Cinnamon Roll Scones with Cream Cheese Glaze are family-friendly and perfect for weekend brunch. These tender scones are filled with brown sugar, cinnamon, and finished with a silky cream cheese glaze that gives them cozy coffee shop vibes at home.
Want more cinnamon bakes and easy breakfast ideas? Check out our Churro French Toast Sticks or our Apple Cinnamon Streusel Muffins.
Cinnamon Roll Scones at a Glance 🔎
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 18-22 minutes
- 👥 Servings: 8 scones
- 🔥 Cook Method: Baked on parchment-lined sheet
- 🍽️ Cuisine (or General Category): Home Baking, Breakfast Recipe
- 👩🍳 Pair With: Fresh berries, bacon or breakfast sausage, hot coffee
- ⭐ Difficulty Level: Easy
Need an AI‑Friendly Version? Summarize or save this recipe on Chat GPT, Google AI, or Claude.
Disclaimer: AI summaries may vary and are not guaranteed to match the original recipe provided here.
We recommend serving warm wedges with fresh berries and coffee for an elegant bakery-style spread. ~Jami
Jump to:
Why We Love This Recipe
- Buttery Crumb and Flaky Layers: No yeast or long rise time needed for soft, bakery-style texture.
- Brown Sugar Cinnamon Filling: Swirled through each scone and topped with a rich cream cheese glaze.
- Simple Pantry Ingredients: Everything mixes in one bowl for easy prep and minimal cleanup.
- Freezer-Friendly: Perfect for make-ahead breakfasts or weekend brunch prep.
Ingredients for Cinnamon Roll Scones
Here's everything you'll need to make these flaky and buttery bakery-style scones.
- All-Purpose Flour: We choose a standard pantry flour for reliable structure and tender bite.
- Granulated & Light Brown Sugar: White sugar for balanced sweetness, brown sugar for caramel notes in the filling.
- Baking Powder & Salt: The lift and the flavor enhancer that make the crumb tender, not dense.
- Ground Cinnamon: Warm spice that carries the cinnamon roll vibe.
- Cold Unsalted Butter: Grated or cubed to create steam pockets for flaky layers.
- Heavy Cream, Egg, Vanilla: The wet ingredients bind, add richness, and help with browning.
- Filling Add-Ins: Brown sugar, cinnamon, a touch of flour, and melted butter for a spreadable swirl.
- Cream Cheese Glaze: Powdered sugar, softened cream cheese, and milk or cream whisked smooth.
A full ingredient list with exact measurements can be found in the recipe card below.
Substitutions & Variations
- Flour: Swap up to half with white whole wheat for a heartier crumb.
- Dairy: Use half-and-half or buttermilk for tang. Dairy-free milk and plant butter work with a slightly firmer dough.
- Sugar: Coconut sugar can replace brown sugar.
- Flavor: Add a pinch of cardamom or nutmeg with the cinnamon.
- Spice: Stir in cinnamon chips or a little extra cinnamon for a stronger spice note.
- Presentation: Sprinkle coarse sugar on top before baking for sparkle.
How To Make Cinnamon Roll Scones with Cream Cheese Glaze
STEP ONE: Prepare the Pan and Mix the Dry Ingredients
Preheat the oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
STEP TWO: Prepare the Butter and Bring the Dough Together
Cut cold butter into the dry mix until pea-sized crumbs form. Whisk heavy cream, egg, and vanilla.
Pour wet mix into dry mix and gently stir until a soft, slightly shaggy dough forms.
STEP THREE: Prepare the Cinnamon Filling and Shape
Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and melted butter. Pat dough into a 10-by-6-inch oval.
Dollop filling evenly, fold the dough to seal, then shape into a 6-inch round about 1 inch thick.
STEP FOUR: Prepare the Bake and Glaze
Cut scone dough into 8 wedges. Place them on the baking sheet, brush the tops with cream (optional), and bake for 18 to 22 minutes until golden.
