11 Sticky Cinnamon Rolls Recipes from Scratch
There’s something magical about the aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls baking in the oven—warm, sweet, and utterly irresistible. I still remember my childhood weekends at Grandma’s house, where she’d pull out her worn recipe card for sticky cinnamon rolls, the kind that oozed with caramelized goodness and left sticky fingers in the best way possible. Those rolls weren’t just a treat; they were a hug from the kitchen, evoking cozy family mornings that I’ve chased ever since.
Lately, I’ve been on a mission in my own kitchen to reinvent that classic comfort food. After countless dough-kneading sessions and flavor experiments—from infusing pumpkin spice to swirling in salted caramel—I’ve perfected 11 from-scratch recipes that elevate the sticky cinnamon roll to new heights. Whether you’re craving indulgence or a fun twist, these recipes prove you don’t need a bakery to create bakery-worthy bliss.
Classic Gooey Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
These timeless sticky cinnamon rolls feature a soft, yeasted dough filled with cinnamon-sugar swirl and baked in a pool of buttery caramel sauce for that signature pull-apart stickiness. Ingredients (makes 12): 1 cup warm milk, 2¼ tsp active dry yeast, ½ cup sugar, ⅓ cup butter (melted), 1 egg, 4 cups flour, 1 tsp salt; filling: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 3 tbsp cinnamon; topping: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup honey.
Mix dough ingredients, let rise 1 hour, roll out, spread filling, roll up, slice, pour topping in pan, bake at 350°F for 25 mins. Benefits: Simple, crowd-pleasing comfort food that’s perfect for brunch and freezes well for make-ahead mornings.
Pumpkin Spice Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Infused with fall flavors, these rolls boast a pumpkin-enriched dough and sticky pecan topping for seasonal decadence. Ingredients (makes 12): Dough as classic but sub ½ cup pumpkin puree for milk; filling adds 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice; topping: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup chopped pecans.
Prepare dough with pumpkin, rise, fill with spiced cinnamon mix, bake in pecan caramel base at 350°F for 28 mins. Benefits: Moist, nutrient-packed with vitamin A from pumpkin, ideal for autumn gatherings.
Caramel Apple Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Chopped apples and extra caramel create a pie-like sticky filling in these fruity rolls. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough; filling: add 1 cup diced apples; topping: 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup butter, ¼ cup heavy cream.
Roll dough, layer with cinnamon-apple filling, slice over thickened caramel-apple topping, bake 350°F 27 mins. Benefits: Adds fresh fruit for natural sweetness and fiber, turning breakfast into a dessert hybrid.
Chocolate Hazelnut Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Nutella-inspired with chopped hazelnuts and chocolate chips in a fudgy sticky base. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough; filling: ½ cup chocolate hazelnut spread, ½ cup hazelnuts; topping: ½ cup butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup chocolate chips.
Spread hazelnut filling on dough, roll, place in chocolate-caramel topping, bake 350°F 26 mins. Benefits: Antioxidant-rich from chocolate and nuts, a gourmet twist for indulgent cravings.
Orange Zest Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Bright citrus zest elevates the dough and glaze over a classic sticky caramel. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough + zest of 2 oranges; filling standard; topping standard + orange juice glaze.
Infuse dough with zest, fill, bake in sticky pan 350°F 25 mins, glaze post-bake. Benefits: Vitamin C boost, refreshing contrast to sweetness for lighter mornings.
Peanut Butter Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Creamy peanut butter swirls meet a sticky honey-peanut topping for PB&J vibes. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough; filling: ½ cup peanut butter, cinnamon-sugar; topping: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup peanut butter, ¼ cup honey.
Mix PB into filling, roll up, pour PB-caramel in pan, bake 350°F 27 mins. Benefits: Protein-packed for sustained energy, kid-friendly fun.
Maple Pecan Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Real maple syrup and pecans create a sticky bun masterpiece. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough; filling standard; topping: ½ cup butter, ¾ cup maple syrup, 1 cup pecans.
Prepare filling, place rolls in maple-pecan sauce, bake 350°F 28 mins. Benefits: Natural sugars from maple, crunchy texture from pecans for satisfying crunch.
Berry Blast Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Mixed berries burst into the filling with a berry-infused sticky glaze. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough; filling: 1 cup mixed berries; topping: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup berry jam.
Fold berries into filling, bake over jam-caramel, 350°F 26 mins. Benefits: Antioxidant explosion from berries, vibrant and summery.
Coconut Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Toasted coconut and cream of coconut make these tropically sticky. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough + ½ cup coconut milk; filling adds ½ cup shredded coconut; topping: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ¼ cup coconut cream.
Coconut-infuse dough, fill, bake in coconut caramel 350°F 25 mins. Benefits: Dairy-free option potential, exotic flavor escape.
Matcha Green Tea Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Earthy matcha powder greens the dough with a white chocolate sticky twist. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough + 2 tbsp matcha; filling standard; topping: ½ cup butter, ¾ cup brown sugar, ½ cup white chocolate.
Blend matcha in dough, fill, bake over white choc caramel 350°F 27 mins. Benefits: Antioxidant-rich matcha for a healthy-ish treat.
Salted Caramel Sticky Cinnamon Rolls
Sea salt balances ultra-gooey caramel for addictive contrast. Ingredients (makes 12): Classic dough; filling standard; topping: ½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar, ½ cup cream, 1 tsp sea salt.
Whip salted caramel topping, add rolls, bake 350°F 26 mins. Benefits: Gourmet flavor profile, perfect for impressing guests.
These 11 sticky cinnamon roll recipes are your ticket to homemade heaven—easy to make from scratch and endlessly customizable. Grab your apron, preheat the oven, and treat yourself or loved ones to a batch today; you won’t regret the sticky fingers!
