44 Best Cinnamon Recipes

Sweet, earthy and full of warmth, these cinnamon recipes include spiced cookies, breads, cheesecakes and pancakes for cozy fall snacks and treats.

What I love most about cinnamon recipes is the comforting, familiar taste the spice brings to a dish and the endless ways I can use it in my cooking. From soft and chewy cookies rolled in cinnamon sugar to fall desserts, like apple crisp, cinnamon has the same inviting, cozy vibes as a big hug.

This collection includes classic spiced treats, like gooey cinnamon rolls, easy pancake recipes for a satisfying breakfast and sweet snacks, perfect for after school or a mid-day break. If you want a baking project, you can make a pie or strudel filled with tender fruit and flecked with cinnamon. If you are short on time, try twisting strips of prepared dough into a simple, spiced dessert ready in 20 minutes.

Beyond baking, you can infuse cinnamon into drinks, like mulled wine or creamy coquito, for a seasonal touch. Although this collection sticks to sweets, cinnamon also complements savory stews and chilis, where it cuts through rich meat or hot peppers. Keep in mind that different types of cinnamon range in intensity and flavor, so you can make the recipe as gentle or bold as you like. Store cinnamon in a cool, dark place away from moisture so the flavor stays fresh for as long as possible.

1/44

Honey Cinnamon Roll-Ups

Total Time:50 min
Servings:24
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This cinnamon treat reminds me of baklava, but with only a few easy ingredients, it's a fraction of the work. It's my aunt's recipe, and I think of her when I make it. —Susan Falk, Sterling Heights, Michigan
2/44

Can’t-Eat-Just-One Cinnamon Rolls

Contest Winner
Total Time:1 hour 20 min
Servings:2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My cinnamon rolls have been known to vanish quickly. Once I dropped off a dozen rolls for my brothers, and they emptied the pan in 10 minutes. —Regina Farmwald, West Farmington, Ohio
3/44

Cinnamon Scones

Total Time:30 min
Servings:1 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: These cinnamon scones will melt in your mouth. They’re delicious hot, warm or even room temp! —Barbara Humiston, Tampa, Florida
4/44

Mini Apple Pies

Total Time:1 hour 15 min
Servings:2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: When I was in high school, my best friend's mother baked this mini apple pie recipe every year. I was thrilled when she shared it with me—I finally felt like an adult! —Katie Ferrier, Houston, Texas
5/44

Banana Coffee Cake

Total Time:40 min
Servings:15
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: You're sure to go crazy over this yummy banana coffee cake topped with cinnamon, sugar and pecans. This recipe is so delicious that a local pecan grower asked permission to use it in one of his brochures. —Georgia Courtney, Las Cruces, New Mexico
6/44

Monkey Bread

Total Time:55 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Is it possible for four kids to cook together without total chaos in the kitchen? Yes, with the right recipe! This cinnamon roll monkey bread is a favorite with my bunch. They get to 'play' as they roll pieces of refrigerated biscuit dough into balls. —Lisa Combs, Greenville, Ohio
7/44

Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Total Time:55 min
Servings:2 loaves (16 slices each)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Here's my version of the time-honored cinnamon swirl bread. Confectioners' sugar icing makes it even more special. The recipe makes two loaves, perfect for sharing with the neighbors. —Deanna Patterson, Greenville, Texas
8/44

Snickerdoodles

Total Time:30 min
Servings:2-1/2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: The history of these whimsically named treats has been widely disputed, but their popularity is undeniable. Help yourself to one of our soft cinnamon-sugared cookies and see for yourself. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
9/44

Banana Bread Latte

Total Time:15 min
Servings:1 latte
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: On the weekends, my husband and I love to make fun, coffeehouse-style drinks. This banana bread latte is a new favorite, with hints of brown sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
10/44

Morning Buns

Total Time:1 hour 15 min
Servings:1 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Morning buns look like they could be cinnamon rolls, but the difference is they're made with a laminated croissant dough to create flaky layers throughout the rolled-up pastry. They take a little practice, but if you're up for the challenge you'll wind up with buttery, cinnamon-y bliss! —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
11/44

Apple Pancakes

Total Time:25 min
Servings:6
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My family loves these light and fluffy apple cinnamon pancakes. And best of all, they're sweet enough to enjoy even without syrup. —Kim McConnell, Tulsa, Oklahoma
12/44

Cinnamon Nut Bars

Total Time:35 min
Servings:2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Classic bar meets good-for-you ingredients in this updated recipe. If you have the patience, after the bars are cool, store them in a tin for a day to allow the flavors to meld...I think they taste even better the next day. —Heidi Lindsey, Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
13/44

Copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twists

Total Time:25 min
Servings:6
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: The secret to making light-as-air copycat Taco Bell cinnamon twists at home is a special pasta called duros that fries up in seconds. The crispy texture is delectable when coated with sugar and spice. —Nancy Mock, Southbridge, Massachusetts
14/44

Apple Strudel

Total Time:1 hour 45 min
Servings:2 strudels (8 pieces each)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This gorgeous strudel has just what you crave this time of year: thin layers of flaky crust and lots of juicy apples. —Darlene Brenden, Salem, Oregon
15/44

