Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (2024)

Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (1) Beyond Frosting

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These Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes are a mouthwatering treat. It is a vanilla cupcake with a brown sugar streusel mixed in. They are topped with brown sugar, cinnamon frosting.

Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (2)

I have been making cupcakes like crazy lately, and really that is what I love to make! I went on this big cupcake hiatus and now I am back with a boom. There have been birthdays up the wazoo at work, which means that I am on cupcake duty, and I can try all sorts of different combinations.

Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (3)

These EasyCinnamon Roll Cupcakes were so popular that they made an appearance twice within two weeks! These cupcakes start with a vanilla cupcake batter, and they are mixed with a brown sugar streusel, which is my favorite part. The frosting is a brown sugar, cinnamon frosting. It’s a mouth watering treat!

Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (4)

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a lot of spare time. You will find that a lot of my cake recipes start with a box mix. Often times, I add and mix things in and swap things out as to make it unique. You certainly don’t need to stick to the ingredients on the box! Most of the time, no one would guess it started with a box mix. Don’t get me wrong, homemade cakes are thebomb.com but I don’t always have the time to wait.

This cupcake is the sibling to my Snickerdoodle Coffee Cake Cupcake. My friends still talk about that one. There is something about cinnamon and brown sugar that makes people go a little crazy for sweets! It’s so good that even my boyfriend ate one, and you know, he is really picky!

Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (6)

For the frosting, there’s quite a bit of butter and it is whipped to perfection. If you start with a cold butter, beat it until it is really smooth. You really can’t go wrong here. Then, slowly add the powdered sugar, and beat it in one cup at a time. The best thing you can do for a frosting is to add some heavy whipping cream. It helps make the frosting extra smooth and even cuts some of the sweetness. Some people might think there is too much frosting on these cupcakes; is that even possible?

Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (7)

The streusel is the key ingredient in this recipe. You just need some 4 simple ingredients. Once the streusel is mixed, scoop some batter into the cupcake liner, sprinkle a layer of streusel and then cover it with another scoop of batter. I used a toothpick to swirl the batter together and then dropped some more streusel on top because more streusel is always a good thing.

Save this recipe for your next get-together. Your guests will be impressed and you don’t even have to tell them how easy it was to make these cupcakes!

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Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (8)

Easy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 3 reviews
  • Author: Julianne Dell
  • Prep Time: 20 mins
  • Cook Time: 18 mins
  • Total Time: 38 minutes
  • Yield: 22-24 Cupcakes

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Description

Vanilla cupcakes with a brown sugar streusel, topped with a cinnamon brown sugar frosting.

Ingredients

For the Cupcakes:

  • 1 box (15oz) White cake mix
  • 1 box (3.4oz) Instant vanilla pudding mix
  • 4 Large egg whites
  • 1 C Buttermilk
  • 1/3 C Vegetable oil
  • ½ C Sour Cream
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

For the Streusel:

  • 1 C Light brown sugar
  • 3 tbsp Flour
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 4 tbsp Unsalted butter

For the Frosting:

  • 1 ½ C (3 sticks) Unsalted butter
  • 2 tbsp Light brown sugar
  • 6 C Powdered sugar
  • 1 tbsp Cinnamon
  • 23 tbsp Heavy whipping cream
  • 2 tsp Vanilla extract

Instructions

For the Cupcakes:

  1. Preheat oven to 350° F.
  2. Combine vanilla cupcake mix with vanilla pudding. Add egg whites, one at a time, beating well after each egg is added to ensure it is well mixed.
  3. Add buttermilk, oil, sour cream and vanilla. Beat on medium speed until all ingredients are well combined. Use a spatula to scrap down the side of the bowl and turn the batter over from the bottom.
  4. Line a cupcake pan with paper liners.

For the Streusel:

  1. Combine all dry ingredients in a medium-sized bowl.
  2. In a separate bowl, melt butter. Pour melted butter over dry ingredients. Use a spoon to blend butter into dry ingredients to create a crumbly mixture.
  3. Spoon a little bit of batter into the bottom of the cupcake. Pour a teaspoon or two of streusel on top of the batter and swirl with a toothpick. Spoon remaining batter into cupcake liner till it is about 2/3 full. Pour a teaspoon of streusel on top.
  4. Bake at 350°F for 15-18 minutes until the cupcakes are done. You do not want to top to turn brown. Check for doneness by inserting a toothpick in the middle of the cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, your cupcakes are done. Allow them to cool completely.

For the Frosting:

  1. Beat butter in mixer on medium speed until smooth and creamy: 2-3 minutes.
  2. Add brown sugar and mix until combined.
  3. Slowly add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time while continuing to beat on medium speed. After 3 cups of powdered sugar, the frosting might be very thick and crumbly. Add 1 tablespoon of heavy cream and the vanilla extract and beat into the frosting before adding additional powdered sugar.
  4. Continue to add the remaining powdered sugar and the cinnamon and mix into the frosting. Alternate in the heavy cream as needed.
  5. Increase the mixer speed to high to whip frosting until smooth and creamy. Frost cooled cupcakes.

Notes

Please note buttermilk can be substituted with regular milk.

