Craving the warm, comforting flavors of cinnamon rolls but short on time? These Cinnamon Roll Muffins offer all the deliciousness of traditional cinnamon rolls soft, buttery dough, rich brown sugar-cinnamon swirls, and a luscious cream cheese glaze without the need for yeast, kneading, or lengthy rising times. Perfect for a cozy breakfast, brunch, or an afternoon treat, these muffins are quick to prepare and irresistibly tasty.

Ingredients

For the Muffins:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour

• ½ cup granulated sugar

• 1 tablespoon baking powder

• ½ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 1 cup milk

• 1 large egg

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the Cinnamon Filling:

• ½ cup unsalted butter, softened

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened

• ½ cup powdered sugar

• 1–2 tablespoons milk (adjust for desired consistency)

• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat the Oven: Set your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper liners or lightly grease the cups.

2. Prepare the Muffin Batter: In a large bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients: flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk together the wet ingredients: melted butter, milk, egg, and vanilla extract. Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined—be careful not to overmix.

3. Make the Cinnamon Filling: In a small bowl, mix together the softened butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon until smooth and spreadable.

4. Assemble the Muffins: Spoon a small amount of muffin batter into each muffin cup, just enough to cover the bottom. Add a generous teaspoon of the cinnamon filling on top of the batter. Then, add more muffin batter to fill each cup almost to the top. Using a toothpick or skewer, gently swirl the batter and cinnamon filling together to create a marbled effect.

5. Bake: Place the muffin tin in the preheated oven and bake for 18–20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Prepare the Glaze: While the muffins are baking, make the cream cheese glaze. In a medium bowl, beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Adjust the milk to achieve your desired glaze consistency.

7. Glaze the Muffins: Once the muffins have cooled slightly, drizzle the cream cheese glaze over the tops. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Nutritional Information (per muffin)

• Calories: Approximately 300 kcal

• Fat: 16 g

• Saturated Fat: 10 g

• Cholesterol: 50 mg

• Carbohydrates: 38 g

• Fiber: 1 g

• Sugars: 20 g

• Protein: 3 g

• Sodium: 200 mg