Easy Cinnamon Roll Cookies: A Delicious Shortcut to Classic Flavor

Get ready to fall in love with these incredible Cinnamon Roll Cookies! Imagine the comforting aroma and irresistible taste of a warm cinnamon roll, now perfectly captured in a chewy, delightful sugar cookie. This recipe is an absolute game-changer, delivering all that beloved cinnamon swirl flavor without any of the fuss of yeast or lengthy proofing times. It’s truly a shortcut to bliss, offering a tender cookie base, a rich cinnamon-brown sugar swirl, and a sweet, simple icing drizzle.

Why You’ll Adore These Cinnamon Roll Cookies

This Cinnamon Roll Cookie recipe is a definite winner that has quickly become a favorite in our kitchen. From the first bite, you’ll be amazed at how accurately these cookies replicate the taste of a traditional cinnamon roll. They combine the best of both worlds: the chewiness of a perfect sugar cookie with the warm, spicy swirl of cinnamon and brown sugar, all topped with a luscious sweet icing. They’re so good, you might even find yourself enjoying them for breakfast – and who could blame you? They’re in the cinnamon roll family, after all!

Beyond their incredible flavor, these homemade cinnamon swirl cookies offer several advantages that make them a standout treat:

• Authentic Cinnamon Roll Flavor, Less Effort: You get all the classic taste of a cinnamon roll, but without the lengthy yeast rising times. This makes them a fantastic alternative when you’re craving that comforting flavor without the extensive baking process.
• Ideal for Holiday Baking and Gifting: Their festive swirl and robust nature make them perfect for the holiday season. Unlike more fragile cookies, these cinnamon roll sugar cookies hold up well, making them an excellent choice for mailing to friends and family.
• Generous Yield: This recipe makes at least 3 dozen cookies, ensuring you’ll have plenty to share, gift, or simply enjoy yourself. They’re perfect for gatherings, potlucks, or filling your cookie jar.
• Quick to Prepare: With just about 20 minutes of active prep time (excluding chilling), you can quickly get these cookies ready for the oven. This makes them achievable even on busy days.
• Excellent Make-Ahead Option: The dough can be prepared in advance and chilled, making these cookies incredibly convenient for planning ahead. You can even freeze the dough logs for future baking!

Key Ingredients for the Best Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

Crafting these delectable cinnamon swirl sugar cookies requires a few pantry staples. Each ingredient plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect texture and flavor profile:

• Butter: You’ll need softened butter for the cookie dough to create a rich, tender base. An additional two tablespoons of melted butter are brushed over the dough before adding the filling, helping the cinnamon sugar adhere beautifully and adding extra moisture and flavor to the swirl.
• Sugar: This recipe uses a trio of sugars for different purposes. Granulated white sugar in the dough contributes to that classic sugar cookie chewiness and helps the edges crisp up slightly. Brown sugar is vital for the filling, providing a deeper, molasses-rich flavor with hints of caramel that perfectly complement the cinnamon. Finally, powdered sugar is the base for our simple, sweet icing drizzle.
• All-Purpose Flour: The backbone of our cookie dough, all-purpose flour provides the necessary structure. It’s a common pantry item, ensuring these cookies are accessible to any home baker.
• Vanilla Extract: A staple in most baking recipes, vanilla extract adds a layer of sweet warmth and depth to both the cookie dough and the icing. For a twist, you can replace half of the vanilla in the cookie dough with almond extract for a more traditional sugar cookie flavor.
• Egg: The egg acts as a binder, holding the cookie dough together and contributing to its tender texture and slight rise.
• Baking Powder & Salt: Baking powder is our leavening agent, helping the cinnamon roll sugar cookies achieve a soft, slightly risen texture. Salt is essential for balancing the sweetness of the sugars and enhancing all the other flavors in the cookies.
• Ground Cinnamon: This is the star of our “cinnamon roll” flavor! Use high-quality ground cinnamon, and for the boldest and most authentic taste, consider using Saigon cinnamon. Always check that your cinnamon is fresh for maximum aroma and flavor impact.
• Milk: A small amount of milk is whisked with powdered sugar and vanilla to create the perfect pourable icing drizzle, providing that iconic finish.

Step-by-Step Guide to Making Cookie Cinnamon Rolls

Follow these detailed steps to create your own batch of delicious homemade cinnamon swirl cookies. Remember, a little chill time is key for perfect slices!

1. Prepare the Wet Ingredients: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the softened butter on high speed for about 1 minute until it’s light and creamy. Reduce the speed to medium, add the granulated sugar, and cream the mixture for 2-3 minutes, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl frequently to ensure everything is well combined. Beat in the large egg and vanilla extract until just incorporated.
2. Incorporate the Dry Ingredients: In a separate bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, baking powder, and salt. Gradually add this dry mixture to the wet ingredients in the stand mixer on low speed, mixing until just combined. Be careful not to overmix. If your dough feels too soft or sticky to handle, add a little more flour, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches a manageable consistency.
3. Roll Out the Dough: Divide the cookie dough into two equal portions. On a lightly floured surface or a silicone baking mat (which helps immensely with non-sticking!), roll out one portion of dough into a large rectangle, approximately 10 inches by 8 inches, or about 1/4 inch thick. Evenly spread 1 tablespoon of the melted butter over the entire surface of the rolled-out dough.
4. Prepare and Apply the Filling: In a small bowl, combine the packed brown sugar and ground cinnamon for the filling. Sprinkle half of this cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the buttered dough rectangle. Ensure the edges are well covered for a consistent swirl.
5. Roll the Dough and Repeat: Starting from one of the longer sides of the rectangle, carefully and slowly roll the dough into a tight log. If you notice the dough cracking slightly while rolling, simply use your finger to gently smooth it out. This slow and steady approach helps create a nice, tight swirl. Once rolled, wrap the dough log tightly in plastic wrap. Repeat steps 3-5 with the remaining dough and filling to form a second log.
6. Chill the Dough: Place both wrapped cookie dough logs in the refrigerator for a minimum of 2 hours. Chilling is a crucial step as it firms up the dough, making it much easier to slice neatly and helping the cookies maintain their shape during baking. You can chill the dough for up to 3 days, or even freeze it for longer storage (see pro tips).
7. Slice and Bake: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F (177 degrees C). Remove the chilled dough logs from the refrigerator and unwrap them. Using a sharp knife, cut each log into 1/2-inch thick slices. Arrange the slices about 1 inch apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper or silicone mats. Bake for 11-12 minutes, or until the edges are very lightly browned.
8. Cool and Drizzle with Icing: Allow the baked cinnamon roll cookies to cool on the baking sheets for about 5 minutes before carefully transferring them to a wire rack to cool completely. While the cookies cool, whisk together the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk in a small bowl until smooth. Once the cookies are completely cool, drizzle the icing generously over them. Let the icing set and dry before storing the cookies.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Here are answers to some common questions about making and storing these delightful cinnamon swirl cookies:

Can I double the icing in this cinnamon roll cookie recipe?

Absolutely! If you love a generous amount of icing on your cinnamon rolls (and cookies!), feel free to double the icing recipe. You can also get creative with the flavor by swapping out the vanilla extract for a different extract, like maple extract, for a delicious autumnal twist. For an even richer experience, you could even try topping these cinnamon roll cookies with a luscious cream cheese frosting, similar to what you’d find on classic cinnamon buns.

Do cinnamon roll cookies need to be refrigerated?

No, these cookies are quite sturdy and do not require refrigeration. They can be stored at room temperature for up to 5 days. To ensure they remain soft, chewy, and fresh, always store them in an airtight container. For longer storage, you can freeze the baked and fully cooled cookies for up to 3 months. Just make sure they are in a freezer-safe container or bag to prevent freezer burn.

What’s the best way to ship these cookies?

Shipping cookies successfully, especially during the holiday season, is all about tight packaging to prevent shifting and breakage. Here’s how to do it: First, pair two cooled cookies back-to-back so their icing doesn’t touch. Wrap each pair tightly in plastic wrap. Next, place the wrapped cookie pairs into a sturdy, well-padded tin, plastic container, or a small box. Use cushioning materials like tissue paper, crinkled newspaper, or packing peanuts to fill any empty spaces and keep them from moving around. Seal this inner container securely. Finally, place the sealed container into a larger shipping box, adding more padding around it. Once everything is snug, off to the post office you go, ready to spread some serious cookie joy!

Expert Tips for Perfect Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Achieving bakery-quality cinnamon roll cookies is easy with these helpful tips and tricks:

• Plan Ahead for Chilling Time: These cookies absolutely require chilling time for the dough to firm up, which is essential for easy slicing and preventing excessive spreading in the oven. For best results, consider making the dough the night before you plan to bake. This allows for ample chilling, and you can simply slice and bake them the next day.
• Adjust Flour for Dough Consistency: If your cookie dough feels too soft or sticky to handle after mixing, it’s perfectly fine to add a little extra flour. Incorporate it gradually, one tablespoon at a time, mixing on low speed until the dough is no longer sticky and is easy to work with. The ideal dough should be pliable but not tacky.
• Utilize a Silicone Baking Mat: A silicone baking mat is a fantastic tool for rolling out the dough. It significantly helps prevent the dough from sticking to your counter, making the rolling and shaping process much smoother, especially when forming the log. Plus, it makes cleanup a breeze!
• Handle Cracks in the Dough with Care: If you notice the dough cracking slightly as you roll it into a log, don’t worry! This can happen, especially if the dough is very cold. Simply use your fingers to gently smooth out any cracks as you go. Rolling slowly and evenly also helps minimize cracking and ensures a beautifully tight swirl.
• Expect Slight Dough Expansion During Chilling: It’s completely normal for the dough to expand a little bit as it chills in the refrigerator. The good news is that well-chilled dough spreads less in the oven, meaning your cinnamon roll cookies will beautifully maintain their distinct swirl shape during baking.
• Excellent Make-Ahead Options: This recipe is perfect for preparing in advance. You can chill the plain cookie dough, wrapped tightly in plastic wrap, for up to 3 days in the refrigerator. Alternatively, you can assemble the dough with the cinnamon sugar filling and roll it into logs (up to step 4) and then chill for up to 3 days. For even longer storage, both the plain dough and the filled logs can be frozen for up to 3 months. Just remember to thaw frozen dough completely in the refrigerator before rolling or slicing.

More Delicious Cookie Recipes to Explore

If you’re looking for more delightful treats to add to your baking repertoire, especially during the festive holiday season, here are some other fantastic cookie and bar recipes you might enjoy:

• Homemade Chewy Brownies
• Homemade Oatmeal Cream Pies
• Cranberry Pistachio Biscotti
• Molasses Cookies
• White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies
• Peppermint Meringue Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Cranberry Cookies
• Peanut Butter Ritz Cracker Cookies

Thank you for exploring this wonderful Cinnamon Roll Cookie recipe! We hope you enjoy making and sharing these delightful treats as much as we do. Your feedback is always appreciated, so please let us know what you think!

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