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Overhead view of homemade cinnamon roll bites generously covered with smooth cream cheese frosting.
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Best Cinnamon Roll Bites

Course Dessert
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rising Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Total Time 3 hours
Servings 12 servings
Calories 638kcal
Author Tawnie Graham of Kroll's Korner

Ingredients

For the Dough

  • 1 cup whole milk, warmed to about 110°F
  • 2 ¼ tsp. instant yeast, 1 packet
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 1 large egg yolk, room temperature
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt
  • 4 ¾ cups bread flour, plus more for dusting
  • 1 Tbsp. lukewarm milk, if needed

Cinnamon Sugar Coating

  • 6 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled
  • 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
  • Pinch kosher salt

Before Baking

  • 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted
  • 4-5 Tbsp. light brown sugar, packed
  • 1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 2 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream, warmed slightly

Cream Cheese Frosting

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • Prepare the dough: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the dough hook, combine the warm milk, yeast, and granulated sugar. Let sit for about 5 minutes, or until the yeast looks foamy. Start Timer Add the eggs, egg yolk, softened butter, and salt. Mix until combined. (Might look funny at this step but it’s ok it’ll all come together in next step)
    1 cup whole milk, 2 ¼ tsp. instant yeast, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 large eggs, 1 large egg yolk, 1/2 cup unsalted butter, 1 ½ tsp. kosher salt
    Warm milk and yeast being combined, followed by eggs and softened butter, to begin making cinnamon roll bite dough.
  • Add flour: Gradually add the flour, about 1 cup at a time, mixing until a soft dough forms.
    4 ¾ cups bread flour
    Bread flour being gradually added to the wet ingredients in a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook.
  • Knead: Knead for 8-10 minutes, until the dough is smooth, elastic, and only slightly tacky. Start Timer If the dough feels dry, add lukewarm milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, kneading well after each addition. Avoid adding too much flour.
    1 Tbsp. lukewarm milk
    Soft, smooth cinnamon roll dough kneading with a dough hook in the bowl of a stand mixer.
  • First rise: Transfer to a lightly greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 60-90 minutes, or until doubled in size. Start Timer
    Cinnamon roll dough before and after the first rise, showing the dough doubled in size.
  • Make the cinnamon sugar: In a small bowl, stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, and pinch of salt.
    1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon, Pinch kosher salt
  • Shape the bites: Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface and divide it into 5-6 equal portions. Working with one portion at a time, pinch off small pieces (about 1 inch or roughly 20 g each) and roll into smooth balls.
    Risen cinnamon roll dough divided into portions and rolled into small balls before coating with butter and cinnamon sugar.
  • Coat the dough: Working in batches, place ~8 dough balls into a large bowl. Drizzle with a little of the melted butter and gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with some of the cinnamon sugar mixture on top of the dough balls and toss again until evenly coated. Transfer the coated dough balls to the prepared baking dish. Repeat until all of the dough has been coated. Arrange the dough balls in 1-2 layers. They should fit snugly together but not be tightly packed.
    6 Tbsp. unsalted butter
    Cinnamon sugar-coated cinnamon roll bites arranged snugly in a greased baking pan before the second rise.
  • Second rise: Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a clean kitchen towel and let rise for 30-45 minutes, or until noticeably puffy. Start Timer
  • Before baking: Preheat the oven to 350°F. In a measuring cup or small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. It should be a pourable consistency. Pour this over the bites. Then, pour the slightly warmed heavy cream evenly over the risen dough.
    4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, 4-5 Tbsp. light brown sugar, 1 ½ tsp. ground cinnamon, 2 tsp. vanilla extract, 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Bake: Bake for 28-32 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and the center reaches 190-195°F. Start Timer Allow the bites to cool for about 10 minutes before frosting.
  • Make the frosting: Beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt and beat until combined. Mix in the heavy cream, 1 tablespoon at a time, until the frosting is smooth. Spread generously over the warm cinnamon roll bites and serve immediately 😍
    4 oz. cream cheese, 4 Tbsp. unsalted butter, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract, Pinch kosher salt, 2-3 Tbsp. heavy cream
    Cream cheese frosting being mixed until smooth, then spread generously over warm, freshly baked cinnamon roll bites.

Video

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving | Calories: 638kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 32g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 127mg | Sodium: 300mg | Potassium: 162mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 41g | Vitamin A: 1079IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 95mg | Iron: 1mg