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    Home ~ Recipes ~ Recipes For One

    Easy Small Batch Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

    LAST UPDATED: Jul 3, 2021 · PUBLISHED: Jul 3, 2021 · BY: Sydney · 9 Comments

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    These almost homemade small-batch cinnamon rolls with a creamy cream cheese frosting are the perfect weekend breakfast treat.   Easy enough to make in the morning for fresh warm rolls or you can prepare the dough the night before and pop in the oven while you make coffee.  No mixer is needed; you can make these in the middle of the night if you are suddenly hit with a cinnamon roll craving!

    This small-batch cinnamon rolls recipe fits nicely in a 6-inch cake pan and cooks perfectly in a conventional or countertop oven.

    homemade frosted cinnamon rolls in 6-inch cake pan this Recipe
    creamy homemade cinnamon rolls, just enough.

    What you will love about this recipe

    • The simple premade rolls make a quick and easy sweet treat for breakfast.
    • Adjust the filling and icing to your personal flavor.
    • No need to wait for dough to rise.
    • Tastes just as good as a traditional cinnamon roll..
    Table of Contents
    • What you will love about this recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Alternate Cinnamom Roll Icing without Cream Cheese
    • Instructions
    • 📖 Recipe
    • utensils and bakeware needed
    • How to freeze cinnamon rolls
    • Tips
    • Comments

    Ingredients

    ingredients for cinnamon rolls measuresout onpastry board.

    1 (10.2 ounces) package Pillsbury Grand Biscuits
    1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    ½ cup brown sugar
    1 tablespoons butter,softened
    4 ounces cream cheese
    4 oz cream cheese, softened
    2 tablespoons butter softened
    ¾ cup powdered sugar
    ¼ teaspoon vanilla paste

    • Pillsbury Grand Biscuits:  The 10.2-ounce package make 4 perfectly sized cinnamon rolls.
    • Cream Cheese:  I use an 8-ounce brick of full fat Philadelphia Cream Cheese. Half is used for the cinnamon filling and half for the frosting.  It’s perfectly fine to use a low-fat cream cheese. Bringing the cream cheese to room temperature before mixing will ensure a nice smooth filling and frosting.  I don’t recommend using a whipped cream cheese.
    • Butter: I use salted butter.
    • Brown Sugar: Light brown sugar lightly packed into a measuring cup.
    • Vanilla Extract: McCormick is my go-to brand and is easy to find in most grocery stores.
    • Powdered Sugar: Also known as confectioners sugar, it mixes easy and helps to make a nice smooth creamy frosting.
    • Cinnamon: Use the freshest and best ground cinnamon. My go to cinnamon is a Vietnamese variety from Morton & Basset. These are cinnamon rolls so you want a nice smooth cinnamon flavor.

    The quantities needed are listed in the recipe card.

    Alternate Cinnamom Roll Icing without Cream Cheese

    ¼ cup butter, 1 ½ cups powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon vanilla, and ¾ tablespoon milk

    Start with room temperature butter and cream until smooth, add in ½ the powdered sugar and mix well, then the milk and vanilla mixing as you go, and last add in the remaining sugar and mix until everything is smooth and creamy. if you want a thinner icing just add a few drops more milk.

    YOu can also skip the icing and lightly brust tops of rolls with melted butter and sprinkle with a cinnamon sugar topping.

    Instructions

    Open the biscuit and knead the dough together to form a small rectangle. Roll out the dough to about a 6 x 10-inch rectangle.

    biscuit dough on marble pastry board.

    In a medium bowl mix together 4 ounces of the cream cheese, 1 tablespoon butter, ground cinnamon, and ½ cup brown sugar. Use a wooden spoon to stir and smash the ingredients until smooth.

    cinnamon rolls frosting ingredients in two bowl.

    Spread the cinnamon filling over the rolled out biscuit dough.

    cinnamon roll filling spread over rolled out biscuit dough.

    Roll up like a jelly roll and cut into 4 even sections. It's a little lopsided, but that just adds the charm, right.:-). Before cutting I scored the dough to make sure to cut evenly.

    Place rolls into a parchment-lined 6-inch cake pan. Bake at 375egrees Fahrenheit for 25-30 minutes. If you are making this the day ahead, at this point you can cover and place it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.

    unbaked cinnamon rolls in 6-inch cake pan.

    While the rolls are baking make the frosting. In a medium bowl mix the powdered sugar, butter, and cream cheese together. Use a wooden spoon to mix until smooth, about 1 minute.

    When the cinnamon rolls are baked, remove from oven and let cool down to warm before spreading the frosting onto the top of the cinnamon rolls.

    Visit the web story for the slideshow version of this easy cinnamon rolls recipe.

    📖 Recipe

    homemade frosted cinnamon rolls in 6-inch cake pan

    Cinnamon Rolls

    Taste just like homemade and ready in a fraction of the time.
    4.53 from 17 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 rolls
    Calories: 475kcal
    Author:Sydney Dawes

    Ingredients

    • 1 10.2 ounces package Pillsbury Grand Biscuits

    Cinnamon Filling

    • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
    • ½ cup brown sugar
    • 1 tablespoons butter softened
    • 4 ounces cream cheese cut and 8 ounce package in half and use the other half for the frosting.

    Frosting

    • 4 oz cream cheese softened
    • 2 tablespoons butter softened
    • ¾ cup powdered sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon vanilla paste

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit
    • Open the biscuit dough package and place the dough on a lightly floured board.
    • Shape the dough into a rectangle about ½ inch high and roll out the dough into a rectangle about 6 x 1o inches.
    • Mix all the filling ingredients in a small bowl. Use a wooden spoon to mix the ingredients until smooth, about 1 minute. using room temperature ingredients makes this easier.
    • Spread the cinnamon filling over the dough.
    • Roll the dough like a jelly roll.
    • Slice into 4 uniform pieces.
    • Place on a parchment lined 6-inch cake pan and bake for 25 minutes.
    • While the rolls are baking make the frosting.
    • While the rolls are baking make the frosting. In a medium bowl mix the powdered sugar, butter and cream cheese together. Use a wooden spoon to mix until smooth, about 1 minute.
    • Mix in the vanilla extract. Cover and set aside while the rolls are baking.
    • Let the rolls cool sightly and top with the cream cheese frosting.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1g | Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 54g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 73mg | Sodium: 318mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 45g

    utensils and bakeware needed

    • 6-inch Cake pan: my go to are these cake pans from NordicWare. You can also bake the cinnamon rolls in a small casserole dish or 6 inch cast-iron skillet. For single serving size you can use a muffin pan for cute little rolls.
    • Rubber Spatula: I have these spatulas from Heirloom Living in multiple sizes. The small size is great for my small batch baking recipes.
    • Pastry board, or cutting board to roll out the dough.
    • Sharp Knife to cut the dough.
    • 2 bowls, one for the frosting and one for the filling.
    • Wooden Spoon for mixing the ingredients.
    • Rolling pin to rollout the dough. if you don't have a rolling pin then use a glass lightly floured to roll out the dough.
    • Measuring cups and spoons.

    How to freeze cinnamon rolls

    Baked cinnamon rolls should be frozen un-frosted.  After cooling wrap each roll tightly in plastic wrap and place in a Ziploc bag.   When ready to eat, heat the rolls in the microwave for about 30-45 seconds in 15-second intervals.

    The frosting is so easy to make, I suggest mixing it up fresh. However, if you want to freeze the frosting then portion it out in individual servings and freeze separately from the rolls.  When ready to frost heat in the microwave for a few seconds before spreading over the warm cinnamon roll.

    Tips

    • Butter and cream cheese should be room temperature.
    • Use a stir and smashing motion when mixing the filling and frosting to get a smooth consistency.
    I don't have a 6-inch cake pan, what can I use?

    You can use a small baking dish, Emile Henry makes some nice .75 liter baking dishes that work well. You want the rolls to bake close together in whichever pan you use.

    Can I double the recipe?

    Yes indeed! Purchase the larger package of Grand Biscuits.  Double the ingredients for the filling and frosting. You should bake in a 9-inch cake pan, pie plate or casserole dish.   Increase the baking time and check after 30 minutes, continue baking as needed.

    If you enjoy these small batch cinnamon rolls you might like to try my raspberry cream cheese muffins.

    More Recipes for One

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    • Easy Sausage and Potato Bake for One
    • Easy Chicken Divan Recipe for One
    • Thai Basil Chicken Recipe for One

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Nini2008

      September 29, 2021 at 6:48 am

      I can't WAIT to try these for the morning after Thanksgiving! I haven't seen my big brother for almost 20 years(started keeping in touch after our Mother's funeral in March of this year)& these will be awesome! I think I'll add orange extract instead of the vanilla! Or...maybe both! LOVE Orange Cinnamon Rolls! Thanks for an uber easy recipe! Sandra Lee(Semi-Homemade) would be impressed!

      Reply
      • Sydney

        September 30, 2021 at 12:25 pm

        My sympathy on the loss of your Mother. Oh yes, using an orange extract in the cream cheese frosting would be really tasty! Another really easy recipe you might like are my Cherry turnovers.

    2. Starlene Gregory

      September 25, 2021 at 7:27 am

      Over the top and exceptionally good. Have low sugar. Thanks and hope to get more quick and easy recipes.

      Reply
    3. Jay Dee

      September 22, 2021 at 2:36 pm

      Grands! Southern Homestyle Buttermilk Biscuits do not exist in Canada... nor do any of their buttermilk biscuits. Very interested in making these, but base ingredient isn't available. Sigh

      Reply
      • Sydney

        September 23, 2021 at 10:08 pm

        Hi Jay,
        I'll do a little research and see if I can find a good alternative or if they could be under a different name in Canada.

      • Nini2008

        September 29, 2021 at 6:43 am

        Just use regular canned biscuits. I'm thinking they will be quite good, also! Worth a try!

      • Sydney

        September 30, 2021 at 12:19 pm

        Thank you for this suggestion. 🙂

    4. carolyn Stephens

      September 21, 2021 at 9:51 am

      Try this recipe

      Reply
    5. kitty

      July 06, 2021 at 9:26 pm

      5 stars
      very creamy and soft, i added a little extra cinnamon.

      Reply

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