Giant Cinnamon Roll

Total Time:1 hour
Servings:12
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This must-try cinnamon roll is all about the pillowy texture, the sweet spices and the homemade caramel drizzle. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
16/44

Mexican Cinnamon Cookies

Total Time:35 min
Servings:12 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My extended family shares a meal every Sunday. The aunts and uncles take turns bringing everything from main dishes to desserts like this traditional Mexican cinnamon cookie called reganadas. —Adan Franco, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
17/44

Copycat Panera Bread Cinnamon Crunch Bagel

Total Time:1 hour
Servings:12 bagels
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: What happens when you take the ingredients of your favorite cereal and mix them with your bagel dough? You get a deliciously cinnamon-sugar-crusted bagel that pairs heavenly with a heavy schmear of cream cheese. —Lauren Habermehl, Pewaukee, Wisconsin
18/44

Apple Pie

Total Time:1 hour 20 min
Servings:8
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I remember coming home sullen one day because we'd lost a softball game. Grandma, in her wisdom, suggested that maybe a slice of hot apple pie would make me feel better. She was right. —Maggie Greene, Granite Falls, Washington
19/44

Cinnamon Apple Cider Monkey Bread

Total Time:1 hour 5 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I use the cold-weather staple apple cider—plus apples and more cinnamon—to turn plain cinnamon rolls into monkey bread. My boys love the sticky sweetness. —Kelly Walsh, Aviston, Illinois
20/44

Jam Cake

Total Time:1 hour 5 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I remember my Aunt Murna telling me she made this old-fashioned jam cake often when she was a young girl. Through the years, she made improvements to it, and her cake became a real family favorite. It has been a popular staple at our reunions. —Janet Robinson, Lawrenceburg, Kentucky
21/44

Crescent Roll Cinnamon Twists

Total Time:20 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This is a true 'twist' on an old favorite: refrigerated crescent rolls. You'll love how tasty they are and how fast they come together. —Ruth Vineyard, Plano, Texas
22/44

Toffee Apple Cinnamon Buns

Contest Winner
Total Time:55 min
Servings:8 cinnamon buns
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This recipe was my dad’s favorite growing up. He would sit and watch his mom sprinkle the dough with sweet filling, carefully roll it up and cut it into rounds. The anticipation waiting for them to come out of the oven was almost more than he could bear. —Jeanne Holt, Mendota Heights, Minnesota
23/44

Cinnamon Twists

Total Time:40 min
Servings:4 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: These delightful golden twists are perfect for a spring brunch or lunch. The brown sugar and cinnamon give them a delicate spicy flavor. People can rarely eat just one. —Janet Mooberry, Peoria, Illinois
24/44

Cinnamon Bread

Total Time:55 min
Servings:2 loaves (16 pieces each)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Your family will be impressed with the soft texture and appealing swirls of cinnamon in these buttery breakfast loaves. —Diane Armstrong, Elm Grove, Wisconsin
25/44

Orange-Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Cookies

Total Time:30 min
Servings:3 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I developed this recipe after years of searching for a chocolate chip cookie that would stand out from all others. Orange and cinnamon are tasty additions. —Daniel Kaepp, Coldwater, Michigan
26/44

Apple Cider Doughnut Cake

Total Time:1 hour 10 min
Servings:12
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This apple cider doughnut cake looks like a giant doughnut covered in cinnamon sugar! Thanks to the apple cider and applesauce in the batter, the Bundt cake has lots of apple flavor. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
27/44

Apple Butter Pie

Total Time:50 min
Servings:8
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My grandmother gave me this recipe, and I, in turn, have shared it with dozens of friends. Grandmother made it often for me when I was a child since I never liked pumpkin pie. —Marjorie Fowler, Summerfield, Florida
28/44

Bread Pudding with Rum Sauce

Total Time:1 hour 40 min
Servings:15 (1-1/2 cups sauce)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: A batch of bread pudding is the most delicious way to use up that loaf of day-old bread. Homemade rum sauce turns this classic recipe into something worth bragging about. —Becky Friedman, Hammond, Louisiana
29/44

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Total Time:30 min
Servings:1 dozen (050 cup syrup)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Here's a way for fans of carrot cake to have their favorite dessert for breakfast. These delicate, decadent pancakes are drizzled with sweet and spicy maple syrup that complements the sour cream and nut topping. —Leane Goering, Salem, Indiana
30/44

Horchata Icebox Cake

Total Time:20 min
Servings:12
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: This no-bake horchata icebox cake uses horchata instead of milk to turn instant pudding, cream cheese and Cool Whip into a creamy, dreamy filling between layers of graham crackers. —Molly Allen, Hood River, Oregon
31/44

Cinnamon-Sugar Cookies

Total Time:25 min
Servings:8 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My mom always had these cookies on hand. They're so good with a cup of hot chocolate, coffee or milk. —Leah Costigan, Otto, North Carolina
32/44

Cinnamon Fruit Biscuits

Total Time:30 min
Servings:10
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Because these sweet treats are so easy, I'm almost embarrassed when people ask me for the recipe. They're a snap to make with refrigerated buttermilk biscuits, sugar, cinnamon and your favorite fruit preserves. —Ione Burham, Washington, Iowa
33/44

