Cinnamon Knots

Cinnamon Knots

 

🥨✨ Cinnamon Knots — Twisty, Sweet, and Totally Irresistible

“Because sometimes life’s sweetest moments are tied up in a knot… a cinnamon knot.”

 

These Cinnamon Knots are the perfect mash-up of cozy cinnamon rolls and bakery-worthy pastry art. They’re soft and fluffy on the inside, with a slightly crisp, golden exterior, swirled with buttery cinnamon-sugar goodness and topped with dreamy cream cheese frosting.

They’re:

• Beautiful enough for brunch but easy enough for a lazy Saturday.
• Fun to make — braiding dough is oddly therapeutic.
• Customizable — glaze, frosting, or even a dusting of powdered sugar.

These are better than regular if you like them a little more crunchy and very cool looking. I have messed around with these a couple different ways.

I opted to use a cream cheese frosting for these but a glaze would be absolutely perfect, as well. These tasted really good and were fun to make. Try these out, you won’t be disappointed. This recipe made 24 rolls.

 

 

Cinnamon Knots

INGREDIENTS

Roll Dough

• 1 package active dry yeast
• 1/2 c. warm water
• 2 c. milk, scalded then cooled to room temperature
• 4 Tbsp. melted butter, slightly cooled
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 6-7 c. flour
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. honey

Filling

• 1 stick salted butter, softened
• 1 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons cinnamon

Frosting

• 1 8oz block of cream cheese, softened
• 1 stick of salted butter, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Activate the Yeast
   • In a mixing bowl or stand mixer, combine yeast, warm water, and 1 Tbsp sugar. Let it get bubbly.
2. Prep the Milk & Butter
   • Scald milk in a saucepan, remove from heat, and cool slightly. Melt butter and set aside.
3. Build the Dough
   • Add sugar, honey, milk, and half the flour to the yeast mixture. Beat for 2 minutes.
   • Add butter, eggs, and salt. Stir well.
   • Add remaining flour ½ cup at a time until dough pulls from the bowl. Rest 3–5 minutes.
4. Knead & Rise
   • Knead in the bowl for 5 minutes, adding flour if sticky.
   • Grease the bowl, flip dough to coat, cover loosely, and let rise until doubled (about 1 hour).
5. Shape the Knots
   • Punch down dough. Roll into a large ¼-inch-thick square.
   • Spread butter over dough, leaving ½-inch border.
   • Mix cinnamon and brown sugar; sprinkle evenly over butter.
   • Fold dough into thirds like a letter, pinch edges, and roll gently to even out.
   • Cut into 2-inch strips, then slice each strip into 3 strands, leaving ¼ inch at the top.
   • Braid and tuck ends, placing each braid into a greased muffin tin.
6. Second Rise or Overnight Rest
   • Cover and refrigerate overnight for deeper flavor, or let rise 1 more hour.
7. Bake
   • Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
8. Frost
   • Beat frosting ingredients until smooth. Cool knots 15–20 minutes before frosting.

 

🔢 Calorie Count (Per Knot — 24 Knots)

• Calories: ~285
• Protein: 5g
• Carbs: 45g
• Fat: 10g
• Sugar: 22g

 

📊 Nutritional Facts (Per Knot)

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value*
Calories	285	14%
Total Fat	10g	13%
Saturated Fat	6g	30%
Cholesterol	40mg	13%
Sodium	210mg	9%
Total Carbs	45g	16%
Dietary Fiber	1g	4%
Sugars	22g	—
Protein	5g	10%

 

 

Cinnamon Knots

👩‍🍳 Cooking Tips for the Best Cinnamon Knots

• Don’t rush the rise — flavor develops with time.
• Chill overnight for a richer dough and easier shaping.
• Use room-temp butter for the filling so it spreads evenly.
• Grease muffin tins well — caramelized sugar can stick.
• Cool slightly before frosting so it doesn’t melt off.

🎨 Recipe Variations

• Glazed Knots — Swap cream cheese frosting for a simple powdered sugar glaze.
• Nutty Twist — Add chopped pecans or walnuts to the filling.
• Apple Cinnamon Knots — Sprinkle diced apples over the filling before folding.
• Chocolate Swirl — Mix mini chocolate chips into the filling.
• Savory Spin — Skip sugar and cinnamon, fill with pesto and cheese.

🧒 Kid Tips

• Let kids help braid the dough — it’s like edible arts and crafts.
• Give them their own mini dough ball to shape however they want.
• Use a simple glaze instead of frosting for less mess.
• Turn them into “Cinnamon Knot Faces” with raisin eyes and icing smiles.

🛒 Grocery Hacks

• Buy yeast in bulk — store in the freezer for long shelf life.
• Stock up on butter during sales — it freezes beautifully.
• Use store-brand cream cheese — tastes just as good in frosting.
• Brown sugar tip — keep it soft with a slice of bread in the container.
• Cinnamon in bulk — fresher and cheaper from warehouse stores.

Cinnamon Knots

📣 Reader’s Challenge: #KnotYourAverageCinnamon

I want to see YOUR cinnamon knot creations!

1. Make the recipe.
2. Add your own twist — different fillings, shapes, or toppings.
3. Snap a photo and post it with #KnotYourAverageCinnamon.
4. Tag me so I can feature your masterpiece in my next roundup.

♻️ Leftover Remix

• Cinnamon Knot Bread Pudding — Cube knots, soak in custard, bake.
• French Toast Knots — Dip in egg mixture, fry, and dust with powdered sugar.
• Ice Cream Sandwiches — Slice in half, fill with vanilla ice cream.
• Cinnamon Knot Trifles — Layer with whipped cream and fruit.
• Sweet Breakfast Casserole — Bake with eggs, milk, and maple syrup.

💭 Final Thoughts

These cinnamon knots are proof that baking can be both beautiful and approachable. They’re a little fancy, a little rustic, and a whole lot of delicious.

Here’s the thing — baking isn’t just about the end result. It’s about the process: the smell of cinnamon filling the kitchen, the feel of soft dough under your hands, the joy of pulling something golden and gorgeous from the oven.

These Cinnamon Knots are more than a recipe — they’re a moment of connection. They’re the treat you bring to a neighbor “just because,” the centerpiece of a weekend breakfast, the thing your kids will remember helping you make.

So tie up a little sweetness this week. Make them your own. And when you do, share them with #KnotYourAverageCinnamon so we can all celebrate the magic of baking together.

Because life’s too short for boring pastries — let’s make every twist count. 🥨💛✨

Did you try our Cinnamon Knots recipe? What did you think? Did you love it? We would love to hear from you! Please leave us a comment below or tag us on Instagram!

 

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