These Cinnamon Roll Bites are the easiest way to get that amazing cinnamon roll flavor, and they’re ready from scratch in just 40 minutes! They’re a delicious treat, perfect for a lazy morning, or a yummy pick-me-up in the afternoon!
Cinnamon, sugar, and butter just make everything better, am I right?
We love a traditional cinnamon roll, especially as the days get cooler and all you want is some fresh, hot, sugary bread straight from the oven to warm you up!
I’ve already shared the BEST Cinnamon Buns recipe with you, but I just love these little bites.
This is one of the easiest recipes I’ve made for cinnamon roll treats, so it’s a win-win!
This easy treat is perfect for the holidays, to have them as part of your sweet breakfast spread, or just to snack on!
These bites are very similar to what I use in my Monkey Bread recipe, except the balls are cooked in one layer and there’s no yeast required (less waiting!).
Not using yeast in this recipe means this biscuit dough comes together in 5-10 minutes max, but the flavor and texture are still amazing.
You can even make the dough balls the day before, quickly finish them up, and bake them fresh in the morning.
All of this gives you more time for sleeping and spending time with family on busy holiday mornings, with a warm, cinnamon treat for all your not-so-hard work.
That sounds like a pretty good deal to me 😉
If you love the delicious cinnamon flavors here, you’ll love my Maple Glazed Apple Crisp Cinnamon Buns and this Healthier Cinnamon Roll Baked Pancake with Maple Cream Cheese Syrup.
Ingredients Needed:
- Flour: all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, or a mix of both will all work well too.
- Baking Powder: a quick-rising agent that will work fast so these bites are on your plate promptly!
- Salt: to enhance the warm, sweet flavors in these sweet treats.
- Butter: unsalted butter is best in this recipe. Make sure it’s cold from the fridge before using it for the biscuits. You’ll need to melt some for the cinnamon sugar coating.
- Milk: whole milk, lower-fat milk, or even dairy-free milk is fine here to help bind the biscuit dough and the glaze.
- Sugar: use a mix of brown and granulated sugar to get a slightly caramelized flavor for the coating.
- Cinnamon: ground cinnamon is the star of the show here.
- Icing Sugar: icing sugar, or powdered sugar, is the base of the sweet glaze.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Bites
This recipe couldn’t be easier! Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.
- Make the dough: stir together the dry ingredients, then add the butter until crumbly. Add just enough liquid so the dough comes together.
- Make cinnamon sugar: In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon.
- Coat dough balls in the melted butter, then coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture, and place them in the pie plate.
- Bake. Bake until the biscuits are cooked and the butter/sugar mixture is bubbling in the bottom of the pan. Drizzle with glaze before serving.
Cinnamon Roll Bites FAQs
Prep these cinnamon roll bites and keep them in the fridge or freezer, ready to be baked later on.Â
Fridge:Â Wrap the little balls of dough tightly in plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator for up to one week. Biscuit dough stores perfectly in the fridge, so this is a great recipe to prep ahead for a weekend brunch or treat.
Freeze:Â You can roll your biscuit balls, coat them in sugar, place them in the pan, cover them with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze them completely. Once frozen, the balls can be stored in a Ziploc bag for easier storage. Keep frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw on the counter in a single layer for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour before baking as directed. You may need to increase the cooking time by up to 5 minutes.
Keep cinnamon roll bites in an airtight container on the counter for 2 days. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. Make sure they’re fully cooled to room temperature before storing them.
Yes! Cool to room temperature and then cover with plastic wrap and foil and freeze up to 3 months.
To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and bake, covered, for 15 minutes at 350 degrees F.
Tips and Notes
- Aluminum Foil: If you’re using a pie plate smaller than 10″, place a piece of tin foil in the oven under the plate to catch any possible drips.
- Yield: A single batch will make around 25 bites. You can double it to make enough for a larger crowd, but make sure the dough is the right consistency before making the dough balls.
Cinnamon Roll Bites Variations
- Biscuit dough. You can use store-bought biscuit dough for this recipe if you prefer. It’s an even quicker, easy way to make them, you don’t need to make any changes to the recipe!
- Flour. I’ve made this recipe with 100% whole wheat flour before, and it turns out great! It’s a great way to add more fiber.
- Dairy-Free. You can easily make these Cinnamon Roll Bites dairy-free. Simply swap the butter for non-dairy margarine and the milk for almond or oat milk.
- Flavor the glaze. Add some vanilla extract, lemon juice, or orange juice to the glaze to give it more flavor.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these yummy cinnamon bites with a Cold Brew Coffee or a Peppermint Mocha Recipe for a sweet breakfast or afternoon pick-me-up.
