for! I can sort of imagine them dissolve in my mouth in a perfect crumble :)