How to make Fluffy Cinnamon Bun Cookies (With Cream Cheese Glaze!)
This recipe is part of our ongoing collaboration with our sister blog, Whisk & Wunder — where you’ll also find cozy, bilingual baking inspiration in both English and German. ✨
🇩🇪 In Zusammenarbeit mit Whisk & Wunder – Rezept auf Englisch und Deutsch verfügbar. 🇩🇪
It’s Getting Chilly Out There!
Jump to RecipeThere’s something about a snowy day that makes you crave cinnamon buns — the warm, cozy smell, the soft dough, the icing dripping over the edges. But on the night we made these, we looked out the window, saw the snow coming down sideways, realized we were out of yeast… and both said absolutely not to driving to the store.
So we turned that cinnamon bun craving into something faster, warmer, and way easier:
Cinnamon Bun Cookies.
These soft, fluffy, bakery-style cookies taste just like a cinnamon roll in cookie form — and they’re made with simple pantry ingredients. No yeast, no dough rising, no waiting. Just cinnamon sugar, buttery dough, and a sweet cream cheese drizzle that brings the full cinnamon-roll energy.
How We Get Our Cookies as Fluffy as A Cinnamon Roll…
One thing about replacing cinnamon buns with cookies is your missing the feeling of a fluffy bun fresh out of the oven.
So we pulled out our baking powder — the secret cheat code for fluffy cookies — and created a soft, puffy cookie that mimics the center of a cinnamon bun without any of the effort. By the time they came out of the oven, the whole place smelled like a bakery.
Is this recipe budget-friendly?
Very. Every ingredient in this recipe is a pantry staple — flour, butter, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and one egg. The glaze uses a tiny amount of cream cheese, but even that stretches across the whole batch.
Compared to buying cinnamon rolls (or paying $6 at a bakery), making your own batch of cookies is significantly cheaper, and you’ll get around 12-16 cookies out of it. (It really depends how big you make your cookie balls!)
Why You’ll Love It
These cookies give cinnamon roll cookies energy without any yeast, kneading, or rising. They’re soft, lightly crisp on the edges, rolled in cinnamon sugar, and finished with the dreamiest cream cheese drizzle.
Here’s what makes this recipe special:
- ✔ Fluffy, soft, bakery-style texture (thanks to baking powder — the ultimate cheat code)
- ✔ Cinnamon roll flavor in cookie form
- ✔ Ready in under 30 minutes
- ✔ No yeast required
- ✔ Perfectly spiced cinnamon-sugar coating
- ✔ Holiday-ready but delicious all year long
- ✔ Freezer-friendly
- ✔ Cozy cinnamon bun vibe without the fuss
If You Love This, You’ll Love…
✨ No-Bake Chai Truffles
https://tastycue.com/no-bake-chai-truffles/
Creamy, spiced truffles with cozy chai flavor — your new winter addiction.
✨ Banana Beer Cake with Streusel Topping
https://tastycue.com/banana-beer-cake-with-streusel-topping/
Warm banana cake made with winter ale and topped with buttery streusel. Surprisingly addictive.
✨ The Best Oatmeal Raisin Cookies You’ve Ever Tried
https://tastycue.com/the-best-oatmeal-raisin-cookies-youve-ever-tried/
Soft, chewy, nostalgic — everything a perfect oatmeal cookie should be.
Pin Me! 📌
Save this recipe to your cookie boards, holiday boards, or “cozy winter baking” boards!
And you’ll want to keep this one handy for snow days.
Join Our Table 🍽️✨
If cozy, budget-friendly comfort bakes are your thing, you’ll love hanging out with us in the TastyCue newsletter. We share new recipes, seasonal baking ideas, kitchen tips, and a few behind-the-scenes moments from our life on the road.
Sign up to never miss a new recipe — and get our best no-bake treats, brunch ideas, and holiday favorites delivered straight to your inbox.
⭐ Ingredients
For the Cookies
- 1 cup unsalted butter (225g), room temperature
- ½ cup granulated sugar (100g)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed (200g)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
- 1 large egg
- 2 ⅔ cups all-purpose flour (320g), sifted
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp baking soda
- ½ tsp baking powder (our fluffiness cheat code!)
