Sticky Caramel Cinnamon Rolls: Irresistible Homemade Recipe

This easy caramel cinnamon rolls recipe comes together in about 30 minutes, makes a delightful quick breakfast, and is incredibly satisfying.

Looking for a fast, comforting breakfast? These sticky buns are the perfect answer. They deliver the flavor of homemade cinnamon rolls without the time required for dough rising and kneading. If you enjoy fun breakfast ideas, this is a quick recipe to add to your rotation.

These caramel cinnamon rolls are great for busy mornings, potlucks, or lazy Sunday breakfasts when you want something special without the fuss.

How to make caramel cinnamon rolls:

• Preheat the oven and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Make the caramel sauce by combining brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, vanilla, and maple syrup in a small saucepan. Heat over medium, stirring, until everything is melted and smooth. Pour the sauce into the prepared baking dish.
• Place store-bought cinnamon rolls into the sauce, placing them face down so the bottoms will pick up the caramel.
• Bake according to the instructions below (about 20 minutes total).
• Let the pan cool for about 5 minutes, then invert onto a large plate or cutting board and serve.

Flipping the pan is the trickiest step, but using a large plate or cutting board to cover the dish makes it easy and keeps the buns intact.

What to do with the extra cinnamon roll

This recipe fits 15 cinnamon rolls in a 9×13 dish, so when using standard cans you may have one roll left over. You can bake that single roll in a cupcake liner for about 15 minutes and top it with the reserved icing for a tasty bonus treat.

Using leftover cream cheese icing

Leftover icing is handy on cupcakes or quick breads, or simply use it to top the sticky buns after inverting for an extra-sweet finish.

Can I use Grands cinnamon rolls?

Yes—if you prefer larger sticky buns, use two cans of Grands (10 rolls total) and arrange them in the dish the same way. Bake the same amount of time and enjoy larger, pull-apart buns.

How to invert the caramel cinnamon rolls onto another plate

Use a wide cutting board or large flat plate to cover the 9×13 dish. Holding both, flip the dish and the board/plate together. If the buns are slightly sticky, let the pan sit for a few more minutes so the caramel loosens, then remove the baking dish to reveal perfectly glazed rolls.

Overall, this recipe is fast, forgiving, and perfect when you want sticky buns without making dough from scratch. The caramel is rich, the rolls are soft, and the finished result is always crowd-pleasing.

If you enjoy easy breakfast recipes like this, try other simple ideas and recipes to keep mornings tasty and stress-free.

For more tasty recipes check out:

• Orange Cranberry Muffins
• Orange Julius Copycat Smoothie
• Cinnamon Toast Cereal Bars
• Easy Buttermilk Scones
• Blueberry Coffee Cake
• Candied Citrus Peels
• Churro Cheesecake

Caramel Cinnamon Rolls

Caramel Cinnamon Rolls — a simple, quick recipe that comes together in about 25–30 minutes and makes a delicious breakfast or dessert.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 15 cinnamon rolls

Ingredients

• 2 cans (12.4 oz each) cinnamon rolls
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup heavy cream
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup maple syrup

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
2. In a small saucepan, combine the brown sugar, heavy cream, butter, vanilla, and maple syrup. Heat over medium, stirring, until the mixture is melted and smooth. Pour the caramel into the prepared pan.
3. Place the cinnamon rolls in the caramel sauce, cinnamon side down so the caramel will coat the top once flipped.
4. Bake for about 20 minutes. To prevent overbrowning, you can tent the dish with foil for the last 5 minutes of baking.
5. Let the pan rest for 5 minutes. Cover with a cutting board or large plate, flip the pan, then lift the baking dish off to reveal the sticky buns. If they stick, let them rest a few extra minutes and try again.
6. Serve warm. Optionally spread reserved cream cheese icing over the top for extra richness.

Notes

Tips and Tricks

• You can use Pillsbury Grands (two 5-count cans) for larger buns—just arrange 10 rolls in the dish and bake as directed.
• If you have one extra roll, bake it in a cupcake liner for a single serving treat.

Nutrition (per roll, approximate)

Calories: 133 kcal |
Carbohydrates: 15 g |
Protein: 1 g |
Fat: 8 g |
Sugar: 14 g

Post updated 12/21/2021, 10/7/2022