Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls are a beloved breakfast treat enjoyed by many. Their sweet cinnamon flavor and soft, pillowy texture make them a go-to for lazy weekend mornings or special occasions. However, some find the taste of standard Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls to be a bit lackluster. Thankfully, with a few simple tweaks and additions, you can easily amplify the flavor of these classic rolls and take them from bland to grand.
Why Enhance the Flavor?
You may be wondering why you’d want to mess with the original tried-and-true Pillsbury recipe. Here are some key reasons why enhancing the flavor can lead to a better breakfast experience:
- More complex, nuanced cinnamon flavor – Rather than just being generically sweet, extra spices and ingredients can add warmth, brightness, etc.
- Cover up artificial/chemical tastes – Some find the standard Pillsbury rolls to have a bit of an artificial aftertaste from all the preservatives. Extra flavors help mask this.
- Make them taste homemade – With the right additions, you can make cheap grocery store rolls taste like they came fresh from your oven.
- Satisfy your cravings – If you’re really jonesing for an incredible cinnamon roll, amping up the flavor will give you that over-the-top indulgent experience.
The possibilities are endless when you start getting creative with ways to make Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls more crave-worthy. So let’s get right into the strategies and recipes!
Ideas for Flavor Enhancements
Here are some quick hits for how to turn up the flavor dial on Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls:
Double the Spice
The iconic cinnamon swirl is what gives these rolls their name and their charm. To really emphasize the cinnamon flavor, simply double up on the amount of cinnamon sugar you normally use. Just mix together sugar and ground cinnamon to taste, and generously sprinkle it onto the dough before rolling. Pro tip: you can never have too much cinnamon!
Introduce New Spices
Cinnamon gets all the glory, but other spices can add their own unique flair. For a warming spice blend, add a pinch of nutmeg, allspice, cloves, and/or ginger. For brightness, try a dash of orange zest. For an earthy vibe, add a little cardamom. There are so many options!
Coat in Butter + Sugar
Brush each cinnamon roll liberally with melted butter, then coat the tops in a layer of sugar (brown sugar, sanding sugar, or cinnamon sugar all work here) before baking. The sugar will caramelize to a crispy glaze on top.
Cream Cheese Icing
Skip the basic vanilla frosting in favor of tangy cream cheese icing spread over the warm rolls right after they come out of the oven. Cream cheese takes these from a 9 to a 10!
Go Nuts
Chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds rolled into the dough add hearty crunch and toasty flavor. You can also sprinkle more on top of the icing.
Bake with Fruit
For a fruit-filled version, spread a layer of jam, applesauce, or lemon curd onto the dough before sprinkling the cinnamon-sugar and rolling it up. Dried fruit like raisins, cranberries, or cherries also make tasty additions.
Drizzle with Glazes
An easy powdered sugar glaze or drizzles of maple syrup, caramel, chocolate sauce, or fruit jam after baking really push these over the top.
Now that we’ve covered some quick ways to amplify cinnamon rolls, let’s look at full recipes for supremely decadent and flavorful Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls.
Gooey Pecan Sticky Bun Cinnamon Rolls
These are next-level sticky buns with an addictive pecan filling and ooey-gooey caramel glaze. They will blow regular Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls out of the water!
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with icing
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter, melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp corn syrup
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Separate cinnamon roll dough into individual portions. Using a rolling pin, roll each portion into a 5 inch circle.
- In a small bowl, stir together the melted butter, brown sugar, corn syrup, and vanilla. Spread a heaping tablespoon of the mixture onto each dough circle.
- Sprinkle each with about 2 tsp of chopped pecans. Roll up dough starting at the edge and working inward to form a log. Place in prepared baking pan with the seam side down.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. While rolls bake, make the glaze by whisking together powdered sugar and milk until smooth.
- When rolls are done baking, immediately spread the glaze evenly over the top while still hot. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
The gooey pecan filling and rich glaze transforms basic Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls into a next-level breakfast treat. Give these a try on a lazy weekend morning for a decadent way to start the day!
Apple Pie Cinnamon Rolls
These apple-filled cinnamon rolls taste just like a slice of warm apple pie. Cinnamon-sugar swirled dough envelops sweet, soft baked apples for the ultimate breakfast indulgence.
