15 Delicious Fall Cinnamon Rolls Recipes
Cinnamon rolls are perfect for fall mornings when it’s getting chilly outside and you want your house to smell amazing. These 15 recipes take the classic cinnamon roll and add all the best fall flavors like pumpkin, apple, and maple. Most of these can be prepped the night before so you just pop them in the oven when you wake up. Nothing beats warm cinnamon rolls on a crisp autumn morning.
Classic Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting
These are the gold standard that all other cinnamon rolls get measured against. The dough is soft and pillowy, the cinnamon sugar filling gets all gooey, and the cream cheese frosting is tangy and sweet. Getting the dough right takes practice but it’s worth it. These freeze really well so you can make a double batch and save some for later. Perfect for weekend mornings when you got time to do it right.
Get the recipe here.
Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
Adding pumpkin puree to the dough makes these super moist and gives them that beautiful orange color. The filling has extra spices like nutmeg and cloves along with the cinnamon. These taste like fall in a roll and make your kitchen smell incredible. The pumpkin also helps keep them soft for longer than regular rolls. Great for Thanksgiving morning or any time you want something cozy.
Get the recipe here.
Apple Cider Cinnamon Rolls
These use apple cider in both the dough and the glaze which gives them a deep apple flavor. The cider reduces down and gets concentrated so it’s not too sweet. Some recipes have you add diced apples to the filling too which gives little bursts of fruit. These are perfect when apple cider is everywhere in fall and you want to use it for something besides just drinking.
Get the recipe here.
Maple Pecan Cinnamon Rolls
Real maple syrup in these makes all the difference – don’t use the fake stuff. The pecans add crunch and that nutty flavor that goes so good with maple. You can put pecans in the filling, on top, or both depending how nutty you want them. These taste like fancy bakery rolls but aren’t actually that much harder to make. Perfect with coffee on a lazy Sunday morning.
Get the recipe here.
Brown Butter Cinnamon Rolls
Browning the butter takes a few extra minutes but adds this amazing nutty flavor that regular cinnamon rolls don’t have. You brown the butter for both the dough and the frosting. The smell while you’re browning the butter is almost as good as the finished rolls. These taste more complex and grown-up than regular ones. Worth the extra step if you want something special.
Get the recipe here.
Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
These have diced apples mixed into the cinnamon filling and a gooey caramel glaze on top. The apples get soft and jammy while baking and the caramel soaks into the rolls. You can use store-bought caramel sauce or make your own if you’re feeling ambitious. These are like having apple pie and cinnamon rolls at the same time. Super decadent but perfect for special occasions.
Get the recipe here.
Spiced Chai Cinnamon Rolls
Instead of just cinnamon, these use all the chai spices like cardamom, ginger, and cloves. The spice blend is more complex and interesting than regular cinnamon rolls. Some recipes add a chai glaze made with strong tea which doubles down on the flavor. These go perfect with actual chai tea or coffee. Good for when you’re tired of the same old cinnamon roll flavors.
Get the recipe here.
Sweet Potato Cinnamon Rolls
Sweet potato puree in the dough makes these orange colored and super soft. The natural sweetness means you can cut back on sugar a little. Sweet potatoes have more flavor than pumpkin in my opinion, so these taste more interesting. The orange color looks really pretty too. These stay moist for days which makes them good for making ahead when you got company coming.
Get the recipe here.
Cranberry Orange Cinnamon Rolls
The tart cranberries balance out the sweet dough and the orange zest brightens everything up. You can use fresh cranberries when they’re in season or dried ones the rest of the time. The orange comes through in both the dough and the glaze. These look really festive with the red cranberries showing through. Perfect for holiday mornings when you want something a little different.
Get the recipe here.
Pumpkin Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
These have pumpkin in the dough AND cream cheese swirled into the filling before rolling up. The cream cheese gets all melty and creates pockets of tanginess that balance the sweet pumpkin. They’re more complex than regular pumpkin rolls and look really pretty when you slice them. The swirl technique takes a little practice but isn’t too hard once you get it.
Get the recipe here.
Maple Glazed Walnut Cinnamon Rolls
The walnuts add crunch and earthiness that goes perfect with the maple glaze. You can toast the walnuts first for even more flavor which is worth the extra step. The maple glaze soaks into the rolls while they’re still warm. These feel very fall-like and cozy. Good for when you want nuts but pecans are too expensive or you just prefer walnuts.
Get the recipe here.
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
These have diced apples mixed with cinnamon and a little cornstarch in the filling, just like apple pie filling. The apples get soft and jammy while baking. Some recipes add a streusel topping which makes them even more like apple pie. These are substantial and filling – more like having dessert for breakfast which isn’t always a bad thing. Perfect for weekend mornings when you want something special.
Get the recipe here.
Cinnamon Sugar Pear Cinnamon Rolls
Pears are underused in baking but they work really good in cinnamon rolls. They get soft and sweet and have a more delicate flavor than apples. The pears don’t need much sugar since they’re naturally sweet. These are a nice change from all the apple and pumpkin stuff that’s everywhere in fall. Good for when you find really ripe pears and want to use them up.
Get the recipe here.
Autumn Spice Cinnamon Rolls
These use a blend of all the fall spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and ginger. The spice mix is warm and complex and makes your whole house smell amazing while they bake. You can buy pre-made autumn spice blends or mix your own. These taste like fall in a roll without being tied to one specific flavor like pumpkin or apple. Perfect for when you want maximum cozy fall vibes.
Get the recipe here.
Bourbon Caramel Cinnamon Rolls
The bourbon in the caramel sauce adds depth and makes these taste grown-up. Most of the alcohol cooks off but you still get that complex flavor. The caramel gets thick and sticky and soaks into the rolls. These are definitely not for kids but perfect for adults who want something a little fancy. Great for holiday mornings when you want to feel sophisticated with your breakfast pastry.
Get the recipe here.