You can even have these cinnamon roll bites for a delicious dessert. Serve them warm and gooey with a scoop of ice cream. Try my Butter Pecan Ice Cream or this Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream.
More Easy Dessert or Sweet Breakfast Recipes to Try
Cinnamon Roll Bites
written by Ashley Fehr
Ingredients
Biscuit Dough
- 2 cups flour (whole wheat, all purpose, or a mix)
- 1 tbsp baking powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup cold butter
- ¾-1 cup cold milk
Cinnamon Sugar Coating
- 3 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup butter, melted
Glaze
- â…“ cup icing sugar
- 1-2 tbsp milk just enough to bring the glaze together
Instructions
- In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and salt.
- Cut the butter into cubes and add them to the bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter or fork until butter is in pea-sized pieces.
- Stir in the milk gradually, adding just enough so that the dough comes together. Bring the dough together in a ball with your hands (if you accidentally add too much milk and it becomes sticky, just add a little more flour).
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 10-inch pie plate or baking dish, or line it with a piece of parchment paper.
- In a medium bowl, combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Roll the dough into 1″ balls. Dip the balls in the remaining melted butter, coat them in the cinnamon sugar mixture, and place them in the pie plate.
- Drizzle the melted butter over the dough balls in the pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes until the biscuits are cooked and the butter/sugar mixture is bubbling in the bottom of the pan.
- Make the glaze by combining the icing sugar and milk in a small mixing bowl.
- Remove the balls from the oven and allow them to cool slightly before drizzling the glaze over the balls. Serve hot or cold.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Want to save this recipe?
Create an account easily save your favorite content, so you never forget a recipe again.
Tried this recipe?
Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel —
I love to see what you’re making!
Tag @thereciperebel
Tanya Schroeder says
Wow! I would be such a hero if I made these for my family!
Ashley Fehr says
My family goes crazy for them!
Jen says
I had no problem getting my family out of bed once they smelled this deliciousness! We all loved it!
Ashley Fehr says
I’m so glad to hear that!
Cheryl S says
My family loves this!! Cinnamon, sugar and butter make everything better!!
Ashley Fehr says
I most definitely agree!
Julia says
These cinnamon rolls bites are exactly the type of a treat I’d like to make for my kids now that they are home for the summer. Easy and scrumptious. Thanks for sharing!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Julia!
Leah says
I watched the video after I had already put the balls in the oven and I’m wondering about the part when you rolled them in the butter before rolling in the sugar mixture but that isn’t in the recipe. My dish turned out really bitter, do you think that could have been the problem? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
The ingredients are the same and I make the recipe both ways, so that wouldn’t give them a bitter flavour. I’m sorry that happened!
Lindsay says
Hey! I just made this and the dough is like really bitter. Would it help to put sugar in the dough? Or make the balls smaller? Thanks!
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Lindsay! That’s honestly something I’ve never heard before. The dough is regular, plain biscuit dough, so it won’t be sweet but it’s definitely not bitter. The amount of sugar the dough is coated in should definitely give you a sweet result!
Leah says
I also had them turn out bitter…like there was too much baking powder and salt, or baking soda. I followed your recipe exactly, but didn’t get the results I was expecting.
Kathy says
It’s possible that they weren’t using aluminum free baking powder.
I’m very sensitive to the taste, and always make certain to use aluminum FREE baking powder.
It really helps with the flavor.
Good luck!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks for the tip Kathy!
Susan says
Can you bake them a day ahead?
Ashley Fehr says
Yes, they’re easily reheated!
Lucy says
You’re right, Ashley! Cinnamon, sugar and butter make everything perfect. We’re in rainy season now. These cinamon rolls and a cup of hot tea are perfect in a rainy day.
Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Ashley Fehr says
These are perfect for a rainy day! Thanks Lucy!
Sarah @Whole and Heavenly Oven says
My mom used to make a breakfast very similar to this and it was totally my favorite!! I haven’t had it in years and I’m super excited to try this one, Ashley!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Sarah! Every time I make it I can’t get enough!
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
Oh wow does this look AMAZING! I love how this is like monkey bread, but in cinnamon roll form. And I love that it’s completely homemade, too! What a fun breakfast or dessert!
Ashley Fehr says
Yes totally! It’d be so easy to use store bought dough but I find biscuit dough comes together so quickly, there’s no need!
