Cinnamon Bites

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Are you tired of the same old breakfast routine? Do you crave a sweet and satisfying treat that will kickstart your day? Look no further than these homemade cinnamon bites. With a delectable combination of cinnamon and sugar, you won’t be able to resist coming back for more.

cinnamon bites with glaze in a baking pan.

What are cinnamon bites you ask? They are little balls of dough dipped in butter, dredged with cinnamon and sugar, and drizzled with a delicious glaze. I’d say they are similar to monkey bread but a bit drier and lighter. Plus, the glaze sends these little bits over the top. So good! These are perfect for breakfast and brunch.

Being a huge fan of sweets, I am tempted to sit down with this pan and gobble them all up with a big glass or milk or a hot cup of jo!  Who’s with me?!

If so, you need to give this recipe a try ASAP! While you’re at it, be sure to check out my cinnamon roll bread and cinnamon nut bread. You’ll love those too!

up close photo of cinnamon bites with vanilla glaze

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • The taste is unbeatable. The perfect combination of sweetness and spice will leave you wanting more.
  • With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, you can whip up a batch anytime, even on a busy weekday morning.
  • These cinnamon bites are a crowd-pleaser, so they’re great to make for family breakfast or when hosting brunch for friends. Trust me, once you try these homemade cinnamon bites, you won’t be able to resist making them again and again.
How to Make the BEST Cinnamon Bites! #breakfast #brunch #sweet #monkeybread #cinnamon #bites #bread #recipe

Ingredients

To make the perfect homemade cinnamon bites, you’ll need a few simple ingredients that you likely already have in your fridge and pantry. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • water
  • active dry yeast
  • all-purpose flour
  • eggs
  • sugar
  • salt
  • vanilla
  • butter
  • ground cinnamon
  • confectioners’ sugar
  • whole milk

Gather up your ingredients and we’re ready to bake!

close up of cinnamon bites with glaze in a baking pan.

How to Make

I’ll walk you through the steps for making these cinnamon bites. I’ve also provided a full ingredient list and detailed instructions in the printable recipe card below.

  1. Begin by making your down and allow it to rise until double in size.
  2. Punch down dough; press out air bubbles.
  3. Lightly butter a 9-inch pie plate.
  4. Place melted butter in a bowl. In another bowl, stir together remaining 1 cup sugar and the cinnamon.
  5. Roll dough into 1-inch balls.
rolling balls of dough for cinnamon bites.
adding cinnamon bites to a pie plate.
  1. Dip balls into melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place in pie plate. Stack balls to form a dome. Sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon-sugar, and drizzle with any leftover butter.
cinnamon bites in a round baking dish.
  1. Cover with plastic wrap, and let balls rise by half, about 1 hour.
  2. Unwrap balls, and place pie plate on a baking sheet. Bake until golden and firm
  3. While the cinnamon bites cool, prepare the glaze.
  4. Drizzle glaze over the cinnamon bites.
up close photo of cinnamon bites with vanilla glaze.

Look at the ooey, gooey goodness! What’s not to love?

What to Serve With

If you’re looking to make a full breakfast spread, you could serve these cinnamon bites alongside some eggs and bacon. The savory elements would balance out the sweetness of the bites and provide a complete meal.

Here are a few other ideas:

Overall, the possibilities are endless, and these cinnamon bites are sure to be a hit no matter how you choose to serve them.

up close photo of cinnamon bites with vanilla glaze.

Frequently Asked Questions

You may have a few questions while making these homemade cinnamon bites that are sure to impress your guests.

Can I use a different type of flour for this recipe?

Yes, you can use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose. However, keep in mind that the texture and rise of the cinnamon bites may differ slightly.

Can I add raisins or nuts to the dough?

Of course! You can add your favorite nuts, such as pecans or walnuts, or some raisins to the dough before rolling it up. It will add a delightful crunch and sweetness to the cinnamon bites.

How do I store the cinnamon bites?

You can store the cinnamon bites in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days or in the refrigerator for up to a week. You can also freeze the cinnamon bites for up to two months and reheat them when ready to serve. I recommend freezing before adding the vanilla glaze.

cinnamon bites with glaze in a baking pan.

More Breakfast Sweets You May Enjoy

If you make these delectable cinnamon bites, I’d love to hear about it. Please leave a comment and a 5-star rating below. 

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Cinnamon Bites

If you love monkey bread, you'll love these Cinnamon Bites with sweet vanilla glaze. They make the perfect breakfast or dessert treat.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bread, cinnamon rolls, monkey bread
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 55 minutes
Rising Time: 2 hours
Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 655kcal

Ingredients

Dough Balls

Vanilla Glaze

Instructions

  • Pour water into the bowl of a stand mixer. Sprinkle yeast evenly over water, and let stand until foamy, 5 to 7 minutes. Whisk until smooth, then whisk in 1/2 cup flour to form a loose paste. Let rise in a warm place until yeast mixture has risen and fallen, about 30 minutes.
  • Add eggs, 1/4 cup sugar, salt, vanilla, and remaining flour to yeast mixture. Knead dough, using dough hook attachment on mixer, until smooth, 4 to 5 minutes.
  • Add 1 stick butter, and knead until dough is smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes (add a little more flour if the dough is too sticky). Turn out dough onto an unfloured work surface, and knead by hand until very smooth, about 3 minutes. Transfer dough to another bowl, and let rise in a warm place, covered with a damp cloth or plastic wrap, until doubled, 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Punch down dough; press out air bubbles.
  • Lightly butter a 9-inch pie plate. Place melted butter in a bowl. In another bowl,stir together remaining 1 cup sugar and the cinnamon.
  • Roll dough into 1-inch balls (I ended up with about 55). Working with 1 at a time, dip balls into melted butter, then roll in the cinnamon-sugar mixture and place in pie plate. Stack balls to form a dome. Sprinkle with any remaining cinnamon-sugar, and drizzle with any leftover butter. Cover with plastic wrap, and let balls rise by half, about 1 hour.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Unwrap balls, and place pie plate on a baking sheet. Bake until golden and firm (a wooden skewer inserted into the center comes out clean), 50 to 55 minutes. Let bites cool in dish for 15 minutes.
  • In the meantime, let’s make the glaze. First, stir together sugar and salt in a small bowl.
  • Then, whisk together butter, milk, and vanilla, and stir into sugar until mixture forms a smooth paste. Keep glaze at room temperature until ready to drizzle over cinnamon-bun bites. Before using, whisk until smooth.

Nutrition

Calories: 655kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 136mg | Sodium: 810mg | Potassium: 133mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 750IU | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 55mg | Iron: 4mg

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11 Comments

  1. Do you have advice on how to make this the night before and cook it for breakfast? At which point would you refrigerate the dough?

    1. I’m not sure. If I was trying it as an overnight recipe I would make the dough and put it in the refrigerator overnight. Then in the morning roll out the balls and continue from there. Let me know if you try this. I’m curious.

      xo Michael

  2. ooooh these look so yummy! My only fear of making these is of the weight gain that will for sure come after I’ve inhaled the entire batch! Since they’re only “bites” I’ll justify eating them countlessly!