My guide to the best cinnamon desserts includes a delicious assortment of recipes that feature this warming spice. Cinnamon is either the hero ingredient in these recipes or the hero spice supporting other delicious ingredients such as apples, peaches, pumpkins, and more.
I chose these dessert recipes with cinnamon because of their straightforward instructions and relative ease, as well as their beautiful photos and uniqueness, and I update the list regularly with new recipes that I find!
Katalin’s key take on what you can bake with cinnamon
Cinnamon is one of the most versatile spices in baking. It adds warmth, depth, and an aroma that instantly makes any dessert feel cozy and comforting.
It blends beautifully into cake or cookie batters, giving even the simplest recipe a touch of warmth. A little mixed into cheesecake filling adds gentle spice, while a pinch stirred into hot chocolate brings instant comfort.
You can also combine cinnamon with sugar to sprinkle over donuts, churros, or cookies once they come out of the oven. The mixture adds a sweet, crunchy finish.
Cinnamon is just as wonderful when used as a filling. Think of the swirls in cinnamon rolls, babkas, or sweet breads, where layers of dough wrap around buttery cinnamon sugar. In the end, there are almost no limits—cinnamon works in nearly anything you bake.
Cinnamon pairs beautifully with a wide range of flavors, both sweet and savory. In baking, it’s a natural match for apples, pears, peaches, and plums, where its warmth enhances the fruit’s sweetness. It also works well with berries like blueberries and cranberries, especially in pies, crisps, and compotes.
It complements nuts such as almonds, walnuts, pecans, and hazelnuts, often found together in cookies, cakes, and pastries. Rich ingredients like chocolate, caramel, honey, and cream cheese are also lifted by a touch of cinnamon.
Cinnamon is often combined with spices like nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, and ginger, creating the blends we know from pumpkin pie spice or chai.
All of these cinnamon dessert recipes below show you how easy it is to infuse cinnamon flavor into your baked goods, regardless of your baking skill level. You’ll find a variety of easy cinnamon desserts that can make for breakfast or brunch, as well as a handful of no-bake treats that are quick enough to whip up whenever the craving strikes. I hope you enjoy!
Best Cinnamon Desserts
1. Cinnamon Apple Bread
This cinnamon apple loaf is undoubtedly pure Fall comfort. It's super soft and tender, with apple chunks folded into a cinnamon-spiced batter. Finally, the caramelized apple glaze on top doubles down on that warm cinnamon flavor. Surely it's irresistible!
2. Apple Hand Pies
Personally, I really love a hand pie. All the flavor of an apple pie, but in your own individual portion! The flaky, buttery crust holds a juicy apple filling flavored with cinnamon and brown sugar for all those warm Fall undertones. They are surely always hugely popular!
3. Baked Cinnamon Sugar Donuts
Light and fluffy baked donuts, coated in a layer of cinnamon sugar, are crisp on the outside, tender on the inside, and entirely satisfying without the hassle of deep-frying. These treats definitely show off cinnamon so well, and are best served warm. But be warned, they will disappear very fast!
4. Apple Pie
Buttery pie crust filled with soft, cinnamon-scented apples cooked until perfectly tender. The cinnamon complements the flavors perfectly and elevates the apples without stealing the show. The lattice topping completes the picture, and I give you full directions on how to make it! In conclusion, it's a classic for a reason.
5. Apple Pie Cupcakes
Here are all the flavors of apple pie, but in a cute and dainty cupcake! A tender cinnamon sponge cupcake, delicious apple filling, and a silky smooth frosting make this one of my favorite cinnamon desserts ever. It gives that familiar warming spice, turning each cupcake into a pie-infused treat.
6. Cinnamon Babka
This babka is soft, pillowy, and rich with a deeply swirled cinnamon sugar filling. While it might look complicated, my step-by-step recipe will help you get the best results even as a beginner! It's perfect with coffee, for breakfast, or at any time of the day.
7. Apple Crumble Pie
This pie has it all! Buttery soft cinnamon-spiced apples are baked in a pie crust under a crunchy crumble topping for a texture and flavor combination of dreams. The cinnamon in the apple layer really warms things up, while the crumble lets that spice shine through in every crunchy bite.
