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Cinnamon Roll Bites Recipe

4.8 from 72 reviews

These Cinnamon Roll Bites are a delightful twist on classic cinnamon rolls, featuring bite-sized dough balls coated in a buttery cinnamon sugar mixture, baked with a rich brown sugar filling, and drizzled with a smooth vanilla glaze. Perfect for breakfast or a sweet snack, they’re easy to prepare and irresistibly delicious.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough and Coating

  • 2 cans Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
  • 3 tablespoons butter, melted
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Brown Sugar Filling

  • 4 tablespoons brown sugar
  • ½ stick butter (4 tablespoons), melted
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ cup heavy cream

Vanilla Glaze

  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons milk

Other

  • Nonstick cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the cinnamon roll bites.
  2. Prepare Dough Balls: Cut each cinnamon roll into 4 equal pieces and roll each piece into a ball, pinching the sides to seal well to prevent filling leakage during baking. Set the dough balls aside.
  3. Make Butter-Cinnamon Coating: In a mixing bowl, whisk together melted butter, granulated sugar, and ground cinnamon until smooth to create the coating for the dough balls.
  4. Coat Dough Balls: Toss the dough balls in the butter-cinnamon mixture until each is well coated, ensuring every bite is flavorful.
  5. Arrange in Baking Dish: Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with nonstick spray and place the coated dough balls in a single, even layer inside the dish for uniform baking.
  6. Prepare Brown Sugar Filling: Mix brown sugar, melted butter, ground cinnamon, and vanilla extract in a small bowl until combined. Drizzle this mixture evenly over the dough balls to add a rich, gooey filling.
  7. Add Heavy Cream and Bake: Slowly pour heavy cream between the rows of dough balls to keep them moist while baking. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue baking until the rolls are fully cooked and golden brown, approximately an additional 10-15 minutes.
  8. Make Vanilla Glaze: In a medium bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and milk until the glaze is smooth and free of clumps.
  9. Glaze and Serve: Drizzle the vanilla glaze over the warm cinnamon roll bites and serve immediately for a comforting sweet treat.

Notes

  • Make sure to pinch the dough balls tightly to prevent any filling from leaking during baking.
  • Heavy cream can be substituted with whole milk for a lighter version, though the texture will slightly differ.
  • For an extra gooey center, try adding a small cube of cream cheese inside each dough ball before rolling.
  • These bites are best served warm; reheat gently if needed.
  • Nonstick spray helps prevent the rolls from sticking and makes cleanup easier.

Keywords: cinnamon roll bites, bite-sized cinnamon rolls, cinnamon sugar dessert, easy baked cinnamon bites, Pillsbury cinnamon rolls recipe