✔ Published · new copycat recipe for the mini cinnamon rolls no longer on the regular menu
These copycat Burger King Cini Minis are bite-size cinnamon rolls with a gooey brown sugar swirl and tangy cream cheese icing for dunking. They're no longer on the regular menu, so let's bake a batch at home!
How Do You Make Burger King-Style Cini Minis? (Quick Answer)
Make a soft yeast dough, roll it into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle, spread with butter and cinnamon sugar and roll it into a log. Cut 16 small slices, let them rise in an 8-inch pan, bake at 350°F (175°C) for 16 to 18 minutes and finish with cream cheese icing.
At a glance
The one tip that matters: Use very soft butter for the filling and leave a bare strip along one edge. Soft butter holds the cinnamon sugar in place, and the bare edge seals the log so all that swirly goodness stays inside.
Why You'll Love These Mini Cinnamon Rolls
- Bite-size and pull-apart, just like the drive-thru breakfast treat.
- One rise only, thanks to instant yeast.
- Tangy cream cheese icing, made for dipping.
- Make-ahead friendly: shape them the night before and bake in the morning.
- No mixer needed; the dough comes together by hand.
What Were Burger King Cini Minis?
Cini Minis were a breakfast side of small, soft cinnamon rolls served with a cup of sweet icing for dipping. They left the regular menu years ago, and fans still search for a way to make them.
This copycat keeps the things people remember: bite-size rolls, a gooey cinnamon center and a tangy-sweet icing. For more drive-thru favorites, browse our Burger King copycat recipes.
Step-by-Step Photos
Here's how it comes together. Exact amounts, times and temperatures are in the recipe card below.
Tips for Success
- Check the milk temperature. About 110°F (43°C) feels warm, not hot, like a cozy bath. Hotter milk can kill the yeast.
- Don't add too much flour. A slightly tacky dough bakes into softer, fluffier rolls. Use only enough flour on the counter to stop sticking.
- Roll tightly. A loose roll leaves gaps that the filling leaks into.
- Cut with floss. Unflavored dental floss slices the log cleanly without squashing those pretty spirals. Kitchen magic!
- Don't overbake. Pull them when they're light golden; mini rolls dry out quickly.
- Ice them warm. Warm rolls soak up a little icing and get gloriously gooey.
Copycat Burger King Cini Minis
16
mini rolls25
minutes18
minutes165
kcal1
hour50
minutesBurger King-inspired Cini Minis: a soft, enriched yeast dough rolled around butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, cut into 16 small rolls, risen once and baked at 350°F (175°C) for 16 to 18 minutes, then finished with a vanilla cream cheese icing for dipping or drizzling.
Ingredients
- For the Dough
2 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for rolling
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast (1 packet)
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 cup whole milk, warmed to about 110°F (43°C)
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 large egg, room temperature
- For the Filling
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, very soft
1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- For the Cream Cheese Icing
2 oz cream cheese, softened
1 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon milk
Directions
- Make the Dough
- Whisk the flour, sugar, yeast and salt in a large bowl. Add the warm milk, melted butter and egg and stir into a shaggy dough.
- Knead on a lightly floured surface for 5 minutes, until smooth and slightly tacky. Cover and rest for 10 minutes.
- Fill, Roll and Cut
- Roll the dough into a 12 x 10-inch rectangle. Spread the soft butter over it, leaving a 1/2-inch strip bare along one long edge, then sprinkle evenly with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixed together.
- Starting from the other long edge, roll the dough into a tight 12-inch log and pinch the seam closed.
- Cut the log into 16 slices about 3/4 inch thick, using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss.
- Arrange the slices cut side up in a greased 8-inch square pan, 4 rows of 4. Cover and let rise in a warm spot for 45 to 60 minutes, until puffy and touching.
- Bake and Ice
- Bake at 350°F (175°C) for 16 to 18 minutes, until light golden and the center rolls reach about 190°F (88°C). Cool in the pan for 5 minutes.
- Beat the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla and milk until smooth. Drizzle over the warm rolls, or serve in a small cup for dipping.
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Make-Ahead and Storage
| Method | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Overnight | Shaped in the pan, covered, refrigerated | Up to 16 hours; rest 30 to 45 min before baking |
| Fridge (iced) | Covered | Up to 4 days |
| Freezer | Baked, un-iced, wrapped well | Up to 2 months |
| Reheat | Microwave 1 to 2 rolls | 10 to 15 seconds |
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Hot milk: above about 120°F it can kill the yeast, and the rolls won't rise.
- Melted filling butter: it runs out of the log; use very soft, spreadable butter.
- Thin slices: slices under 1/2 inch bake up dry and flat.
- Skipping the rise: unrisen rolls bake dense and tight.
More Burger King Copycat Recipes
Pair them with copycat Burger King French toast sticks, hash brown rounds or an Egg-Normous-style breakfast burrito.
See every recipe in our Burger King copycat recipes collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Burger King discontinue Cini Minis?
Cini Minis are no longer part of Burger King's regular US menu, though fast-food favorites sometimes return for limited runs, so check the Burger King app near you. In the meantime, this copycat lets you bake them at home whenever the craving hits.
What were Cini Minis?
They were small, soft cinnamon rolls sold as a breakfast side, usually in a small batch with a cup of sweet icing for dipping. This recipe recreates them as 16 mini rolls with cream cheese icing.
Can I make Cini Minis the night before?
Yes. Shape the rolls in the pan, cover tightly and refrigerate for up to 16 hours. In the morning, let them sit at room temperature for 30 to 45 minutes until puffy, then bake as directed.
Can I use canned cinnamon roll dough?
For a shortcut, cut each roll from a can of refrigerated cinnamon rolls into quarters, roll each piece into a ball and bake close together at 350°F (175°C) for 12 to 15 minutes. They won't have the same spiral, but they are quick.
How do I store and reheat them?
Keep iced rolls covered in the fridge for up to 4 days (the cream cheese icing needs refrigeration). Microwave 1 or 2 rolls for 10 to 15 seconds to warm them. Unbaked or baked, un-iced rolls freeze for up to 2 months.
Is it safe to eat the raw dough?
No. The dough contains raw egg and raw flour, so bake the rolls fully, until the centers reach about 190°F (88°C), before eating.