8. Apple Bread Pudding
Here's a great way to use your leftover bread and turn it into a cinnamon dessert! The bread is soaked in custard, generous diced apples, and plenty of cinnamon, and then baked until golden. It is warm, comforting dessert perfection!
9. Cinnamon Apple cake
I love cinnamon spice in a cake! A soft and aromatic cinnamon cake layer is topped with fresh apples and sprinkled with cinnamon sugar. This super moist cinnamon apple cake will be the perfect finishing touch to your meal.
10. Apple Crumble Muffins
Moist and delicious apple crumble muffins have a tender cinnamon sponge filled with apple chunks and topped with a crunchy, homemade crumble. Simply put, it's the perfect combination of flavors and textures to have everyone running back for seconds!
11. Apple Dutch Baby
Apple Dutch baby pancake is a more unique cinnamon dessert that the whole family will love. A traditional, buttery Dutch baby is filled with fresh apples and warm cinnamon, creating the most delicious combination of crisp, buttery pancakes and sweet, caramelized apple compote.
12. Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon rolls are an MVP for a reason! While it might take a bit longer to make the yeasted brioche dough, it will be well worth the effort for the soft and pillowy goodness. What's more, the amazing smell from the oven would tempt a saint!
13. Cinnamon Cupcakes
You don’t need a special occasion to enjoy these fluffy and delicious cinnamon cupcakes; they’re truly perfect for making at any time. Additionally, this crowd-pleasing cinnamon dessert takes less than an hour to make from start to finish. But the best part might just be the velvety cream cheese frosting that perfectly complements every bite of these moist and flavorful cupcakes.
14. Puff Pastry Cinnamon Twists
These cinnamon pastry twists come together in no time, making them the perfect, fun addition to any dessert table. You can whip them up at a moment’s notice and satisfy your sweet tooth with the warm spice addition of cinnamon sugar flavor. Perfect for all ages, these buttery, flaky treats can even be enhanced with a variety of additions from nutmeg to cocoa powder!
15. Cinnamon Streusel Muffins
These muffins are the perfect way for cinnamon lovers to start their day. Featuring a brown sugar cinnamon swirl and my super delicious streusel topping, every bite of each tender muffin is loaded with incredible flavor. Make these muffins ahead of time, and you'll have a ready-to-eat, tasty treat in your fridge all week!
16. Cinnamon Apple Babka
Babka is a braided bread known for its soft dough, versatility, and sweet taste. This version flavors the rich and pillowy bread with a burst of warm apple cinnamon goodness in every bite. Even beginner bakers can easily recreate this delicious treat, especially with the straightforward step-by-step instructions my recipe provides.
This babka, perfect to enjoy at any time of day, is one of the best Fall desserts you’ll ever make.
17. Cinnamon Rolls with Apple Pie Filling
Cinnamon and apple are always a winning combination. This recipe offers the very best parts of a gooey cinnamon roll and a warm apple pie in every single bite. Finished with a luscious cream cheese frosting, this sweet and fluffy cinnamon treat is a picture-perfect dish that’s excellent for feeding a crowd.
18. Peach Cobbler with Pie Crust
You don´t have to wait until the Fall to use cinnamon in your desserts. This Peach cobbler with pie crust is a classic dessert that combines juicy peaches with a flaky, buttery pie crust. My homemade peach cobbler recipe is the perfect way to make the most of peach season when the fruit is extra ripe and flavorful.
19. Snickerdoodle Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Snickerdoodles are timeless cookies that are easy to fall in love with over and over again. With the addition of a pumpkin cheesecake filling, snickerdoodles become absolutely irresistible. This upgrade makes for a rich and creamy dessert with both sweet and savory notes throughout.
Cinnamon brings all the flavors together with a warm and comforting spice. These simple, yet impressive cookies are sure to become your new Fall favorite.
