cinnamon roll

noun

plural cinnamon rolls

: a spiral-shaped roll of sweet bread typically with a cinnamon and sugar filling and often glazed with icing, caramel, or melted brown sugar and butter and sometimes topped with nuts

The scent of sweet cinnamon rolls swirls from the oven …

—Chris Day

The first modern cinnamon rolls … became popular in Europe, eventually migrating to the United States, where the recipe underwent a few changes. Early American versions of the roll incorporated extra ingredients such as raisins, and Americans were the ones who came up with dolloping a giant layer of icing on top.

—Isaac McGill

… a fluffy cinnamon roll covered in caramel … and plenty of pecans.

—Nathan Hutsenpiller

called also cinnamon bun

Examples of cinnamon roll in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Isles Bun & Coffee received recognition for its cinnamon rolls, while Cup and Cone in White Bear Lake earned national attention for its ice cream. — CBS News, 3 Nov. 2026

After perusing the pecan and cinnamon rolls, Kinney makes her way through the crowded diner. — Barbara Sprunt, NPR, 1 Nov. 2026

So some of my clients bake cinnamon rolls or something else that feels homey. — Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2026

Other offerings include pumpkin chocolate chip loaf, sourdough muffin, sourdough scones, sourdough cinnamon rolls, sourdough pumpkin cinnamon rolls, cookies and a Pop Tart-style pastry made with sourdough. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 29 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined above