Cinnamon Roll Waffles
Cinnamon roll waffles are fluffy on the inside, crispy on the edges, and packed with cozy cinnamon flavor because they’re made with cinnamon roll dough! The cream cheese glaze is the perfect finishing touch.
When you can’t decide between having waffles or cinnamon rolls, the answer is clear: it’s time to make a batch of cinnamon roll waffles for breakfast.
Does that mean making waffle batter from scratch? Whipping up a brown sugar cinnamon filling and finding a way to swirl it into waffles? Nope and nope! This cinnamon roll waffle recipe is ridiculously easy—you use refrigerated cinnamon roll dough to make them!
Yep, the same cinnamon roll dough sold in tubes at the grocery store can be placed right in your waffle maker to literally make cinnamon rolls in waffle form. Whip up a simple cream cheese glaze and you’re done!
About this cinnamon roll waffle recipe
So what happens when you put cinnamon roll dough in a waffle iron? Magic!
Okay, not exactly magic. But pretty close!
You’ll end up with waffles that are fluffy and crispy on the edges, just like with traditional waffles, but they also have a little bit more substance and chewiness to them since they’re made with a yeasted dough.
You will need a waffle maker for this recipe, and a Belgian waffle iron is best because it creates big pockets in the waffles that get crispy and caramelized, and that also happen to do an excellent job holding that cream cheese glaze!
They go great with bacon and eggs (scrambled, over easy, basted, over medium, over hard…. what’s your favorite way to eat an egg?).
What you need
While you can use the glaze that comes with the package of cinnamon roll dough, the homemade version is definitely worth the extra effort!
- For the glaze: Cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, heavy cream, pinch of salt
- For the cinnamon roll waffles: Nonstick spray, cinnamon roll dough
How to make them
Make the cream cheese glaze. Place the softened cream cheese and butter in a mixing bowl and use an electric mixer to beat them together until they’re smooth. Beat in the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, followed by the heavy cream and salt. The mixture should be light and fluffy after a minute or two.
Prepare. Preheat your waffle maker to medium and coat the plates with the nonstick spray. Separate the cinnamon roll dough.
Tip: If you have a round waffle maker you will only be able to make one cinnamon roll waffle at a time, but a rectangular waffle maker with four square plates will be able to make four cinnamon roll waffles at a time.
Make the waffles. Place one piece of dough into the center of the waffle maker; close the cover and cook for about 3 minutes, or until the waffle is golden and crispy on the edges. Remove and repeat with the remaining dough.
Tip: How long to cook cinnamon rolls in a waffle maker depends on your model. Check after 2 to 3 minutes and cook them longer if needed.
Warm the glaze. Heat the cream cheese glaze in the microwave in 30 second bursts until it’s pourable. Drizzle the cream cheese glaze over the cinnamon roll waffles and serve immediately.
FAQs
What else can be made in a waffle maker?
In addition to cinnamon roll waffles, try making hash browns in your waffle maker!
Are sticky buns the same as cinnamon rolls?
No, sticky buns are made with a caramel-like mixture of nuts and brown sugar at the bottom of the pan, which is where their “sticky” name comes from. Cinnamon rolls don’t have nuts and instead of the caramel topping, they’re finished with cream cheese frosting.
Are cinnamon rolls American?
Cinnamon rolls actually originated in Sweden, where they’re called kanelbulle, but the big, fluffy cinnamon rolls we know and love, slathered with a thick coating of cream cheese frosting are definitely an American creation!
How to make these cinnamon roll waffles your own
Want to customize this recipe? Here are a few of our favorite ideas!
- Switch up the glaze. If you’re not a fan of cream cheese frosting or glazes, you can use a simple powdered sugar and milk glaze instead, or top your cinnamon roll waffles with whipped cream (try cinnamon whipped cream), Nutella, maple syrup, or strawberry sauce. For even more cinnamon flavor, try our cinnamon cream cheese glaze!
- Layer on the toppings. Candied pecans, fried apples, or both would be delicious on these cinnamon roll waffles!
- Make sticky bun waffles. Instead of cream cheese frosting, drizzle the cooked waffles with homemade caramel sauce and chopped nuts.
Storage Suggestions
Unglazed waffles will keep for 2 days at room temperature in an airtight container. The glaze should be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
You can also freeze the unglazed cinnamon rolls for up to a month.
Reheating Tips
Reheat leftover waffles in the microwave for 30 seconds; if you’re reheating them from frozen, you’ll need to cook them a bit longer. The cream cheese glaze can also be heated in the microwave.
More cozy cinnamon recipes
Get the Recipe: Cinnamon Roll Waffles
Ingredients
- 4 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons butter, softened
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 pinch salt
- nonstick spray (for the waffle maker)
- 1 can (12.4 ounce) Pillsbury cinnamon roll dough (8 count)
Instructions
- Begin by making the cream cheese glaze. Add the cream cheese and soft butter to a mixing bowl. Use a handheld electric whisk to beat together until smooth and lump-free.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract and beat until smooth.
- Add the heavy cream and salt and beat for a minute or two until light and fluffy. Set aside for now.
- To make the Cinnamon Roll Waffles, turn the waffle maker to medium and spray the top and bottom plates with non-stick.
- Separate the cinnamon rolls and when the waffle maker is at temperature add one of the cinnamon rolls to the center.
- Close the waffle maker and cook for 3 minutes. When ready the cinnamon roll waffles will be a light golden color and look crispy.
- Remove from the waffle maker and set aside. Repeat with the remaining cinnamon rolls.
- If needed, warm the cream cheese glaze in the microwave in 15 second bursts until it reaches a pourable consistency. Drizzle the cream cheese glaze on top of the cinnamon roll waffles and serve immediately.
Notes
- Serving size will depend on what size can of cinnamon roll dough you buy. Since Pillsbury comes in a number of sizes you can adjust the serving to meet your requirements.
- Some cinnamon rolls come without the perforations to separate them. If this is the case then we suggest cutting them to a width of 2cm each.
- If you have a round waffle maker, you will only be able to make one cinnamon roll waffle at a time otherwise they will become misshapen. If you have a rectangular waffle maker with four square plates you will be able to make four cinnamon roll waffles at a time.
- Cinnamon Roll Waffles generally take around 3 minutes to cook. You can tell when they are ready as they will turn from a soft dough like appearance to golden brown and crispy. However, they will still be soft when you bite into them!
- Storage: Leftover cinnamon rolls that have not had cream cheese glaze added to them will keep for 2 days stored at room temperature in an airtight container. They can be reheated for 30 seconds in the microwave. Cinnamon rolls (without the glaze) can be frozen for up to one month and reheated from frozen. Cream cheese glaze should be kept refrigerated where it will keep for 3 days.