🎉 Introduction
Imagine all the flavors of a warm, gooey cinnamon roll—buttery cinnamon sugar swirls, sweet vanilla glaze, and a soft fluffy bite—in the easy-to-make form of a muffin. These Cinnamon Roll Muffins are your perfect solution when you’re craving cinnamon rolls but don’t want the fuss of yeast and rising dough.
With a simple batter, a rich cinnamon-sugar filling, and a sweet glaze drizzle, these muffins deliver bakery-quality flavor straight from your home oven. No pork. No alcohol. Just sweet, cinnamon-spiced goodness ready in under an hour.
🧰 Equipment Needed
- Mixing bowls
- Hand mixer or whisk
- Muffin tin (12-count)
- Muffin liners or non-stick spray
- Measuring cups & spoons
- Small saucepan (for glaze)
- Spatula
🛒 Ingredients
🥚 Fresh Produce
- 1 large egg
🥣 Dry Ingredients
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 cup powdered sugar (for glaze)
🧈 Dairy
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ⅝ cup milk (equals ½ cup + 2 tablespoons)
🍯 Flavoring
- 1½ teaspoons vanilla extract (divided: ½ tsp for batter, 1 tsp for glaze)
👩🍳 Directions
Step 1: Preheat & Prepare Pan
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease well with non-stick spray.
Step 2: Mix the Dry Ingredients
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
Step 3: Prepare the Wet Ingredients
- In a separate bowl, beat egg, melted butter, milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.
Step 4: Combine Wet and Dry
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just combined. Do not overmix—the batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.
Step 5: Make Cinnamon Sugar Filling
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and remaining cinnamon.
Step 6: Assemble the Muffins
- Spoon a tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup.
- Sprinkle a generous teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar filling over the batter.
- Top with another tablespoon of batter to cover the filling.
- Sprinkle remaining cinnamon-sugar mix evenly over the tops of all muffins.
Step 7: Bake
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
Step 8: Prepare Vanilla Glaze
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1–2 tablespoons milk until smooth and pourable.
Step 9: Glaze & Serve
- Drizzle glaze over warm muffins and enjoy!
🍽️ Servings & Timing
- Servings: 12 muffins
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Bake Time: 15–18 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
🧊 Storage & Reheating
- Room Temperature:
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. - Refrigerator:
Store for up to 5 days — microwave for 10–15 seconds to warm before serving. - Freezing:
Freeze unfrosted muffins for up to 2 months. Thaw and glaze fresh before serving.
🥄 Variations
- Cream Cheese Glaze: Substitute half of the powdered sugar with softened cream cheese for a richer glaze.
- Nutty Cinnamon Swirl: Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling.
- Chocolate Chip Swirl: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips with the cinnamon sugar.
- Spiced-Up Version: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon filling.
- Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend.
- Dairy-Free Option: Use plant-based butter and almond milk.
- Vegan-Friendly: Replace egg with a flax egg and use dairy-free substitutes.
- Extra Gooey: Add a dollop of cinnamon-sugar paste (butter, cinnamon, brown sugar mix) in the middle.
- Mini Muffins: Bake in a mini muffin tin and reduce bake time to 10–12 minutes.
- Apple Cinnamon Twist: Add a few spoonfuls of finely diced apples into the batter.
❓ 10 FAQs
- What’s the texture of these muffins?
Soft and fluffy with a sweet, gooey cinnamon swirl and a crisp sugar top. - Do I need to use liners?
Liners make cleanup easier, but greasing the pan well also works. - Can I skip the glaze?
Yes, but it adds a lovely finish. You can dust with powdered sugar instead. - How can I make them richer, like cinnamon rolls?
Add a tablespoon of sour cream or Greek yogurt to the batter for extra moistness. - What kind of cinnamon should I use?
Ground Ceylon cinnamon for a milder flavor, or Cassia cinnamon for boldness. - Are these muffins overly sweet?
They are perfectly balanced—not as sweet as cinnamon rolls but just right with the glaze. - Can I make them ahead for a brunch?
Yes, bake a day before and glaze just before serving. - Can I make jumbo muffins?
