Panera Cinnamon Roll: Review + Copycat Recipe

Panera cinnamon rolls is probably one of the most delicious and indulgent breakfast or desserts you can get at Panera. This recipe makes it easy to replicate it at home.

Friends, it’s time we talk about the Panera cinnamon roll. This delicious treat is made with a delectable combination of cinnamon, sugar and a vanilla icing (for me it tastes like a cream cheese icing) that will satisfy your sweet tooth.

This cinnamon roll is baked to perfection, leaving you with a soft and fluffy texture that’s honestly TO DIE FOR.

All this goodness comes together perfectly in the form of a gooey and delightful cinnamon roll. Whether it’s for breakfast or dessert, you’ll find yourself ordering this treat every time you visit.

Jump to:

• What makes the Panera bread cinnamon roll so good
• Making a copycat Panera cinnamon roll recipe
• What ingredients you need to make the copycat Panera cinnamon rolls
• How to prepare the Panera style cinnamon rolls
• Copycat Panera Cinnamon Roll
• Tips to make the best cinnamon rolls
• How to store Panera cinnamon rolls
• Frequently asked questions about the Panera cinnamon roll

I also honestly love the fact that you can get a couple and they are incredibly freezer friendly. Sometimes I order 2 or three more, pop them in my freezer and then just microwave them once I’m ready to eat them. It’s great to have on hand delicious treats for those times when cravings hit.

What makes the Panera bread cinnamon roll so good

Well, that is its special blend of cinnamon and sugar. Not to mention the creamy icing on top that makes it extra delectable.

If you’re looking for something sweet and delightful, look no further than the Panera Cinnamon Roll. I promise you won’t regret it! Trust me – this roll will hit all the right spots.

Making a copycat Panera cinnamon roll recipe

What if I told you you can actually make this recipe at home? Yes! You can make a Panera Bread style cinnamon roll right in the comfort of your own home.

It’s actually quite simple, all you need is a couple of ingredients you probably already have on hand and a bit of time to create these delicious rolls.

They are so fluffy and almost have a cloud like texture. They are the type of soft that’s almost melt in your mouth delicious. And the cinnamon and brown sugar filling is perfectly balanced between sweet and spicy.

Just like the rolls you can buy at Panera, these ones are also freezer friendly and you can even make them the night before a big breakfast on lunch and then just pop them in the oven real quick to have freshly made rolls in the morning.

Panera oatmeal: Review + Copycat recipe

What ingredients you need to make the copycat Panera cinnamon rolls

Flour:

Flour is the base of any baked good. Look for all-purpose flour to get the right texture and flavor.

Butter:

You’ll need butter to give these rolls their rich, flaky crust. Make sure it’s softened so that it incorporates well with the other ingredients.

Yeast:

Yeasts is what helps the rolls rise, so don’t skip this ingredient! I usually prefer to buy the smallest containers of yeast so I can buy it fresh when needed.

Milk:

Milk helps the rolls to stay moist and fluffy. Make sure it’s warm when you add it so that it doesn’t interfere with the yeast in any way.

Granulated sugar:

You’ll need some sugar to sweeten the rolls and give them that unmistakable Panera Bread flavor.

Eggs:

Eggs help bind the ingredients together and give the rolls a nice, rich texture.

Brown sugar:

This is what gives your cinnamon rolls their signature sweetness and spicy flavor.

Cinnamon:

Make sure you use enough of this fragrant spice to get that perfect flavor.

Cinnamon and Brown Sugar:

This is what gives these rolls their heavenly flavor. Make sure to use quality ingredients to get the best result. I prefer to buy a good cinnamon, it makes all the difference when making sweet treats that are cinnamon heavy, like these rolls.

Powdered sugar:

You need confectioners sugar to make the icing that goes over these rolls and gives them the authentic Panera Bread style look.

Vanilla extract:

You’ll need this for flavor, so make sure to add it in! It’s also a great way to bring out all the other flavors of your ingredients.

How to prepare the Panera style cinnamon rolls

Once you’ve gathered all your ingredients, the rest is really easy.

You’ll need to prepare the dough by mixing the yeast with a little bit of warm milk and some sugar. Once combined, let it sit for 10 minutes until its foamy. This is a great step to make sure your yeast is active and you get those perfectly fluffy rolls.

In a separate bowl mix together the flour, salt, eggs, butter and the yeast mixture. Knead together until you get a nice soft dough. Then let it rest for an hour or two in a warm spot so that it can double in size. I like to pick a warm spot in my home.

Once the dough has risen and doubled, roll it out into a rectangle and spread it with the butter-brown sugar mixture that we are using as a filling. Then roll it up into a nice log shape. Slice into twelve even pieces.

Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, cover with plastic wrap and let them rest for an hour or two so they can rise again. This step is really important if you want cloud-soft rolls.

Once they’ve risen, bake in a preheated oven for about 20 minutes.

While the rolls are baking mix together powdered sugar, milk and vanilla extract to make the icing. Once cooked let the rolls cool down so you can spread the glaze over them.

And now enjoy your copycat Panera Bread cinnamon rolls! They are delicious and trust me when i say everyone will be asking for the recipe.

Tips to make the best cinnamon rolls

Don’t roll the dough too tightly:

One great tip to make THE BEST cinnamon rolls is to don’t roll too tight the roll when making a log. Leave some space in between the filling and edges of the rolls so that when they rise they are nice and fluffy.

Let the rolls cool down for 10 minutes before coating with the icing:

This is hey if you want an icing that’s thick but that still melts into the crevices of the rolls. If you don’t wait enough time, the icing will be too runny and won’t coat the rolls nicely and too much and the icing will just sit on top.

Add a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon to your icing:

if you like cinnamon then adding a tiny cinnamon sprinkle to your icing (and I mean tiny) can add another layer of cinnamon flavor.

How to store Panera cinnamon rolls

These tips apply to pretty much all cinnamon rolls so they are great to keep on mind when making them.

Counter: You can keep them on the counter for up to a 1 day. Honestly they are better fresh so you’ll probably eat half the batch fresh out of the oven.

Refrigerator: You can refrigerate them for up to 2 days. Technically they can last up to 3 days but the third day they don’t taste or feel as fresh and I feel it’s not worth it. before eating them pop them in the microwave or in the oven so they are warm and gooey.

Freezer: You can freeze cinnamon rolls and they last for a very long time that way! I love freezing my favorite meals so this is one thing I do every time I make a batch of cinnamon rolls. Once you are ready to serve them take them our of the freezer a couple of hours before it’s time to serve them and then pop them in the oven so they warm up again. I prefer to freeze them without the icing and then ice them before eating.

Frequently asked questions about the Panera cinnamon roll