Easy Maple Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Hallmark Channel’s Falling Into Place was FULL of fall treats that had me drooling through the whole movie! Since I have a weakness for cinnamon rolls, I didn’t even question making the maple cinnamon rolls that “Gigi” makes at the beginning of the movie.

Cinnamon and maple are the perfect marriage of flavors for a cozy fall treat. I had picked up some maple powder from a specialty shop a little while ago, and as soon as I saw those cinnamon rolls, I knew I had finally found the perfect dish to make with it.

Well, here it is! My own Maple Cinnamon Rolls inspired by Falling Into Place—warm, sweet, cinnamon-filled, and topped with plenty of maple flavor.

Why You’ll Love These Easy Maple Cinnamon Rolls

These maple cinnamon rolls have all the cozy flavor of homemade cinnamon rolls without having to make the dough from scratch. Refrigerated pizza dough makes them quick and easy, while brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple powder give the filling plenty of warm fall flavor. Finish them with maple cream cheese icing, and they’re ready for a cozy breakfast, brunch, or Hallmark movie morning.

Ingredients for Maple Cinnamon Rolls

For cinnamon rolls:

• 1 package store-bought pizza dough (I buy fresh dough from the deli)
• 1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon maple powder
• Heavy cream, enough to cover the bottom of the baking dish

For the icing:

• ½ brick cream cheese, room temperature
• ¼ cup butter, room temperature
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• ⅓ cup powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon milk (more for a thinner glaze)

How to Make Maple Cinnamon Rolls

1. Prepare the dough
Let the pizza dough sit at room temperature until it is easy to work with. Roll it out as you would for a pizza, but shape it into an oblong rectangle.

2. Make the cinnamon-maple filling
In a bowl, mix the softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and maple powder until combined into a paste.

3. Fill the dough
Spread the filling evenly over the surface of the dough, leaving about ½ inch uncovered around the edge.

4. Roll and slice
Roll the dough tightly into a log, pinching any open spots closed. Trim off the ends that don’t contain filling, then cut the log into 4 cinnamon rolls.

5. Let the rolls proof
Butter the bottom and sides of a small square baking dish. Place the 4 cinnamon rolls in the dish, swirl-side up. Cover with a clean dish towel and let them proof in a warm place for 30 minutes.

6. Add the heavy cream
After proofing, uncover the rolls and pour heavy cream into the bottom of the baking dish, using just enough to cover the bottom.

7. Bake
Bake at 350°F for about 35 minutes, or until the rolls are baked through and golden.

8. Make the maple cream cheese icing
While the cinnamon rolls bake, beat the room-temperature cream cheese and butter with an electric mixer until smooth. Add the vanilla and maple syrup and mix on low speed.

9. Finish the icing
Slowly add the powdered sugar, followed by the milk. Mix until the icing reaches your desired consistency, adding a little more milk if you’d like a thinner glaze.

10. Ice and serve
Spread the maple cream cheese icing over the warm cinnamon rolls and let it melt into all those swirls. Serve immediately and enjoy!

Tips for the Best Maple Cinnamon Rolls

Let the dough come to room temperature. Room-temperature pizza dough is much easier to roll and shape without springing back.

Spread the filling evenly. Leave about ½ inch around the edge of the dough so the cinnamon-maple filling is less likely to squeeze out when you roll it.

Roll the dough tightly. A snug roll helps create those cinnamon swirls and keeps the filling inside.

Give the rolls time to proof. Cover the rolls and let them rest in a warm place for the full 30 minutes before adding the heavy cream.

Don’t overdo the heavy cream. You only need enough to cover the bottom of the baking dish.

Ice them while they’re warm. Spreading the maple cream cheese icing over warm cinnamon rolls lets it melt into the swirls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use store-bought pizza dough for cinnamon rolls?
Yes. Store-bought pizza dough makes these maple cinnamon rolls much easier to prepare without making dough from scratch. Fresh pizza dough from the deli works especially well.

What is maple powder?
Maple powder is a dry maple product that adds concentrated maple flavor without adding extra liquid. Adua uses it in the cinnamon-sugar filling to bring even more maple flavor to the rolls.

Why do you pour heavy cream over cinnamon rolls before baking?
The heavy cream adds richness and moisture as the cinnamon rolls bake. For this recipe, use just enough to cover the bottom of the baking dish after the rolls have proofed.

Can I make the maple icing thinner?
Yes. Add a little additional milk at a time until the maple cream cheese icing reaches the consistency you prefer.

Should maple cinnamon rolls be served warm?
They’re especially delicious served warm, when the rolls are soft and the maple cream cheese icing can melt into the cinnamon swirls.