Cinnamon Apple Pie

Total Time:2 hours 5 min
Servings:10
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Cinnamon apple pie baked in a cast iron skillet is a real stunner. This beauty, with its flaky, tender crust, also works in a 9-inch deep-dish pie plate. —Renee Schettler Rossi, New York, New York
34/44

Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Total Time:40 min
Servings:about 4 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I love cinnamon rolls, but working with yeast can be scary. These cookies give you the taste of a cinnamon roll in cookie form—no yeast required! They look like flattened cinnamon rolls and feel special enough to serve around the holidays. —Erin Raatjes, New Lenox, Illinois
35/44

Caramel Snickerdoodle Bars

Total Time:55 min
Servings:4 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: What did I do when I couldn’t decide between two of my favorite desserts? I combined them! This snickerdoodle-blondie hybrid proved even better with caramel, always a favorite ingredient. —Niki Plourde, Gardner, Massachusetts
36/44

Cinnamon Brownies

Contest Winner
Total Time:1 hour
Servings:3 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: For Christmas one year, a friend gave us a pan of these delicious brownies. Before I figured out their secret was cinnamon, half the pan was already gone! —Gail Mehle, Rock Springs, Wyoming
37/44

Snickerdoodle Cheesecake

Total Time:1 hour 35 min
Servings:16
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My maternal grandmother preferred sewing and quilting to cooking and baking, but there were some things that she cooked and baked really well. She was the only person I knew who made snickerdoodles, simple but yummy cookies that I've always enjoyed. Since cheesecake is my very favorite dessert, I couldn't resist coming up with one that re-creates those flavors. I think of my grandmother each time I make it! Sometimes I'll drizzle the slices with maple syrup. —Lisa Varner, El Paso, Texas
38/44

Mom's Chocolate Bread

Total Time:40 min
Servings:1 loaf (12 pieces)
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My mom made this divine chocolaty bread for holidays or at special request. I always think of my family when I smell it baking. —Rachel Rhodes, Princeton, North Carolina
39/44

Cinnamon Chip Chai-Spiced Snickerdoodles

Contest Winner
Total Time:45 min
Servings:about 6 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I love cinnamon chips, and this is an intriguing way to use them. Make sure to stock up on them during the holiday season. —Marietta Slater, Justin, Texas
40/44

Cinnamon Apple Cheesecake

Contest Winner
Total Time:1 hour 20 min
Servings:12
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: An attractive topping of cinnamon-spiced apple slices and a homemade oat-and-walnut crust make this creamy dessert a definite showstopper. —Emily Ann Young, Edmond, Oklahoma
41/44

Spiced Apple Rings

Total Time:40 min
Servings:2 quarts
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: Apple rings are a sweet addition to cakes and tarts. They're tender with a strong cinnamon flavor. —Margaret Knoebel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
42/44

Cinnamon Sugar Crackle Cookies

Total Time:30 min
Servings:about 6 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I get lots of compliments on these crunchy cookies. They're always part of my Christmas cookie platter. —Sarah Miller, Wauconda, Washington
43/44

Honey Cinnamon Bars

Total Time:35 min
Servings:2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: My Aunt Ellie gave us the recipe for these sweet bar cookies with cinnamon and walnuts. Drizzle with icing, and serve with coffee or tea. —Diane Myers, Star, Idaho
44/44

Spiced Toffee Cookies

Total Time:25 min
Servings:about 2 dozen
Test Kitchen Approved
From the Recipe Creator: I bake these cookies for family gatherings because my crowd likes cookies thin and chewy with a crispy exterior. The toffee bits make a happy surprise.—Gloria Bradley, Naperville, Illinois

Cinnamon Recipes FAQ

What’s the best type of cinnamon for baking?

Ground cinnamon is ideal for baking because it blends easily and evenly into doughs and batters for a uniformly spiced dessert. If you have the option to buy ground Ceylon cinnamon or Saigon cinnamon, the difference is in flavor, not function. Ceylon is milder so it works best for mellow, delicate bakes. Saigon cinnamon offers a bold, slightly fiery flavor that pairs well with spices like ginger, nutmeg and cloves.

What are some quick desserts made with cinnamon?

The quickest desserts with cinnamon use convenient shortcuts, like prepared doughs or the microwave, so assembly or cook time is minimal. Pie dough or puff pastry with butter, cinnamon and sugar can be assembled, cut, twisted and baked in no time for an easy, crispy treat that tastes like a cinnamon roll. Instead of a layer cake, add cinnamon to a vanilla mug cake, which cooks in less than three minutes and tastes best warm.

Can cinnamon be used in savory dishes?

Cinnamon adds a warm and earthy flavor to many savory dishes and is commonly used in other cuisines, including Indian, Middle Eastern and Mexican. Using whole cinnamon sticks in slow-cooked dishes such as tangy lamb tagine, stews and curries subtly infuses cinnamon into the recipe, balancing with other savory spices or hot chiles. Ground cinnamon is a great addition to spice rubs and marinades, where it can evenly disperse and then toast when cooked.