Soft and Chewy Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

Introduction

These delightful cookies combine the beloved flavors of a classic cinnamon roll with the convenience of a sugar cookie. They feature a buttery sugar cookie base swirled with cinnamon-sugar and topped with a sweet cream cheese glaze, delivering all the comfort of a cinnamon roll in cookie form.

Cookie Dough Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

Cinnamon Filling

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the Cookie Dough

  1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl
  2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes)
  3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract
  4. Mix in sour cream until well combined
  5. Gradually stir in dry ingredients until just combined
  6. Chill dough for 1 hour

Create the Cinnamon Swirl

  1. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined
  2. Roll chilled dough into a large rectangle (approximately 15×10 inches)
  3. Spread cinnamon mixture evenly over dough
  4. Starting from the long end, tightly roll dough into a log
  5. Wrap in plastic and freeze for 20 minutes

Baking Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
  2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
  3. Slice roll into 1/2 inch thick rounds
  4. Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared sheets
  5. Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are lightly golden
  6. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack

Make the Glaze

  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth
  2. Gradually mix in powdered sugar
  3. Add vanilla extract
  4. Thin with milk to desired consistency
  5. Drizzle over cooled cookies

Pro Tips

  • Keep dough chilled between batches
  • Don’t overbake – cookies should be soft in center
  • Let cookies cool completely before glazing
  • Use room temperature ingredients for best results
  • Flour your work surface well when rolling dough

Soft and Chewy Cinnamon Roll Sugar Cookies

Introduction

These delightful cookies combine the beloved flavors of a classic cinnamon roll with the convenience of a sugar cookie. They feature a buttery sugar cookie base swirled with cinnamon-sugar and topped with a sweet cream cheese glaze, delivering all the comfort of a cinnamon roll in cookie form.

Cookie Dough Ingredients

  • 3 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup sour cream

Cinnamon Filling

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 2-3 tablespoons milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

Make the Cookie Dough

  1. Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a medium bowl
  2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy (about 3-4 minutes)
  3. Beat in eggs one at a time, then add vanilla extract
  4. Mix in sour cream until well combined
  5. Gradually stir in dry ingredients until just combined
  6. Chill dough for 1 hour

Create the Cinnamon Swirl

  1. Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until well combined
  2. Roll chilled dough into a large rectangle (approximately 15×10 inches)
  3. Spread cinnamon mixture evenly over dough
  4. Starting from the long end, tightly roll dough into a log
  5. Wrap in plastic and freeze for 20 minutes

Baking Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C)
  2. Line baking sheets with parchment paper
  3. Slice roll into 1/2 inch thick rounds
  4. Place cookies 2 inches apart on prepared sheets
  5. Bake for 12-14 minutes until edges are lightly golden
  6. Cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to wire rack

Make the Glaze

  1. Beat cream cheese until smooth
  2. Gradually mix in powdered sugar
  3. Add vanilla extract
  4. Thin with milk to desired consistency
  5. Drizzle over cooled cookies

Pro Tips

  • Keep dough chilled between batches
  • Don’t overbake – cookies should be soft in center
  • Let cookies cool completely before glazing
  • Use room temperature ingredients for best results
  • Flour your work surface well when rolling dough

Storage

  • Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days
  • Can be frozen unglazed for up to 3 months
  • Separate layers with parchment paper
  • Add glaze after thawing if frozen

Troubleshooting

  • If dough is too sticky, add more flour when rolling
  • If filling leaks, chill dough longer before slicing
  • If cookies spread too much, chill sliced cookies before baking
  • If glaze is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time
  • If glaze is too thin, add more powdered sugar

Variations

  • Add chopped pecans to filling
  • Use maple extract in glaze
  • Add orange zest to dough
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking
  • Add nutmeg to filling for extra warmth

These cookies offer the perfect balance of soft, chewy texture with warm cinnamon flavor and sweet glaze. They’re ideal for holiday cookie exchanges, special occasions, or whenever you’re craving the flavors of a cinnamon roll in a convenient cookie form. The key to success is keeping the dough well-chilled and handling it gently to maintain the swirl pattern. With proper technique, you’ll create beautiful, bakery-worthy cookies that disappear as quickly as you can make them.

Storage

  • Store in airtight container at room temperature for up to 5 days
  • Can be frozen unglazed for up to 3 months
  • Separate layers with parchment paper
  • Add glaze after thawing if frozen

Troubleshooting

  • If dough is too sticky, add more flour when rolling
  • If filling leaks, chill dough longer before slicing
  • If cookies spread too much, chill sliced cookies before baking
  • If glaze is too thick, add milk one teaspoon at a time
  • If glaze is too thin, add more powdered sugar

Variations

  • Add chopped pecans to filling
  • Use maple extract in glaze
  • Add orange zest to dough
  • Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar before baking
  • Add nutmeg to filling for extra warmth

These cookies offer the perfect balance of soft, chewy texture with warm cinnamon flavor and sweet glaze. They’re ideal for holiday cookie exchanges, special occasions, or whenever you’re craving the flavors of a cinnamon roll in a convenient cookie form. The key to success is keeping the dough well-chilled and handling it gently to maintain the swirl pattern. With proper technique, you’ll create beautiful, bakery-worthy cookies that disappear as quickly as you can make them.