Upgrade Your Cinnamon Rolls With These Yummy Add-Ins

With their soft dough, gooey icing, and spicy sweetness, cinnamon rolls have long been a beloved breakfast item for special occasions or as a go-to treat with coffee. The formula is tried and true, and bakers rarely stray from its simplicity except for the occasional addition of raisins and nuts. But imagine taking the standard recipe into new territory. Cinnamon is one of the most readily paired spices, and the yeasty spiral of dough has room for all kinds of sweet fillings. New textures and flavors are easy to incorporate, and with just the right amount of adventurousness and restraint, you can elevate this classic treat to something novel and exciting without losing its essence.

Experimenting with different flavors doesn't have to turn cinnamon rolls into something overly complicated or worse, unrecognizable. It can simply transform the familiar classic into a delicious surprise that will delight even the most traditional cinnamon roll fans. We've found the additions that maintain the perfect balance between innovation and tradition, so the next time you have a hankering for freshly baked cinnamon rolls, you'll know exactly what to add to make them even more delicious than the original recipe.

Is there anything that doesn't taste better with bacon? Probably not, and we know for sure that cinnamon rolls most definitely do. Adding bacon also makes it easier to prove once and for all that these pastries are a legitimate breakfast item and not just a dessert. Think of the combo as a fancier version of pancakes and bacon. Although meat isn't the most obvious ingredient to add to sweet pastries, bacon plays by its own rules. Its salty, smoky succulence comes together seamlessly with the sweetness of cinnamon rolls, heightening and balancing the flavors to perfection. According to a study published in Food Reviews International, the addition of fat has also been shown to prolong certain flavors, allowing you to savor the cinnamon rolls all the more.

There are several ways to incorporate bacon into your recipe. One option is to place strips of warm, cooked bacon on the dough and roll them into the spiral. Another option is to crumble it into the filling to avoid a chewy strip of meat. A third option is even easier; sprinkle bits of bacon over the rolls after baking and frosting them. When it comes to adding this mouthwatering ingredient, it's tough to go wrong.

Considering the popularity of carrot cake, it's surprising that the root vegetable isn't incorporated into other sweet treats more regularly. They are sweet without being sugary, and since they contain less water than common additions to baked goods such as berries and other fruits, they do not require many recipe alterations. Carrot cake cinnamon rolls are the perfect treat to bake when you want a variation on the classic roll without introducing an overpowering flavor. 

Our recipe doesn't just stop at carrots though. It conjures all the best elements of a classic carrot cake to make a heavenly combination of two beloved desserts. The filling is the key, combining the standard butter, sugar, and cinnamon mixture with chopped carrots, pecans, nutmeg, vanilla, and crushed pineapple. The beauty of the recipe is that you can alter the filling to match your favorite carrot cake recipe. Swap the pineapple for raisins or use walnuts instead of pecans. Maybe you even enjoy carrot cake with nothing but carrots and spices. However you prefer your carrot cake cinnamon rolls, this recipe provides the perfect foundation.

With their vibrant hue and punchy tartness, cranberries bring a delightful twist to cinnamon rolls, introducing a burst of flavor that cuts through the sweetness without dominating. They are also a great way to inject a little holiday zing into your baking if you aren't a fan of pumpkin spice (or have already reached your limit). When adding them to cinnamon rolls, tread lightly. If you use too many, the buns will have a bitter taste that detracts from their usual harmonious flavor.

There are several ways to incorporate cranberries into a classic cinnamon roll recipe. The easiest option is to add dried cranberries to the butter, sugar, and cinnamon filling and roll them into the doughy spirals. Another option is to use fresh cranberries that you have stewed into compote or sauce. This changes the texture of the filling, making it moist and sticky rather than rich and buttery, but it also provides a striking red swirl that will stand out on even the most abundant holiday table. A third option is to add cranberries to the frosting. This hits two birds with one stone by keeping the buttery cinnamon filling intact while achieving a bright color. Simply mix cranberry sauce into the frosting and spread it over the buns.

