Cinnamon Roll Focaccia at the Table

Cinnamon Roll Focaccia on a plate.
Cinnamon Roll Focaccia on a plate.

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!

Cinnamon Roll Focaccia on a plate.

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—reliable for when you want something from-scratch without all the extra effort. Once the dough rises, it’s topped with a speedy cinnamon-butter mix, baked until golden and fluffy, then drizzled with a silky glaze. It’s great for brunch, a cozy dessert, or even a weekend baking project with the kids.

Raw dinner rolls rising in a baking dish.
Raw dough pressed down into a baking dish for baked focaccia.
Brown sugar and butter topping over raw dough in a baking dish.
Baked Cinnamon Roll Focaccia.

Ingredients You Need

  • Rhodes Frozen Dinner Rolls – These rolls make this recipe super simple, and once they rise, they give you that fluffy, chewy texture that’s reliable 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 reliable consistency.
Cinnamon Roll Focaccia topped with icing.

How to Make Cinnamon Roll Focaccia

  1. 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.
  2. Mix the topping. Stir together melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon until it forms a thick, smooth mixture.
  3. 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.
  4. Add the cinnamon topping. Spoon the buttery cinnamon mixture evenly over the top, letting it seep into all those little pockets.
  5. 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 memorable sticky topping.
  6. Make the glaze. While the bread is still warm, whisk together powdered sugar and a bit of milk until smooth and silky.
  7. 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!
Cinnamon Roll Focaccia with icing.

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 finest 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 finest 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

What’s the texture of cinnamon roll focaccia like?

It’s soft and fluffy like a cinnamon roll, but with a slightly chewier bite thanks to the focaccia-style dough and dimpling.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can let the dough rise overnight in the fridge. Just bring it to room temperature before adding the topping and baking.

Why do I need to dimple the dough?

Dimples help the buttery cinnamon-sugar mixture soak into the bread instead of sliding off—plus they give it that classic focaccia look!

Is this more breakfast or dessert?

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 go-to recipes for this bread!

No Knead Focaccia Bread Art

Speedy Focaccia with Za’atar

Slow Cooker Simple Focaccia

No Knead Cheesy Focaccia Bread

A slice of cinnamon roll focaccia on a plate.the Ayyem kitchenServings: 12 servings

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 25 mins
Rising Time: 2 hrs
Total: 2 hrs 35 mins

Enjoy all the warm, sweet flavors of cinnamon rolls with the convenience of an simple baked focaccia usin frozen dinner rolls! Email

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:

  1. Place 24 frozen dinner rolls in a greased 9×13-inch pan.24 Rhodes frozen dinner rolls
  2. Let them thaw and rise according to package instructions, until doubled in size.Raw dinner rolls in a baking dish.

Make the Topping:

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.1 stick, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Assemble:

  1. Once the dough has risen, gently press fingers into the dough to create focaccia-style dimples.Dimples pressed into raw dough in a baking dish.
  2. Pour the cinnamon-butter mixture evenly over the top, letting it fill the dimples.Cinnamon butter poured over raw dough in a baking dish.

Bake:

  1. Bake in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 20–25 minutes, or until golden brown and cooked through.

Glaze:

  1. Mix powdered sugar with 1–2 tablespoons of milk until smooth.1 cup powdered sugar, 1-2 tablespoons milk
  2. Drizzle over the warm bread.Cinnamon Roll Focaccia in a baking dish.
  3. Serve warm and enjoy!

Equipment

1 (9×13 inch) Baking Dish2 Small Bowls

Notes

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers covered or in an airtight container for up to 3 days, or freeze for up to 1 month.

Nutrition

Serving: 1serving
| Calories: 141kcal
| Carbohydrates: 17g
| Protein: 0.4g
| Fat: 8g
| Saturated Fat: 2g
| Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g
| Monounsaturated Fat: 4g
| Cholesterol: 1mg
| Sodium: 101mg
| Potassium: 15mg
| Fiber: 0.1g
| Sugar: 16g
| Vitamin A: 355IU
| Vitamin C: 0.03mg
| Calcium: 11mg
| Iron: 0.1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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