33 Cinnamon Recipes For A Cozy Fall Day

Whether they are used in sweet or savory dishes, spices add flavor, zest, and complexity. Among the group of warming spices, cinnamon is king. Though this spice harvested from the inner bark of a tree originally comes from Southeast Asia, it is now grown in other regions and enjoys an international reputation as a pantry staple. The variety you should be use if possible is Ceylon cinnamon, as it has the best taste though cassia is often presented as a close mimic. Whole cinnamon is often seen as a spiraled stick that is a bit clumsy to handle unless you want to add it to a hot toddy. Instead, most of it is now ground into a fine powder that is easier to manage.

In the U.S., cinnamon is strongly associated with fall as soon as the season begins and the weather turns cool and crisp. Cinnamon often finds its best partners in desserts, but its ability to turn a regular hot beverage into a cozy and comforting drink seems almost magical. Of course, this is how cinnamon works — even a light sprinkle on top of toast or oatmeal can have a transformative effect. If you're looking for inspiration as fall approaches, browse these sweet and savory recipes and get ready for the change of seasons.

This buttery cinnamon bread will instantly transport you to the coziest season. Aromatic cinnamon sugar is swirled through the vanilla-flavored batter, providing the ideal amount of fragrance and crunch with each slice.

There are no restrictions with this bread, which works as breakfast or a comforting afternoon treat and is best paired with coffee or tea. As it's enriched with buttermilk, it's super moist. You can serve it as-is, but a dollop of whipped butter or cream cheese frosting will complement it nicely, too.

Recipe: Classic Cinnamon Bread

When you don't have a Cinnabon nearby, this copycat recipe will yield similar results. To mimic Cinnabon's flavor, it uses a considerable amount of cinnamon, which makes these rolls intensely aromatic. The dough is soft, tender, and moist, too, while the recipe also includes a cream cheese frosting that's enriched with vanilla and butter.

Make the dough ahead and bake the rolls the next day. These also freeze well, so you can easily store them for when the next cinnamon craving kicks in.

Recipe: Copycat Cinnabon Cinnamon Roll

If you can't decide whether to have pancakes or cinnamon rolls for breakfast, we've got you covered. This cinnamon roll pancake recipe combines the best of both worlds and is perfect for all those slow fall breakfasts.

The recipe includes a cinnamon-infused pancake batter and an additional, darker cinnamon mix that is swirled on top of the pancakes. This yields soft and tender pancakes with a neat design, and the double dose of cinnamon makes them extra-comforting and aromatic. Serve them with frosting or syrup and fresh fruit.

Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Pancake

This recipe confirms that cinnamon and white chocolate make perfect partners. These blondies are incredibly easy to make in one bowl. They are already perfect as-is, but you can easily tweak them with additional ingredients.

These blondies are soft, chewy, and aromatic. The white chocolate chips add texture and pair nicely with a white chocolate drizzle. The most challenging part is waiting for the blondies to cool off before slicing.

Recipe: Cinnamon Blondies

Why make a batch of normal-size cinnamon rolls when you can make one giant roll and serve it as a centerpiece? The recipe includes classic ingredients, but instead of making individual rolls, you cut strips of dough and wrap them into a single, giant roll. This treat has plenty of cinnamon, ideal for anyone who believes that you can never have too much of the stuff.

This is an excellent recipe if you want a communal breakfast where everyone is invited to join in the fun and cut a piece for themselves.

Recipe: Giant Cinnamon Roll

Cinnamon is a versatile spice and should not only be used in pastries and desserts. This recipe shows that cinnamon can be a game-changer in savory dishes and perfectly complements chicken.

While there are no unusual ingredients or complicated techniques, the recipe calls for an overnight marinade, so make sure to plan. Later,  you will reduce the cinnamon-laced marinade and use it as an accompanying sauce. The chicken is also finished in the oven to attain a glossy glaze.

Recipe: Baked Chicken With Cinnamon

This is one cinnamon-fueled fusion you probably never thought of doing but combining cinnamon rolls and carrot cake results in a great dessert.

The recipe is made with a classic yeasted dough, but instead of the standard filling, it uses a mix of ingredients that you will usually find inside a carrot cake, including carrots, pineapple, crushed pecans, and, of course, a good dose of cinnamon. In line with tradition, the rolls are smothered in cream cheese frosting. Serve the rolls warm for a cozy autumnal breakfast or brunch.