Cool scones on a wire rack. Beat the powdered sugar, cream cheese, and milk until smooth, then spoon over the cooled scones.
Save This Recipe 💌
Enter your email below and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get new recipes from us each week!
Expert Tips for Success
👩🍳Jami's Pro Tips: Want to take this recipe to the next level? Check out my expert tips below for the best flavor, texture, and meal prep hacks!
✔️ DO Keep butter very cold for flaky layers.
✔️ DO Stir just until combined to avoid tough scones.
❌ DO NOT Overbake or you'll lose tenderness.
Storage
Store glazed cinnamon roll scones covered at room temperature for 1 day or refrigerate up to 4 days. Freeze unglazed wedges in a single layer, then bag for up to 2 months. Reheat briefly in a 300°F oven or air fryer until just warm, then glaze.
Recipe FAQs
Scones stay soft because of cold butter, heavy cream, and minimal mixing. The cold butter melts during baking, creating flaky layers, while cream keeps the texture rich and moist. Overmixing or warm butter leads to dry, dense scones.
Yes. You can make the dough, cut the wedges, and freeze them unbaked for up to two months. Bake directly from frozen, adding a few extra minutes. Glaze them fresh after baking for the same soft, bakery-style finish.
Mixing by hand works well. Use a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers to blend cold butter into the flour until pea-sized crumbs form. Add the wet ingredients just until the dough comes together.
Yes, buttermilk gives scones a subtle tang and soft crumb. The dough may feel a bit stickier, so dust with extra flour when shaping. Buttermilk also balances the sweetness of the brown sugar filling.
A cream cheese glaze gives the best results. It's smooth, slightly tangy, and sets beautifully as the scones cool. Whisk together powdered sugar, softened cream cheese, and milk until thick but pourable, then drizzle over cooled scones.
Did You Try This Recipe?
Leave a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating and comment below. Don't forget to share it on Instagram, Facebook, & Pinterest. Thank you! 💛
📖 Recipe
Cinnamon Roll Scones with Cream Cheese Glaze
Equipment
- Mixing bowls and whisk
- Pastry cutter or two forks
- Parchment-lined baking sheet
- Bench scraper or sharp knife
- Cooling rack
- Small bowl and spoon for glaze
Ingredients
Cinnamon Roll Scones
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon light brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon baking powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter (1 stick) cubed or grated from frozen
- ½ cup heavy cream plus more for brushing (optional)
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Filling
- ¼ cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Cream Cheese Glaze
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 to 4 tablespoons milk or cream to thin
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugars, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
- Add the cold butter and work it in with a pastry cutter, two forks, or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with small pea-sized bits.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the heavy cream, egg, and vanilla. Pour into the flour mixture and stir just until the dough comes together. It should be soft and slightly shaggy, not sticky.
- On a lightly floured surface, lay down the dough into a rough oval about 10 x 6 inches. Stir together the brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, and melted butter for the filling. Dollop the cinnamon mixture evenly over the top, then gently fold the dough over itself to seal in the filling. Shape into a 6-inch circle about 1 inch thick, pressing lightly to even it out.
- Cut into 8 wedges and transfer to the prepared baking sheet. Optionally, brush the tops with a little cream. Bake 18-22 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack.
- In a small bowl, beat together powdered sugar, cream cheese, and milk (or cream) until smooth and spreadable. Spoon generously over cooled scones.
Save This Recipe 💌
Enter your email below and we'll send it to your inbox. Plus, you'll get new recipes from us each week!
Video
Notes
- Flour: Swap up to half with white whole wheat for a heartier crumb.
- Dairy: Use half-and-half or buttermilk for tang. Dairy-free milk and plant butter work with a slightly firmer dough.
- Sugar: Coconut sugar can replace brown sugar.
Jami Powell says
These scones are pure comfort! Bakery style cinnamon roll flavor in every bite!