Yes, use a jumbo muffin tin and adjust baking time to 20–22 minutes. - How can I make the cinnamon flavor stronger?
Add a touch of cinnamon extract to the glaze. - Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe scales up easily for larger batches.
🏁 Conclusion
These Cinnamon Roll Muffins are the perfect fusion of cinnamon roll decadence and muffin simplicity. No yeast. No rising time. Just soft, swirled, bakery-style muffins that’ll fill your kitchen with warm, cinnamon-spiced aroma in no time.
It’s a pork-free, alcohol-free, family-favorite recipe you’ll be making on repeat. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or a sweet afternoon snack!

Cinnamon Roll Muffins Recipe – Sweet, Soft & Delicious Bakery-Style Treats
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease well with non-stick spray.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, granulated sugar, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon.
- In a separate bowl, beat egg, melted butter, milk, and ½ teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth.
- Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and mix until just combined. Do not overmix—the batter should be thick and slightly lumpy.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar and remaining cinnamon.
- Spoon a tablespoon of batter into each muffin cup.
- Sprinkle a generous teaspoon of the cinnamon-sugar filling over the batter.
- Top with another tablespoon of batter to cover the filling.
- Sprinkle remaining cinnamon-sugar mix evenly over the tops of all muffins.
- Bake for 15–18 minutes, or until muffins are golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.
- Let muffins cool in the tin for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 1–2 tablespoons milk until smooth and pourable.
- Drizzle glaze over warm muffins and enjoy!
Notes
Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Refrigerator:
Store for up to 5 days — microwave for 10–15 seconds to warm before serving. Freezing:
Freeze unfrosted muffins for up to 2 months. Thaw and glaze fresh before serving. 🥄 Variations Cream Cheese Glaze: Substitute half of the powdered sugar with softened cream cheese for a richer glaze. Nutty Cinnamon Swirl: Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling. Chocolate Chip Swirl: Sprinkle mini chocolate chips with the cinnamon sugar. Spiced-Up Version: Add a pinch of nutmeg or cardamom to the cinnamon filling. Gluten-Free: Use a 1:1 gluten-free flour blend. Dairy-Free Option: Use plant-based butter and almond milk. Vegan-Friendly: Replace egg with a flax egg and use dairy-free substitutes. Extra Gooey: Add a dollop of cinnamon-sugar paste (butter, cinnamon, brown sugar mix) in the middle. Mini Muffins: Bake in a mini muffin tin and reduce bake time to 10–12 minutes. Apple Cinnamon Twist: Add a few spoonfuls of finely diced apples into the batter. ❓ 10 FAQs What’s the texture of these muffins?
Soft and fluffy with a sweet, gooey cinnamon swirl and a crisp sugar top. Do I need to use liners?
Liners make cleanup easier, but greasing the pan well also works. Can I skip the glaze?
Yes, but it adds a lovely finish. You can dust with powdered sugar instead. How can I make them richer, like cinnamon rolls?
Add a tablespoon of sour cream or Greek yogurt to the batter for extra moistness. What kind of cinnamon should I use?
Ground Ceylon cinnamon for a milder flavor, or Cassia cinnamon for boldness. Are these muffins overly sweet?
They are perfectly balanced—not as sweet as cinnamon rolls but just right with the glaze. Can I make them ahead for a brunch?
Yes, bake a day before and glaze just before serving. Can I make jumbo muffins?
Yes, use a jumbo muffin tin and adjust baking time to 20–22 minutes. How can I make the cinnamon flavor stronger?
Add a touch of cinnamon extract to the glaze. Can I double the recipe?
Absolutely! This recipe scales up easily for larger batches. 🏁 Conclusion These Cinnamon Roll Muffins are the perfect fusion of cinnamon roll decadence and muffin simplicity. No yeast. No rising time. Just soft, swirled, bakery-style muffins that’ll fill your kitchen with warm, cinnamon-spiced aroma in no time. It’s a pork-free, alcohol-free, family-favorite recipe you’ll be making on repeat. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or a sweet afternoon snack!