Easy Cinnamon Roll Muffins
Written by joythebaker on September 12, 2008 – 1:53 am -
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
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.
Tags: baking, Breakfast, cinnamon rolls, Tips and Tricks
Posted in Bread, Breakfast, Recipes, Snacks, Tips and Tricks | 115 Comments »
I loved the idea of these but when I made them they came out really dense and a little chewy. Do you know why that would happen? Thanks!
I just made these too and they didn’t raise. I’m not sure what I did wrong, but I’m not giving up! I love love love cinnamon rolls and the idea of these are wonderful, I’m going to keep trying till mine look like Joy’s!!!
Hi Joy! LOVE your blog! I was in charge of baking for my work’s monthly birthday celebrations this month so I made these and some chocolate ones for today. I got RAVE reviews!! I made about 3 dozen of them and about 2 dozen of the chocolate and these went faster than the chocolate! Seriously, it’s 30 minutes past since we started and there’s maybe a dozen left. My boyfriend was my taste tester last night and he ate one… then opened his mouth and asked for more. Good stuff! Thank you soooo much!!!!
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hi joy
these are ultra yum… i also have to say though that mine were a lot doughier than yours look, they tasted more like donuts. any tips on how to make them fluffier? leave them to rise for longer?
thanks for all the delicious recipes
hello there..
i attempted muffins again and did leave them to rise for an hour, and looked just like yours woo hoo!
that’s great news.
I made these for a Labor Day this year & they loved this recipe. The muffins were not very big, the perfect bite with a lot of good flavor. It was easy to make so thank you very much. Loved it!
I believe heaven was coming down to earth when I saw the picture of your muffins! I love cinnamon, I love little cakes–it’s just perfect!
they could have been delicious but there was way too much of a yeasty flavor. euch.
Oh this website looks just amazing and I love the recipes, however after reading several of the comments it looks like the recipes do not always turn out. Seem many readers have great difficulties. There is nothing worse than baking and having it NOT turn out…I have to say that I do not want to risk it…thank-you though for your obvious effort.
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