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Calling all cinnamon roll lovers!!! Have I got a cookie for you?!? Clear your schedule  because you need to put “Bake Mini Cinnamon Roll Cookies” at the top of your to do list. From the very first batch all I could think was WOW…these cookies really are something special. These super adorable bitesize cookies look and taste just like a homemade cinnamon roll, but in a mini size. The recipe is so much fun to make and even more fun to eat…obviously!! Seriously I dare you to try to eat just one. Absolutely impossible! These little guys are meant to be eaten like 5 at a time…minimum. Let’s get this show on the road. The faster we make them, the faster we can taste them.

Here’s all you’ll need: brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, cream cheese, white sugar, egg, vanilla, orange zest, all-purpose flour, baking powder, dry active yeast, salt, confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla extract.

Add the brown sugar and cinnamon to a small bowl. Mix the ingredients together until well blended. Set this mixture aside. We’ll be using it a little later to create that delicious cinnamon swirl!

Next add the softened butter, cream cheese and sugar to a large mixing bowl. Beat with a hand mixer until light and fluffy. I usually soften my butter in the microwave cause I’m a little bit of a cheater like that. 15-20 seconds should do the job! Just keep in mind, we’re going for soft not melted.

Then beat in the egg and orange zest. The orange zest gives this recipe just the slightest hint of orange and in my opinion is the perfect touch. Orange zest is the colorful peel of the orange and adds a bright citrus note to recipes. To create orange zest, run the skin of an orange against a grater.

Add in the baking powder, yeast, and salt and mix to combine. Now add the flour to the creamed mixture. Mix it in about a half a cup at a time until all of the flour has been added. The end result should be a soft cookie dough.

Next divide the dough into 2 portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each portion into an 8X10-inch rectangle (see below). Sprinkle each rectangle with half of the cinnamon sugar mixture to cover. Don’t worry too much about those brown sugar lumps. They’ll melt right into the cookies while they’re baking.

Starting with one of the long sides, roll up tightly jelly-roll style. Pinch the edges slightly to seal. Then cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour or until firm. And yes, you can absolutely leave this cookie dough in the refrigerator overnight. So if a cookie baking marathon is in your future feel free to prep this one the day before.

When you’re ready to bake, remove the cookie dough logs from the refrigerator. Cut the dough crossways into 3/4″ slices. Place the cookie dough slices onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Parchment paper = no mess no stress which I love! It also prevents sticking and reduces browning both resulting in better cookies. Now’s also the perfect time to reshape those cookies into better shaped circles if you need to.

Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 8-10 minutes or until the bottoms are light brown. Now I already know what you’re thinking…how can I tell if the bottoms are lightly browned? Well you’re going to have to sacrifice a cookie or two and carefully check until you hone in the perfect baking time for your oven. For perfect cookies every time I always rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking. Use the top and middle racks in the oven, never the bottom. And then about halfway through baking time swap positions. So the cookies that were baking on the top rack get bumped down to the middle rack and the cookies that were baking on the middle rack get moved up to the top. I also rotate the baking sheets so that the cookies that were in the front of the oven are now in the back and vice versa. This helps all the cookies to bake evenly and will yield the very best results. Every. Time.

While the Mini Cinnamon Roll Cookies are baking we can whip up that tasty glazed topping. Mmmmm-mmm! In a small bowl whisk together the confectioners’ sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.

Remove the cookies from the oven, transfer to a wire rack and cool completely. Dip the tops of the cookies into the glaze. Let the cookies stand and allow the glaze to set if you plan on stacking or saving some for later. Otherwise dive right in!!!

Now isn’t that just the cutest cookie that you’ve ever laid eyes on?!? It surely won’t stop me from devouring it! And since you’re baking up a storm you might as well try our Cappuccino Cookies or Toffee Cookies too.

We’d love to hear from you! Leave us your comments and love down below!

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