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with icing
- 2 apples, cored, peeled, and diced
- 1 tsp cornstarch
- 1 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- In a small bowl, toss apples with cornstarch, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Separate cinnamon roll dough into individual portions. Using a rolling pin, roll each into a 5 inch circle.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of apple filling into the center of each dough circle. Roll up dough starting at the edge and working inward to form a log. Place in prepared baking pan.
- Brush tops of cinnamon rolls with melted butter. Sprinkle with walnuts if desired. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
- When rolls are done baking, let cool for 5 minutes before drizzling with included icing. Enjoy!
The juicy apple filling and warm cinnamon flavor make these the perfect breakfast for autumn mornings. For an even bigger apple flavor, use an apple glaze made with apple butter or applesauce in place of the included plain icing.
Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls
Pumpkin spice and cinnamon rolls are two of fall’s greatest hits. This recipe combines them into one amazing breakfast treat.
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with icing
- 1/4 cup pumpkin puree
- 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- In a small bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, brown sugar, and vanilla.
- Separate cinnamon roll dough into individual portions. Using a rolling pin, roll each into a 5 inch circle.
- Spread a heaping tablespoon of pumpkin mixture onto each dough circle. Top with a sprinkle of pecans.
- Roll up dough starting at the edge and working inward to form a log. Place in prepared baking pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes before topping with included icing.
The pumpkin filling adds moisture and a delightfully spiced flavor that pairs perfectly with the cinnamon rolls. Top them with an extra dusting of pumpkin pie spice for even more fall essence.
Blueberry Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls
These blueberry-stuffed rolls take it up a notch with tangy cream cheese frosting. It’s a delightful combination of sweet and tart.
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with icing
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- Separate cinnamon roll dough into individual portions. Using a rolling pin, roll each into a 5 inch circle.
- Place 5-6 blueberries onto each dough circle, then roll up starting at the edge. Place seam-side down in prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. While rolls bake, beat together cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.
- When rolls are done, let cool for 5 minutes. Spread cream cheese icing over warm cinnamon rolls before serving.
The sweet, jammy blueberry filling paired with the tangy cream cheese icing makes these cinnamon rolls next-level delicious. For extra texture, add a sprinkle of coarse sugar on top of the icing.
Triple Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls
Chocoholics, get ready for the ultimate chocolate-on-chocolate cinnamon roll experience. These are loaded with cocoa and chocolate chips for maximum chocolate impact.
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with icing
- 1/3 cup cocoa powder
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- In a small bowl, mix together the cocoa powder and brown sugar. Set aside.
- Separate cinnamon roll dough into individual portions. Using a rolling pin, roll each into a 5 inch circle.
- Sprinkle each dough circle with about 2 tablespoons of the cocoa-sugar mixture, followed by some chocolate chips.
- Roll up dough starting at the edge and working inward to form a log. Place in prepared pan.
- Bake for 17-20 minutes until set. Let cool slightly before icing and topping with more chocolate chips.
Every bite of these chocolatey cinnamon rolls is packed with rich chocolate flavor. The cocoa dough, melty chocolate chips, and sugary icing come together for total chocoholic bliss!
Spiced Caramel Apple Cinnamon Rolls
These caramel apple cinnamon rolls are the best of both fall worlds. Tart apples and aromatic spices meet decadent caramel in this irresistible breakfast treat.
Ingredients
- 1 package Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls with icing
- 2 apples, cored, peeled, and diced
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 cup caramel sauce or topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13 baking pan with cooking spray or butter.
- In a small bowl, toss diced apples with cinnamon and nutmeg.
- Separate cinnamon roll dough into individual portions. Using a rolling pin, roll each into a 5 inch circle.
- Place a heaping tablespoon of spiced apple filling into the center of each dough circle.
- Roll up dough starting at the edge and working inward. Place seam-side down in prepared pan.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. When done, immediately drizzle warm caramel sauce over the top.
Each bite of these autumn-inspired rolls has soft apples, fragrant spice, and sweet, gooey caramel. They’re easy to throw together and impressive enough for a holiday breakfast.
Conclusion
Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls are already delicious, but with a little creativity and a sprinkling of extra ingredients, you can take them from basic to baked perfection. Spice them up with more cinnamon or bake unexpected flavors like pumpkin, pecans, or chocolate right inside. Top them with oozing glazes and decadent drizzles. The options are endless for customizing Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls and making them even more scrumptious. With these tips and recipes, you’ll have irresistibly flavorful cinnamon rolls everyone will beg you to make again and again. Now get rolling!