20. Baked Pumpkin Spice Donuts
Pumpkin isn’t really complete without the addition of cinnamon, and when those two flavors come together in this recipe, they create the perfect bite. Decadent pumpkin pie spice and sweet brown sugar give these donuts a depth of flavor you’ll love. Best of all, this simple recipe takes less than an hour to prepare, making it a great option for breakfast or a tender and delicious anytime dessert.
21. Pie Crust Cookies
These incredibly easy-to-make cinnamon pie crust cookies take only four ingredients to make, including leftover pie crust. This zero-waste recipe comes together with very little effort, making it the perfect bake for beginners or anyone who wants a quick cinnamon dessert with a flaky texture and buttery flavor that everyone will love.
22. Caramelized Apple Topping
Caramelized apple topping is the secret ingredient to take your dishes to the next level. Whether you’re enjoying pancakes, scones, or even a bowl of ice cream, this delicious recipe is the perfect go-to topping. Brown sugar and butter provide a base for this recipe that’s instantly elevated by the addition of ground cinnamon.
23. Apple Crumble Cheesecake
All the best bits of a cheesecake and an apple crumble mixed into one delicious dessert. The cinnamon is spiked through every bite, and it creates the most amazing depth of flavor. This surely isn't one to miss!
24. Puff Pastry Apple Roses
The daintiest cinnamon dessert around! What's more, these little apple cinnamon puff pastry roses are so easy to make. They work so well at a holiday dessert table or even as a potluck dessert.
25. Apple Pie Cookies
Everyone always loves these cookies! The apple pie filling is full of juicy apples and cinnamon flavor, and the cookie base is perfectly sweet and chewy. If you love apple pie but want to make individual desserts or sweet snacks, this is the recipe for you.
26. Star Bread
You'll be everyone's favorite person this festive season if you make this cinnamon star bread for the dessert table! The pull-apart dough is pillowy and soft and perfectly flavored with the warm cinnamon sugar filling. No one can resist!
27. Baked Cinnamon Crunch French Toast
Take your breakfast up a notch with cinnamon French toast. Vanilla custard-filled French toast pieces provide a complementary texture to the crunchy cinnamon topping in this baked cinnamon recipe. This dish is an excellent time saver in the mornings because it can be prepared overnight and baked fresh when you wake up.
28. Mexican Cinnamon Twists
These delicious cinnamon twists are a homemade version of a fast-food favorite. This recipe uses duros, a type of wheat pasta that puffs up when fried due to its baking soda and cornstarch content. This light and crispy treat tastes delicious when coated in cinnamon sugar and can also be dipped in chocolate or caramel for added indulgence.
29. Cinnamon Roll Blondies
If you love cinnamon rolls, these rich blondies belong on your baking list. They’re buttery and chewy and have a gorgeous swirl of cinnamon flavor throughout the batch. Finally, a smooth cream cheese icing drizzles the top of these blondies to ensure each bite has all the true flavor of a cinnamon roll.
30. Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake
This unique cheesecake hits all the right notes. Not only does it include brown sugar and cinnamon dots throughout the creamy cheesecake base, but it also features mini cinnamon rolls along the top. With generous swirls of cream cheese frosting piled high around the edges, this cheesecake is sure to get attention at parties for its stunning presentation and its amazing taste.
31. Coffee Cake Cookies
For a fun twist on coffee cake, these cookies make a quick and easy dessert. Perfect for those short on time, these cinnamon cookies take just 25 minutes to make. Each of these chewy treats features a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping, just like its namesake. Finally, a simple vanilla glaze tops each cookie for an extra sweet finish.
32. Cinnamon Chip Scones
These cinnamon scones are filled with warm spiced flavor for the perfect breakfast or light snack. To make them, cinnamon chips are folded into the buttery dough and baked until perfectly golden. These scones have the perfect balance of a crunchy exterior and soft, tender center that make them delightful treats for any time of day.
33. Easy Homemade Churros
You might be used to enjoying churros from street vendors or Mexican restaurants, but they’re also surprisingly easy for you to make fresh at home. Churros use a simple choux pastry for their base, but the magic of their flavor comes from the thick layer of cinnamon sugar that gives them their classic look.