Recipe: Carrot Cake Cinnamon Rolls

This recipe blends cinnamon rolls and cookies into a simple fusion dessert that you can whip up in no time. The trick is to use store-bought pastry crust instead of yeasted dough to get that typical cookie texture.

The pastry is smothered with butter and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar before rolling into a log. The cookies are then sliced from the roll, meaning you will get a nice cinnamon swirl in each one. After baking, drizzle them with frosting, just as you would with a traditional cinnamon roll.

Recipe: Quick Mini Cinnamon Roll Cookies

Although the rolls in this recipe are made from scratch, a clever twist allows you to skip yeast to avoid a long proof. This means that you can have a batch of fresh cinnamon rolls at your breakfast table in no time.

The recipe uses Greek yogurt to create a tender, moist dough, a prerequisite for a good cinnamon roll. The filling is a classic mix of cinnamon, brown sugar, and butter. Instead of a traditional cream cheese frosting, the recipe suggests an alternative made with vanilla-flavored yogurt.

Recipe: From-Scratch Cinnamon Rolls

If you enjoy prepping elaborate breakfasts or creative brunches, this recipe is ideal. There are no complicated techniques or quirky ingredients, but the recipe calls for a longer proofing time and a bit more work in the kitchen.

The rolls are made with a butter-enriched dough that uses a sourdough starter as a leavening agent. The process is not demanding, but the dough needs more time to proof and rest, so make sure to plan. The extra work is worth it, however, as these rolls are uniquely delicious.

Recipe: Sweet Sourdough Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon and apples make up one of those old-school combos that never go out of style. But do not limit it to apple pie. This recipe shows that the two have much more potential in a stack of fluffy pancakes enriched with cinnamon and apples, all topped with stewed diced apples.

This is the perfect fall recipe. Breakfast is the obvious route with this combination, but weekend brunch or even a cozy late-night snack also sounds reasonable.

Recipe: Homemade Apple Cinnamon Pancakes

If you are a fan of Taco Bell's Cinnamon Twists, you probably thought that recreating them would be a hassle, but this recipe proves otherwise. It only calls for three ingredients, and the method could not be easier.

The most challenging thing here is finding the twisted Mexican noodle known as duros. If you manage to grab a bag, all that's left is to fry the twists until they puff up and, while they are warm, coat them in cinnamon sugar.

Recipe: Copycat Taco Bell Cinnamon Twist

This recipe pairs pumpkin seeds and a delicious cinnamon sugar glaze. The preparation is straightforward, as the seeds are coated in a buttery glaze that is sweetened and spiced with vanilla and cinnamon. 

The coated pumpkin seeds are then spread evenly onto a pan and baked until they dry out and the glaze firms up. Once baked, these seeds have a long shelf life, so you can store a big batch for your next snack session.

Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

Apple and cinnamon are the star ingredients in this muffin recipe. Diced apples are distributed through the batter, while apple sauce is used as a binder, so expect a lot of fruity flavors and plenty of moisture. Cinnamon is added to the batter, too, and you will also find it in the crunchy crumble scattered on top.

This is a very fragrant muffin recipe where the flavors are perfectly aligned with autumn. It is also a slightly healthier alternative for some, as it does not include milk or eggs.

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins

These muffins are simple to make and come packed with flavor, which means that they could quickly become your new favorite breakfast. The batter is laced with cinnamon and incorporates diced apples, making these muffins moist and flavorful.

You could leave them as-is, but it's best to follow the suggestion to top them with the oat-based crumble. The crunchy topping made with brown sugar and cinnamon will add texture, complexity, and fragrance.

Recipe: Apple Cinnamon Muffin

This is perhaps the healthiest and most wholesome cinnamon recipe on the list. It is also one of the easiest to make, as a slow cooker will do almost all of the work.

All you have to do is assemble the ingredients. Start with diced apples mixed with raisins and spices, then add oats, milk, vanilla, and spices (including cinnamon). Then, leave the whole thing to cook. This recipe is a great option when you want to wake up and have a warm bowl of oats all set and ready.

Recipe: Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal