16 Cinnamon Roll Recipes to Make Any Breakfast a Special Occasion

Jumbo Apple-Cinnamon Rolls cooling rack
Photo: Brie Passano

With their pretty swirls, lush icing, and spicy-sweet aromas, homemade cinnamon rolls are practically irresistible. Here you'll find just the recipe you're seeking. Keep it classic, or try something new, like our peanut butter cinnamon roll. If you're looking for something simple, choose an easy recipe that starts with frozen bread dough—you'll find plenty of those here, too.

01 of 16

Potato Cinnamon Rolls

Potato Cinnamon Rolls
Karla Conrad

Shh ... we're about to let you in on a top secret: Even the best cinnamon rolls are better when made with mashed potatoes. That's right, the spuds not only add moisture to this recipe, but they keep the rolls perfectly shaped.

02 of 16

Giant Cast-Iron Cinnamon Roll

Giant Cast Iron Cinnamon Roll
Matthew Clark

Loaves of frozen white bread dough make this recipe for a giant cinnamon roll nearly effortless. Simply roll sugared strips of the prepared dough into a giant wheel and place them in a cast-iron pan. Homemade cream cheese frosting makes a big difference, but canned does the trick nicely as well.

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03 of 16

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
Brie Passano

Caramel apples may not scream breakfast food, but these caramel apple cinnamon rolls sure do. Sweetened chunks of sliced apple are rolled right onto the homemade dough in a caramel glaze that will have the entire table licking their fingers. Indulgent? Sure. Worth it? Definitely.

04 of 16

Nutty Honey Mini Rolls

Nutty Honey Mini Rolls
Andy Lyons

We love a good mini cinnamon roll recipe. These nutty, honey treats have "cute" written all over them. Best of all, they call for store-bought chilled crescent rolls, making them truly easy to make.

05 of 16

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Slow Cooker Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls
Jason Donnelly

Canned pumpkin is only part of the secret to this easy pumpkin cinnamon roll recipe. The slow cooker actually seals in moisture, making the rolls extra-soft and tasty. You can drizzle them with homemade cream cheese icing, or do as we prefer and spread it on thick.

06 of 16

Our Best-Ever Cinnamon Rolls

Our Best-Ever Cinnamon Rolls
Kritsada Panichgul

Our best cinnamon roll recipe lives up to its name with a tender, flaky texture and filling that's just the right mix of sweet and spice. With pecans and golden raisins, this family favorite bursts with flavor. Transform uneaten rolls (if there are any) into adorable caramel apple cinnamon roll bites on a stick.

07 of 16

Jumbo Apple Cinnamon Rolls

Jumbo Apple-Cinnamon Rolls cooling rack
Brie Passano

A homemade apple filling makes all the difference in this cinnamon roll recipe, which makes six jumbo rolls. They should fit nicely inside a 10- to 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Top the rolls—while they're hot—with a homemade cream cheese frosting, and let it seep into the rolls' creases and crevices.

08 of 16

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Rolls

Peanut Butter Cinnamon Rolls
Blaine Moats

No, peanut-butter lovers, you're not dreaming. We just added your favorite ingredient to this popular morning treat. For these tasty cinnamon rolls, we use two hits of the sticky stuff—one in the batter and one in the frosting.

09 of 16

Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Crescent Roll Cinnamon Rolls
Scott Little

The flaky crust on these crescent roll cinnamon rolls is irresistible—especially once drizzled with our homemade icing. This entire recipe takes just 25 minutes from start to finish, making it one of our fastest cinnamon roll recipes ever, thanks to store-bought crescent roll dough. Add a splash of orange juice to the icing for a bright twist.

10 of 16

People-Pleasing Cinnamon Rolls

People-Pleasing Cinnamon Rolls
Blaine Moats

These overnight cinnamon rolls come together just when hunger strikes, first thing in the morning. They also come with a sweet surprise, a fabulous filling of orange zest, chocolate, raisins, and nuts. With a lineup like that, we couldn't resist if we tried.

11 of 16

Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls

Heavenly Cinnamon Rolls
Jason Donnelly

You will thank your lucky stars for discovering this celestial cinnamon roll recipe. This is the best recipe for gifting because it makes 12 perfectly classic cinnamon rolls every time. The secret ingredient? Love—and butter, of course.

12 of 16

One-Pan Holiday Pie Cinnamon Rolls

One Pan Holiday Pie Cinnamon Rolls
Matthew Clark

Holiday entertaining is a breeze with these cinnamon rolls for a crowd. Our recipe makes 48 mini rolls with four different flavors more commonly found pies (cherry pie and apple pie filling, for example) all in one sheet pan. Mix your own flavors to create tastes you know your guests will love.

13 of 16

Holiday Cinnamon Rolls

Christmas Rolls
Andy Lyons

Our test kitchen developed these easy-to-make cinnamon rolls especially for a Christmas morning treat, but you can enjoy them any time of the year. That little spice you're tasting is chopped crystalized ginger with a dash of black pepper. Shh. Santa's secret.

14 of 16

Creamy Caramel-Pecan Rolls

Creamy Caramel-Pecan Rolls
Blaine Moats

A mixture of powdered sugar and whipping cream sprinkled with pecans gives these easy cinnamon rolls a rich, creamy topping with a crunch. Frozen white bread dough cuts down on the prep time, and you can even make these rolls the night before. Simply cover them in wax paper coated in oil, then wrap in plastic and refrigerate until you're ready to bake this easiest of overnight recipes.

15 of 16

Almond Cinnamon Breakfast Ring

Almond Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Ring
Jason Donnelly

A whole "wreath of cinnamon rolls" has a nice ring to it, wouldn't you say? Upgrade your tried and true from-scratch recipe by linking the ends of the rolls together and slicing along the way. Don't forget the drizzle of cream cheese icing and sprinkle of toasted almonds.

16 of 16

Cinnamon Twists

Cinnamon Twists
Blaine Moats

Put an elegant spin on a classic cinnamon roll recipe by drizzling the dough with icing, then cutting the rolls into strips. Fold each strip in half and twist. The result: beautiful breakfast rolls perfect for a holiday brunch.

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