This cinnamon and sugar pastry tastes delicious dipped in caramel sauce, chocolate, and even raspberry sauce.
34. Cinnamon Roll Poke Cake
For a quick and tasty dessert, this cinnamon poke cake couldn’t be more perfect. To infuse it with cinnamon flavor, you pour a spiced, sweetened condensed milk into the small holes poked all over the cake’s surface. As the cake rests, the flavor soaks into the entire base for an extra-moist cinnamon-filled flavor in every bite.
35. Cinnamon Honey Butter
Cinnamon honey butter is the topping your baked goods have been missing. This creamy mixture is made from whipped butter and sweetened with sugar and honey. Cinnamon adds a deep spice flavor that balances the sweetness to make this the perfect addition to everything from freshly baked rolls to quickbread recipes, like banana bread.
36. Cinnamon Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake
This simple cinnamon cake makes an excellent treat for any gathering, from book club to brunch. A pretty cinnamon swirl delicately flavors the cake, while the chocolate chips peppered throughout add an extra burst of sweetness to every bite. This bundt cake is dense and satisfying. At the same time, the recipe is easy to follow, making it a great option for beginners and expert bakers alike.
37. Sopapilla Cheesecake
Sopapilla cheesecake is a popular cinnamon-sugar cheesecake dessert. This easy sopapilla cheesecake recipe uses crescent rolls to make its layers. Then, a creamy cheesecake filling follows a generous serving of cinnamon sugar for amazing crunch and flavor.
A second layer of crescent roll dough is placed on top and coated with even more cinnamon mixture for a dark golden brown dessert that’s rich and delightfully flaky.
38. No Churn Cinnamon Ice Cream
Cinnamon ice cream is one of the best no-bake cinnamon desserts you can make. And it’s even better when there’s no ice cream machine required! Instead of traditional vanilla ice cream, use a scoop of cinnamon ice cream on your apple pie or peach cobbler. Not only does it complement these warm desserts well, but it also tastes delicious served in a cone.
39. Cinnamon Vanilla Rice Pudding
This rice pudding with condensed milk requires only a few ingredients to achieve ultra-creamy dessert bliss. While rice pudding is often associated with the holidays, it’s an easy-to-make dessert that can be enjoyed all year round. This chilled cinnamon dessert is packed with comforting flavors and topped with an extra sprinkle, so there’s a bold cinnamon taste in every bite.
40. Cinnamon Pie
If you’ve never tried cinnamon pie before, you’re in for a real treat! This delicious dessert packs a huge cinnamon flavor with over 3 tablespoons of cinnamon in the filling. Brown sugar and cream cheese make up the base for the pie filling for an ultra-smooth and rich warm spice flavor. You can use your favorite homemade pie crust, or even a store-bought crust, to make this recipe even easier.
41. Birthday Cinnamon Roll Cake
This cinnamon roll cake isn’t just a batter with cinnamon flavor; it’s an actual giant cinnamon roll. This fun dessert makes the perfect special breakfast and is sure to win everyone over. The fluffy homemade dough is rich, soft, and stuffed with a cinnamon sugar filling. Finally, the fun and flavor keep going strong with a sweet cream cheese glaze and colorful, festive sprinkles.
42. Cinnamon Crunch Knots
These gorgeous cinnamon crunch knots are a tasty and simple, crowd-pleasing treat. As this fluffy dough bakes up, the topping turns dark brown and crispy, giving every bite the perfect blend of textures. These baked knots are one of the cinnamon desserts that make a great breakfast or easy-to-grab anytime treat.
43. Cinnamon Cruffins
Cruffins are a newer dessert, found at the intersection of a croissant and a muffin. This fun cinnamon pastry recipe uses homemade croissant dough and sprinkles sugary cinnamon goodness into every layer. With the perfect combination of crispy, flaky layers and a soft, rich middle, this dessert will excite your taste buds and keep you coming back for more.
44. Baked Apples
If you’re looking for healthy cinnamon desserts, this recipe is the perfect treat to satisfy your sweet tooth without too much sugar. The power is in your hands because you can view these baked apples as a healthy or decadent dessert, depending on how you top them.