With fall in the air, our minds are turning toward caramel apples, and what better way to sneakily incorporate this nostalgic flavor combination into your breakfast than by putting it in cinnamon rolls? Apples are naturally sweet, a little tart, and delightfully fresh. Their fruitiness offers a pleasing contrast to the warmth of the cinnamon and the richness of the butter. For the caramel flavor, simply swap white sugar for dark brown sugar and add pumpkin spice or a combination of ginger, cloves, and nutmeg to intensify the fall flavor.

The best way to include apples in your cinnamon rolls is to put them in the filling. If you want textural variations, you can cut them into small chunks. Or, if you'd prefer to add their flavor without disrupting the usual consistency of the filling, grate them with a cheese grater. Different types of apples vary widely in flavor so decide whether you want a tart or sweet and floral filling. For the former, pick Granny Smith or Pink Lady and for the latter, go for Gala or Fuji.

One of the easiest ways to add some personality to cinnamon rolls is to swap the sugar for maple syrup. This irresistible ingredient doesn't just add its signature sweetness but also introduces a warm, woodsy flavor that complements the spiciness of the cinnamon and the richness of all that butter and frosting. If pancakes just aren't luxurious enough, cinnamon rolls can easily take their place as the breakfast item of choice to be paired with the liquid gold that is maple syrup.

There are multiple ways to incorporate syrup into your cinnamon rolls. One option is to use a maple glaze instead of frosting. This provides a subtle hint of maple without making it an overwhelming flavor. But despite having an unmistakable taste, maple syrup is not as strong as extract or spirits like bourbon or rum, and you may therefore prefer to feature it more heavily in the recipe. If so, you can add it to the dough and filling in addition to the frosting, or limit it to two of the three elements. Bacon goes hand-in-hand with maple syrup, so don't hesitate to crumble some over your cinnamon rolls while you're at it.

Incorporating nuts into cinnamon rolls can give the traditional treat a pleasing textural contrast and a rich, savory flavor. To ensure uniform consistency and flavor in each bite, you can finely chop the nuts and add them directly to your dough before it's rolled out. However, most recipes call for them to be put into the filling and sprinkled on top of the icing as a garnish. If you want the flavor of nuts but do not want to alter the texture of classic cinnamon rolls more than necessary, you can grind them into a rough consistency and add them to the filling where they will melt into the spiral layers as a buttery paste.

The type of nut you choose will have a significant impact on the finished product. Pecans are a classic autumnal ingredient that provide an intoxicating toasted fragrance and rich crumble. They also pair well with other add-ins such as pumpkin, raisins, bacon, and maple syrup. If you want a strong, nutty flavor, peanuts are the answer. They'll turn the familiar cinnamon roll into a whole new treat, even if you decide to limit their inclusion to the icing. Meanwhile, pistachios are an underrated option that not only provide a uniquely sweet, earthy flavor but infuse the treat with a soft green hue to contrast.

Brown butter is an ingredient upgrade in baked goods that is so simple (all you have to do is melt the butter) that you might wonder if it makes any difference. But make no mistake that this extra step has just as big of an impact as loading up cookie dough with chocolate chips or dowsing vanilla ice cream in root beer. Brown butter has an intensely nutty, caramelized flavor and scent that suffuses an entire recipe. If you want to seriously upgrade your cinnamon rolls without bringing in a completely different ingredient, it is the perfect option.

Although browning butter is a relatively straightforward process of melting the butter in a saucepan, there are pitfalls. The difference between brown butter and burnt, unusable butter is a matter of seconds, and it is therefore crucial that you keep a close eye on the process. As it heats, the butter will begin to turn a darker color and foam. As soon as the foam begins to clear, remove the butter from the heat and decant it into a cool container so that it doesn't burn.

You can swap all the butter in the recipe for brown butter, but a little goes a long way. Sticking to the butter in the filling or opting for a brown-butter-based icing is the easiest way to incorporate the flavor into your cinnamon rolls without altering their texture.