This Cinnamon Roll Focaccia is soft, golden, and full of gooey cinnamon-sugar goodness with a sweet glaze on top. It’s a mashup you won’t want to miss!
Table of Contents
What is Cinnamon Roll Focaccia?
Cinnamon roll focaccia is a fun twist on the traditional Italian bread, combining the pillowy texture of focaccia with the warm, cozy flavors of a cinnamon roll. Instead of a savory olive oil and herb topping, this version gets dimpled with buttery cinnamon-sugar that melts into the dough as it bakes. The result? A sweet, sticky bread that pulls apart like a dream and will have your kitchen smelling like a bakery.
This version uses frozen dinner rolls, which means you don’t need to mess with making dough from scratch—perfect for when you want something homemade without all the extra effort. Once the dough rises, it’s topped with a quick cinnamon-butter mix, baked until golden and fluffy, then drizzled with a creamy glaze. It’s great for brunch, a cozy dessert, or even a weekend baking project with the kids.
Ingredients You Need
- Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls – These rolls make this recipe super easy, and once they rise, they give you that fluffy, chewy texture that’s perfect for a cinnamon roll-inspired focaccia.
- Unsalted Butter – We love using melted butter because it soaks into the bread and adds a rich, buttery flavor to every bite.
- Brown Sugar – This sugar adds sweet caramel notes and pairs beautifully with the cinnamon for that classic cinnamon roll taste.
- Ground Cinnamon – This is a great way to add warm flavor and cozy spice to the bread.
- Powdered Sugar – We use powdered sugar to make a smooth glaze that melts over the top and adds a sweet finish.
- Milk – A splash or two helps loosen the glaze until it’s pourable—feel free to adjust to get your perfect consistency.
How to Make Cinnamon Roll Focaccia
- Prepare the dough. Lightly grease a baking dish and place the frozen dinner rolls inside. Give them time to thaw and rise until they’ve puffed up and doubled in size.
- Mix the topping. Stir together melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until it forms a thick, smooth mixture.
- Dimple the dough. Use your fingertips to press small dimples all over the surface of the risen dough, just like you would with traditional focaccia.
- Add the cinnamon topping. Spoon the buttery cinnamon mixture evenly over the top, letting it seep into all those little pockets.
- Bake until golden. Slide it into the oven and bake until the top is golden brown and the bread is baked through. The cinnamon mixture will bubble up and create the most amazing sticky topping.
- Make the glaze. While the bread is still warm, whisk together powdered sugar and a bit of milk until smooth and creamy.
- Finish it off. Drizzle the glaze generously over the warm focaccia, letting it melt into the nooks and crannies. Slice, serve, and enjoy while it’s still warm and gooey!
Variations
- Chopped Nuts – Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the cinnamon-sugar topping for a little crunch and nutty flavor.
- Cream Cheese Glaze – Switch out the milk glaze for a tangy cream cheese version for extra richness.
- Pumpkin Spice – Add a pinch of pumpkin pie spice to the cinnamon-sugar mix for a cozy fall twist.
- Vanilla – Stir a little vanilla extract into the glaze for even more flavor.
- Sea Salt – A tiny bit of flaky salt on top after baking adds a sweet-salty contrast that’s hard to resist.
- Maple Syrup – Swap some of the milk for maple syrup for even more sweet flavor.
Can I Store Leftovers?
Leftovers are still tasty, but the texture can get a bit soft as the glaze seeps into the bread. It’s best to store any extras in an airtight container.
You can refrigerate it for up to 3 days—just warm it slightly before serving for the best texture.
To freeze, wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, then freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw and reheat before serving.
Common Questions about Cinnamon Roll Focaccia
It’s soft and fluffy like a cinnamon roll, but with a slightly chewier bite thanks to the focaccia-style dough and dimpling.
Yes! You can let the dough rise overnight in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature before adding the topping and baking.
Dimples help the buttery cinnamon-sugar mixture soak into the bread instead of sliding off—plus they give it that classic focaccia look!
Honestly, both! It’s great with coffee in the morning, but also totally works as a dessert after dinner.
More Focaccia Recipes
We’re huge fans of focaccia, and if you are too, you’re going to fall head over heels with our other favorite recipes for this bread!
No Knead Cheesy Focaccia Bread
Cinnamon Roll Focaccia Recipe
Ingredients
- 24 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
- 1 stick ½ cup unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 –2 Tablespoons milk for glaze
Instructions
Prep the Dough:
- Place 24 frozen dinner rolls in a greased 9×13-inch pan.24 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
- Let them thaw and rise according to package instructions, until doubled in size.
Make the Topping:
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.1 stick, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Assemble:
- Once the dough has risen, gently press fingers into the dough to create focaccia-style dimples.
- Pour the cinnamon-butter mixture evenly over the top, letting it fill the dimples.
Bake:
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Glaze:
- Mix powdered sugar with 1–2 tablespoons of milk until smooth.1 cup powdered sugar, 1 –2 Tablespoons milk
- Drizzle over the warm bread.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Equipment
Notes
Would you like to save this? 🔖
We’ll email this post to you, so you can come back to it later!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Cinnamon Roll Focaccia (with Frozen Dinner Rolls)
Ingredients:
- 24 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls (thawed and risen)
- 1 stick (½ cup) unsalted butter, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1–2 tbsp milk (for glaze)
Instructions:
- Prep the Dough:
- Place 24 frozen dinner rolls in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
- Let them thaw and rise according to package instructions, until doubled in size.
- Make the Topping:
- In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
- Assemble:
- Once the dough has risen, gently press your fingers into the dough to create focaccia-style dimples.
- Pour the cinnamon-butter mixture evenly over the top, letting it fill the dimples.
- Bake:
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Glaze:
- Mix powdered sugar with 1–2 tablespoons of milk until smooth.
- Drizzle over the warm bread.
- Serve Warm and Enjoy!
