Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Soft, buttery sugar cookie dough swirled with cinnamon-brown sugar filling — everything you love about cinnamon rolls, now in cookie form.

These Cinnamon Roll Cookies are cozy, cinnamony, and irresistibly soft. Each cookie has a beautiful spiral of cinnamon-sugar filling — just like a classic cinnamon roll — but with the crisp edges and buttery bite of a cookie. Drizzle them with vanilla icing and they instantly look like a bakery treat.

They’re festive, nostalgic, and perfect for Christmas, brunch platters, teacher gifts, or a cozy weekend bake. And the best part? The dough is surprisingly easy to work with, and the cookies slice beautifully.

Let’s bake the most charming cookies of the season. ✨

⭐ Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Cinnamon-swirled, bakery-style appearance
• Soft, buttery, melt-in-your-mouth cookie texture
• Cozy cinnamon roll flavor
• Pretty icing drizzle for a wow factor
• Slice-and-bake dough = perfect swirls
• Make-ahead friendly
• Kid-approved and great for gifting

🥣 Ingredients (with notes)

Cookie Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt

Cinnamon Filling

• ¼ cup butter, melted
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp ground cinnamon

Vanilla Icing

• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

🍪 Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Make the dough

Beat butter and sugar until creamy.
Mix in egg and vanilla.
Add flour, baking powder, and salt until dough forms.

2. Roll out

Roll dough into a 9×12-inch rectangle on parchment paper.

3. Add filling

Brush melted butter over dough.
Sprinkle brown sugar + cinnamon evenly across the surface.

4. Roll up

Using the parchment, roll tightly from the long side into a log.
Freeze 20–30 minutes for cleaner slicing.

5. Slice

Cut into ½-inch slices using a sharp knife.

6. Bake

Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until edges are just set.

7. Cool + glaze

Cool completely, then drizzle with vanilla icing.

🌟 Pro Tips for Success

• Chill or freeze the log for perfect spirals.
• Do not overbake — edges should barely turn golden.
• Add a bit of cornstarch for extra-soft cookies (optional: 1 tsp).
• Use softened butter, not melted, for the cookie dough.
• For thicker cookies, roll the log more loosely.

🎨 Variations

• Maple Cinnamon: add 1 tsp maple extract to icing
• Snickerdoodle Style: add ½ tsp cream of tartar to dough
• Orange Cinnamon Rolls: add 1 tsp orange zest to filling
• Cardamom Cinnamon Swirl: add ¼ tsp cardamom to filling
• Cream Cheese Glaze: swap icing for cream cheese frosting

🧊 Storage + Make-Ahead Tips

• Room temp: 4–5 days
• Fridge: stays fresh for 1 week
• Freeze dough log: up to 2 months
• Freeze baked cookies: glaze after thawing
• Bake from frozen: add +2 minutes

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Buttery, soft cookies filled with cinnamon-sugar swirl and drizzled with vanilla icing. A fun, cozy twist on classic cinnamon rolls.

• 1 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 2 ¾ cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ cup melted butter
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• ½ cup powdered sugar
• 1 –2 tbsp milk
• ½ tsp vanilla

1. Beat butter and sugar.
2. Add egg and vanilla.
3. Mix in flour, baking powder, salt.
4. Roll into 9×12 rectangle.
5. Add melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon.
6. Roll into log; freeze 20 minutes.
7. Slice and bake at 350°F for 10–12 minutes.
8. Cool and drizzle icing.

❓ FAQ

Why did my spirals spread?
Dough was too warm — chill log before slicing.

Why are my cookies dry?
Likely overbaked. Remove when edges are pale and centers look soft.

Can I skip the icing?
Yes — but the drizzle makes them taste like real cinnamon rolls!