Sarah says
I noticed that your recipe says to put the 3-4 tbsp of butter in the pie plate, then dip the biscuits in the cinnamon/sugar; your video shows you dipping the biscuits into the butter and then rolling them in the cinnamon/sugar without putting the 3-4 tbsp of butter in the pie plate. Which way do you typically make them? Maybe this discrepancy is accounting for those who say there is too much butter? (Mine are in the fridge waiting to be baked in the morning, so we will see how they turn out–they look delicious!)
Ashley Fehr says
I didn’t show the adding of the butter in the pie plate in the video but I did do it. The video is just to be used as a guide, the recipe is always the way I make them. I hope you enjoy them!
Dorothy Walker says
These are very easy to make but I found there is way too much butter. The bottom was literally soaked in butter. I definitely will make them again but I will use less butter.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Dorothy! That’s too bad! I have never found there to be any extra butter in the pan actually — they always are slightly crispy around the edges because of the sugar. Feel free to change it up as you see fit!
Beverly says
Yes I found it to have way too much butter as well…
Trinity says
I love this recipe! But is it possible that for the glaze, that you would be able to replace the powdered sugar with something else? Thanks!
Brynn bass says
I use powder sugar and milk and just keep adding them together until it is a thin consistency and it tastes wonderful!!
Neeli says
Hi Ashley, I wanted to stop by and let you know that I tried your recipe for cinnamon roll bites a while back and they were delicious. My daughter and I made them for breakfast and we had a great time. One question, though, can I cut down the butter to about 1/2 a cup without compromising the taste and texture? These were tasty, but 1 cup of butter for me was a bit too rich and I would love to make them again. Thanks for the great recipe.
Ashley Fehr says
Hi Neeli! I’m glad to hear that! You would really need to substitute the butter with something. I’ve used margarine before. The butter in the biscuits would be difficult to replace, unless you found a completely different biscuit recipe that uses something other than butter (though I’m not sure what, because that’s what makes a biscuit a biscuit!). The butter that you melt to dip the balls in could likely be replaced with another oil or margarine, but you need something to get the sugar to stick and to crisp them up. I hope that helps!
Neeli says
Thanks for responding so quickly to my question. I will make this recipe again by cutting down on the melted butter and see how that works. I don’t want to replace the butter with another fat, although I love my lard biscuits, too. Either way, this recipe is still delicious and something that I look forward to making again.
Ashley Fehr says
No problem Neeli! I hope it works out well! I’d love to hear back after your try it 🙂
Anne Marie says
I found this recipe on your site the other day and I have literally made them everyday. My children love them and eat them for breakfast as well as snack, my husband loves them with a coffee and I’ll pop one in my mouth when ever I get a chance. I have even sent them into my kids teachers as a little treat and have heard nothing but praise for how delicious they are! I did add a little sugar and about a teaspoon of cinnamon to the flour mix just to give it another little pop but these are the most delicious and easy treat ever!!!
Ashley Fehr says
Thanks Anne! I’m so glad to hear they’re a hit!
Alison says
OMG! I just made these (not for the first time). I didn’t have any biscuits but I had a tube of cinnamon rolls so I used them. Wow! So good! I mixed the icing that comes with them In with what I make and it turned out so yummy!
Ashley says
I can imagine that would be so good!
Laura Hess says
If I use canned biscuit dough, how many biscuits would I need for this recipe and how many cinnamon bites would I get out of each biscuit? Cut them in fourths? It’s hard to tell from the picture just how big each “bite” is….
The recipe sounds delicious!
Ashley says
I usually roll them into about 1″ balls. Probably 4-5 out of one biscuit would be good! My biscuit recipe usually makes about 10 biscuits — I’m not sure how many biscuits come out of one package? There is plenty of sugar mix though if you have extra biscuits — you could definitely do another pan!
Sondy says
I had bout 1/2 of the sugar mixture left. Should it be sprinkled over the top before baking?
Ashley says
You could do that! I don’t think it could be a bad thing. I would just make sure there isn’t too much sitting around the balls because I think it would get quite sticky in the oven if you don’t also add more butter. Or you could also add more butter! Lol
Joelle says
Hi! So i tried this recipe out and I formed the dough into a ball but once they were baked they flattened out. Do you know where I could have gone wrong? Thanks so much!!
Ashley says
Do you mean you formed the dough into multiple balls? I would guess that you could maybe use a smaller pan and they would bake up more instead of spreading out. I would also make sure your dough is the right consistency and not too soft. Hope that helps!
Lynda Schelling says
A bunt pan works best for keeping their shape.
trever says
did you make sure that you for sure added baking powder
Gemma says
Hello! I love the idea but need to make them soon! Could I Make the mix and put it in the fridge for 30 mins to a hour? Please awnser 😀
Ashley says
I’m sure that would work! I would just add the butter just before baking.