- 1 tsp cinnamon
Powder Coating
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 2 tbsp cream cheese, melted
- 2 tbsp milk
- 1.5 cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla
⭐ Directions
- Preheat the Oven:
Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper. - Cream the Butter & Sugars:
In a large bowl, beat together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy (2–3 minutes). - Add the Wet Ingredients AND the Cinnamon:
Mix in the egg and vanilla until smooth, then add the cinnamon. Adding cinnamon in at this step allows it to cling onto the fats in the recipe for a more robust taste. - Combine Dry Ingredients:
In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.
Add this mixture into the butter mixture and stir until just combined. Add slowly bit by bit if you’re making this by hand because this dough gets THICK. - Shape the Cookies:
Scoop 1–2 tbsp of dough, roll into balls, and toss each in the cinnamon-sugar powder coating. - Bake:
Arrange on your cookie sheets and bake for 11 minutes, until edges are set but centers look soft. - Cool & Glaze:
Once cooled, drizzle with the cream cheese glaze. Let it set for 10–15 minutes.
⭐ FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I freeze cinnamon bun cookie dough?
Yes! Scoop into balls, freeze on a tray, then store in a freezer bag. Bake from frozen with an extra 1–2 minutes.
Do these taste like cinnamon rolls?
Yes — these are essentially cinnamon roll cookies. They capture the flavor of a cinnamon bun but without yeast or rising time.
How do I make cinnamon cookies fluffy?
Baking powder is the secret! It’s our cheat code for soft, pillowy cookies that stay thick and tender.
Why did my cinnamon cookies spread?
Usually from butter that’s too soft or an oven running a little hot. If needed, chill your dough 15 minutes before baking.
Can I skip the glaze?
Absolutely — they become cinnamon sugar cookies without it. Still delicious!
Can I double the cinnamon?
Yes! If you love a stronger cinnamon kick, double the spice.
Can I bake cinnamon rolls on a cookie sheet?
Yes — but this recipe doesn’t require that. This cookie version gives you all the flavor with none of the work.
Can I add white chocolate or nuts?
White chocolate chips pair beautifully with cinnamon.
How to Store / Meal Prep
- Room temperature: 3–4 days in an airtight container
- Refrigerator: 1 week
- Freezer: Up to 3 months (baked or as dough)
- With glaze: Add parchment between layers
These also make wonderful holiday gifts or bake-ahead freezer cookies.
🍴 The Final Forkful
These Cinnamon Bun Cookies were born out of a snowstorm, an empty yeast jar, and the need for something warm and comforting but these cookies ended up being everything we wanted and more. Fluffy, cinnamon-swirled, bakery-style, and topped with the easiest cream cheese glaze.
If you make them, tag us @tastycue so we can see your beautiful cookie creations!
Much love,
Sidney & Thomas
How to make Cinnamon Bun Cookies with Cream Cheese Glaze!
Ingredients
Method
- Heat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, beat together butter, granulated sugar, and brown sugar until light and fluffy.1 cup butter, ½ cup granulated sugar, 1 cup brown sugar
- Mix in the egg and vanilla until smooth, then add the cinnamon. Adding cinnamon in at this step allows it to cling onto the fats in the recipe for a more robust taste.2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 large egg, 1 tsp cinnamon
- In a separate bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.2⅔ cups all-purpose flour, ½ tsp kosher salt, ½ tsp baking soda, ½ tsp baking powder
- Add this mixture into the butter mixture and stir until just combined. Add slowly bit by bit if you’re making this by hand because this dough gets THICK.
- Scoop 1–2 tbsp of dough, roll into balls, and toss each in the cinnamon-sugar powder coating before placing on your baking sheet.1 tsp cinnamon, 1 tbsp granulated sugar, 1 tbsp brown sugar
- Bake for 11 minutes, until edges are set but centers look soft. While these are baking, combine all the ingredients for the cream cheese glaze together in a small bowl.2 tbsp cream cheese, 2 tbsp milk, 1½ cups icing sugar, 1 tsp vanilla
- Once cooled, drizzle with the cream cheese glaze. Let it set for 10–15 minutes.
Nutrition
Notes
- The nutrition information provided here is intended as a rough guide, only. We are not licensed nutritionists.
One Comment