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Easy Cinnamon Roll Muffins

September 12, 2008 by Joy the Baker 203 Comments

Just the thought of cinnamon rolls-  warm, gooey, soft, sweet- makes me literally swoon.  I love them.  If I were a baking superhero (I’m working on it) my weakness would be cinnamon rolls.

As much as I love the little devils (and I hate to say this) I hate to bake them.  The problem is not the sweet yeast dough or the rolling or the slicing.  I simply have no patience for the waiting that is required of me during the proofing, rolling, slicing and proofing again process.  I realize this is totally unreasonable, but it’s just the truth.

Nicole at Baking Bites seems the understand my need for instant, yet stubbornly homemade cinnamon roll goodness.

I’d like to introduce you to Cinnamon Roll Muffins-  add the yeast, subtract the long rising.

Imagine my glee when I had cinnamon roll-esque goodness coming out of my oven in well under an hour.  These muffins rise for a short 15 minutes in the bowl and then are placed into a cold oven to cook as the oven preheats to 350 degrees.  After 20 minutes in the oven, they’re risen and golden and bubbling with cinnamon and brown sugar.

Easy Cinnamon Roll Muffins

Baking Bites

Print this Recipe!

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
4 tsp active dry or rapid rise yeast
2/3 cup warm milk (100-110F; low fat is fine)
3 tbsp vegetable oil
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1 large egg

Filling/Topping

2 tbsp butter, room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar
3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch ground cardamom

Icing
1 cup powdered sugar
1-2 tbsp milk or cream

In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar and salt. Dissolve the yeast in a measuring cup filled with the warmed milk, then stir milk mixture, vegetable oil, vanilla extract and egg into the flour mixture. Mix well, until very smooth. Pour into prepared pan and let rest for 15 minutes.
While the dough rests, mix together butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and cardamom in a small bowl using a fork until all the butter has been incorporated into the sugar and mixture is crumbly.  Divide the batter between 12 greased muffin cups. Sprinkle evenly on top of rested dough and press the mixture down into the dough with your fingertips (or swirl in with a spatula.)
Place pan into a cold oven, then set the oven temperature to 350F.
Bake for about 20 minutes, until bread is lightly browned at the edges and the center of the bread springs back when lightly pressed. Some of the sugar mixture on top may still be bubbling.
Cool for at least 30 minutes before whisking the powdered sugar and milk together to form an icing and drizzling it onto the bread.
Serve warm. Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave.

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Filed Under: Bread, Breakfast, Muffins, Recipes, Snacks

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Reader Interactions

All Comments
I Made This
Questions
  1. Jenni

    April 2, 2016 at 8:55 am

    This is a silly question, but the recipe calls for 4 teaspoons of yeast and I only have packages. How many packages of yeast should I use? Thanks!

    Reply
    • joythebaker

      May 24, 2016 at 12:10 pm

      It would be two packages. Each package of yeast is like 2 and a half teaspoons.

      Reply
  2. Ryan

    February 27, 2016 at 5:13 pm

    I love yeasty things and this was so easy. Tasted great. This will be my go to when I want cinnamon rolls

    Reply
  3. Old Baking Gramma

    January 16, 2015 at 12:14 pm

    Hi…I obviously having a seniors moment. When do you put the dough in the muffin tins?

    Reply
  4. Gaga

    August 26, 2014 at 12:40 am

    I was already making some cinnamon rolls (you know the long, oh so long recipe) when I stumbled upon this recipe while waiting for the dough to rise! I wish I have seen it before I began baking… I write it on my recipes-to-try list next to this one: https://www.whatmegansmaking.com/2010/03/cinnamon-roll-cookies.html !

    Reply
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Trackbacks

  1. gluten free cinnamon roll muffins | Sarah Bakes Gluten Free Treats says:
    July 29, 2015 at 9:11 am

    […] Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker […]

    Reply
  2. gluten free vegan pumpkin cinnamon roll muffins | Sarah Bakes Gluten Free Treats says:
    July 29, 2015 at 9:07 am

    […] Recipe adapted from Joy the Baker  […]

    Reply
  3. Mushroom and caramelised onion scones | Miss Sweet Nothings says:
    March 30, 2014 at 4:26 pm

    […] made cinnamon roll muffins which tasted amazing but looked burnt and fell apart when I took them out of the […]

    Reply

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