  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American
Fluffy Cinnamon Roll Cupcakes with Brown Sugar Streusel - Easy Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Can I use brown sugar instead of white sugar in cinnamon rolls? ›

Brown sugar doesn't necessarily make the filling more moist—there's so much butter, so it's moist and gooey either way. Use whichever sugar you prefer. Best pan to use: I recommend a 9×13-inch glass pan or metal pan.

What is the secret ingredient in Cinnabon? ›

Cinnabon's Secret Ingredient

This special Indonesian cinnamon, called Makara, is trademarked by Cinnabon. And because of that trademark, you won't find this product in your local grocery store spice aisle.

Do you have to refrigerate cream cheese frosting on cinnamon rolls? ›

Do you need to refrigerate cinnamon rolls? Unfrosted cinnamon rolls do not need to be refrigerated and will keep best at room temperature. Iced cinnamon rolls, and especially rolls with cream cheese frosting, should be stored in the fridge.

What does pouring heavy cream over cinnamon rolls do? ›

The heavy cream absorbs the cinnamon, sugar, and butter that leaks from the insides of the rolls as they bake to create a glorious cinnamon sugar syrup for the bottom of your rolls.

What can I use instead of heavy whipping cream for cinnamon rolls? ›

The 10 Best Substitutes for Heavy Cream
  • Milk and butter.
  • Soy milk and olive oil.
  • Milk and cornstarch.
  • Half-and-half.
  • Tofu and soy.
  • Yogurt and milk.
  • Evaporated milk.
  • Cottage cheese and milk.

Are cinnamon rolls better with white sugar or brown sugar? ›

Traditionally brown sugar is used and you can certainly use that if it's your preference. I kind of like the granulated sugar because it yields to the cinnamon, allowing the cinnamon to shine through more. Then he liberally sprinkled on some cinnamon. From there, the method was pretty normal.

Is dark or light brown sugar better for cinnamon rolls? ›

The higher amounts of protein help to produce more gluten, which gives cinnamon roll the chewy, soft texture you know and love. Brown sugar: personally, I love using dark brown sugar for more robust molasses sweet flavor in those cinnamon swirls, but light brown sugar will work!

What is the most unhealthy Cinnabon? ›

Cinnabon Caramel Pecanbon

That honor is reserved for the Caramel Pecanbon. The Caramel Pecanbon contains a whopping 1,080 calories, 51 grams of fat and 146 grams of carbs, only 3 of which are fiber (15). What's more, 75 of those 146 grams of carbs come from added sugars.

What is the difference between a cinnamon roll and cinnamon bun? ›

Structurally, cinnamon buns share the same spiral shape. They are sometimes thinner and more delicate. The most significant difference between cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns is the inclusion of nuts. Cinnamon buns often have pecans, walnuts, or even raisins in the filling.

How is Cinnabon so soft? ›

If so: These are made of yeast-leavened dough which is quite soft. (Yeast-leavened dough is also part of toast, pizza, bagels, some kinds of donuts etc.) In addition, it's a kind of not-so-fine puff pastry (Danish pastry): Between two layers of dough there is a layer of solid fat (like butter).

What kind of icing does Pillsbury use for cinnamon rolls? ›

It's easy to make any day cinnamony sweet with Pillsbury's ready-to-bake dough made with real cinnamon and premade cream cheese icing. These refrigerated cinnamon rolls make a great weekday breakfast or special holiday treat. This family favorite breakfast is ready in just minutes. Imagine the memories you'll make.

Should cinnamon rolls touch when baking? ›

Place the cinnamon rolls into your prepared pan, with little room between each roll and ½ inch from the edge of the pan. Lightly press down on each roll so that the edges of each roll barely touch each other, and improve their round form if needed.

Can I eat week old Cinnabon? ›

If you store them in the fridge, they'll last a bit longer, perhaps up to 7 days. If you want to extend their shelf life so you can eat them after a couple of weeks, you should freeze them. In fact, if properly frozen, they can last a couple of months!

How does heavy cream affect baking? ›

While heavy cream does not work well in baked goods, it can be used to thicken sauces, soups, sour cream and puddings. It's also a great ingredient to make whipped cream, mousse, pastry fillings, ice cream and frosting.

What does heavy cream do in baking? ›

Heavy cream is a good choice when decorating pies or cakes, or for thickening sauces and ganache. Heavy cream is also great for making ice cream and soup. Whipping cream is a bit lighter since it contains less fat than heavy cream, and has about 30 to 36 percent milk fat.

Why do you use heavy cream in baking? ›

It whips better and holds its shape longer than its whipping cream counterpart, which is why it's used for everything from pastry fillings to pipings. It has a long shelf life in the fridge and can even be frozen and used in a heavy cream recipe later on.

What does heavy cream do to baked goods? ›

Heavy cream has too much fat. If you're doing a cake or something similar, the result will probably be very dense. If the recipe calls for milk and butter, you can replace 3/4 cups of water + 1/3 to 1/4 cup butter for 1 cup of heavy milk. I've done it with some success, it's not perfect but it'll do in a pinch.

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