Besides the oat-walnut cinnamon filling that gives these apples a satisfying crunch, you can enjoy them with a scoop of Greek yogurt for protein or a drizzle of caramel sauce for a more indulgent option.
45. Cinnamon Nut Quick Bread
Walnuts give this cinnamon bread a hearty crunch. It’s simple to make and only takes 10 minutes to prepare. Sour cream keeps this bread wonderfully moist and gives it a tang that goes particularly well with the cinnamon flavor. Finally, what really makes this swirled bread stand out is the walnut streusel topping that gives every bite loads of texture and a tasty caramelized flavor.
46. Cinnamon Roll Cookies
When you’re in the mood for cinnamon roll flavors but don’t have time to make the dough, grab a cinnamon roll cookie instead. These cookies are packed with the traditional tastes that you know and love, but they come with much less hassle, no yeast to worry about, and you can make them in just a fraction of the time.
Soft and chewy, with a cinnamon swirl, a perfectly sweet cream cheese frosting finishes these cookies, making them even better.
47. Cinnamon Roll Muffins with Cream Cheese Icing
These muffins mash up all the tasty goodness of a cinnamon roll, packed into a tender muffin. Rich swirls of cinnamon sugar run through moist, buttery batter, and each one gets topped with a silky cream cheese glaze. No one will be able to resist them, so you'll certainly need to bake a double batch!
48. Brown Sugar Cinnamon Layer Cake
Now, here is an impressive cinnamon dessert for a special occasion!
This brown sugar and cinnamon layer cake is full of Fall flavor and warm spice, with moist cake layers and the fluffiest buttercream frosting. Surely it's going to impress anyone.
49. Cinnamon Swirl Eggnog Bread Pudding
This cinnamon dessert has it all! Soft, custardy brioche drenched in eggnog, and layered with cinnamon sugar swirls for extra warmth and sweetness. It’s baked until golden and best served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! Simply put, it's perfect for those cold and wintry nights.
50. Cinnamon Hot Cocoa
This is hot chocolate elevated to new levels. The basic mixture of cocoa, milk, and sugar gets infused with cinnamon sticks to give gentle spicy warmth under the chocolate. The cinnamon cuts through the richness, turning a simple drink into something new.
51. Cinnamon Orange Madeleines
Light, buttery shell-shaped madeleines are a dainty French dessert usually served with coffee. This version gets a citrus twist thanks to orange zest, and warm cinnamon adds a subtle, spiced edge. After baking, they’re dipped in cinnamon sugar so each warm bite has that sweet, spicy finish.
Try my classic French Madeleines next!
52. Cinnamon Snack Cake
This cinnamon snack cake is simple yet delicious, with a soft and fluffy cinnamon-spiced cake and a silky, tangy cinnamon cream cheese frosting. It celebrates all those cozy fall flavors, and if you're looking for a crowd-pleasing dessert for a family gathering, I recommend this!
53. Maple Snickerdoodle Muffins with Warm Cinnamon Sugar
Every bite of these easy muffins mixes the cozy warmth of cinnamon with the sweet, rich taste of real maple syrup. What's more, they are so easy to throw together, meaning that anyone can enjoy them!
54. Chai Cinnamon Rolls with Espresso Cream Cheese Icing
Soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls spiked with chai and topped with a delicious espresso cream cheese icing, it's a dream! These buttery brioche rolls are a bakery-worthy treat for a festive holiday breakfast or a special treat to share with family & friends.
55. Puff Pastry Star with Cinnamon Sugar
This is undoubtedly a cinnamon dessert recipe for Christmas morning!
Buttery, sweet, and lightly spiced, the puff pastry with cinnamon sugar is a match made in heaven. You can call it a star or a snowflake-either way, it's delicious!
56. Cinnamon Panna Cotta With Crushed Biscotti Topping
Here is a lovely twist on a classic. Silky smooth panna cotta with the delicious flavors of cinnamon and vanilla, with a crunchy biscotti topping to add some amazing texture. It's elegant and refined, but a lot easier to make than you might think!
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