This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, read my disclosure policy.
The perfect weekend breakfast: Bacon Maple Cinnamon Rolls! A wonderful buttery cinnamon roll dough filled with maple brown sugar and bacon filling, and topped with a maple glaze!
Have you ever heard of Voodoo Doughnut? It’s a doughnut shop in Portland, Oregon. It’s been on all the food and travel TV shows. Heck, it was even referenced in the 50 Shades of Grey. Every time it came on the Travel Channel I would salivate over the Bacon Maple Bar. Just the thought of the Maple Bar frosting and the salty, crunchy bacon made my mouth water.
A few years ago, we happened to be in Portland after visiting my parents at their house in Mapleton (aptly named for this post, methinks). Of course, I required a stop at Voodoo Doughnut! A few things I learned there:
I’ve never seen a busier doughnut shop. EVER.
If you visit you will have to drive around the block 10 times and fight with your husband about “to park or not to park”.
If you bring a child over the age of four, be prepared to answer questions about some of the doughnut names. Or, the shape of, er, the doughnuts. If you’ve ever been to their website, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Luckily…Jordan was young. She had no clue, other than we were getting doughnuts.
Anyway, I think of that Maple Bacon Bar often. VERY often. I love maple, so, so very much. And I love bacon, so it’s pretty much a match made in heaven.
Recently I was craving cinnamon rolls and wanted to make a “new” version. Being a blogger, that’s hard to find! There are so many great versions out there. Cake Batter, Red Velvet, Chocolate, Carrot Cake. The options are endless.
But I wanted maple. And when I thought of maple…my mind went to bacon. Enter: Bacon Maple Cinnamon Rolls.
When these popped into my head, I may have been subliminally remembering the cinnamon rolls my friend Cristina from Oven Adventures made. When I did a google search they popped right up and I smacked my forehead and was all, riiiiight I remember those now! I remembered drooling over those as I’m drooling over remembering these as I type.
These cinnamon rolls are probably my favorite flavor so far. The yeast dough is rich and sweet from the sugar, butter, and egg. The filling is butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and I added maple syrup and maple extract for an extra punch of flavor. Then I sprinkled in some cooked bacon, for good measure. The bacon gives the filling a slightly salty taste, with a little bit of crunch. Mixed with the maple, it’s a wonderful combo!
{See? If you look close in that picture, you can see all the bacon goodness!}
And then, the frosting. Is there anything better than maple frosting? I could literally drink it. {Side note: does anyone else think of Laura Ingalls Wilder whenever they think of maple syrup?}
These were so, so good I had to force myself to stop at eating one!
Well…maybe one and a half…
Bacon Maple Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 packet (7g) active dry yeast
- ¾ cup (177ml) warm milk
- ⅓ cup (67g) granulated sugar
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg
- 3 cups (372g) all purpose flour
For the Filling:
- 1 pound bacon
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter , melted
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- ¾ cup (150g) packed brown sugar
For the Frosting:
- 2 tablespoons (28g) unsalted butter , softened
- 4 ounces (113g) cream cheese , softened
- 2 cups (226g) powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons (30ml) pure maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon maple extract
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Heat milk to between 100-110°F, approximately 30-40 seconds in the microwave. Add the yeast and 1 teaspoon of the sugar to the warm milk and let it sit for five minutes, until it starts to foam. (Just take the teaspoon of sugar from the ⅓ cup called for.)
- Using the paddle attachment, mix the butter, remaining sugar, salt, and eggs in the bowl of a mixer. Add the yeast/milk mixture and stir.
- Switch to the dough hook. Add the flour slowly. Start with one cup and then add the rest. The dough will be sticky, but not so much that you can’t handle it.
- Once dough comes together, spray a large bowl with cooking spray, place the dough inside and cover with plastic wrap. Allow to rise until doubled in size, about 1-2 hours.
- While the dough is rising, prepare the filling. Dice the raw bacon. Place in a medium sized frying pan and cook about 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned or until it’s the doneness you prefer. Transfer to a plate covered with paper towels to drain.
- Stir together brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Once the dough is ready, roll it into a rectangle (about 10x14 inches). You may need to use a little flour when rolling, that’s okay. Brush the rectangle with melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar mixture, then sprinkle with bacon. Roll the dough tightly. Slice in half, then each half in thirds to make 12 rolls. Place in a 9x13-inch baking dish that's been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Let the rolls rise for 1 hour at room temperature. If you are eating them right away, proceed to baking. Or, you can then cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight until you are ready to eat. Remove from the refrigerator and let sit on the stove while it is preheating, then bake.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake about 2-25 minutes, or until golden.
- While the rolls are baking, make the frosting. Beat together butter, cream cheese, and powdered sugar. Mix in maple syrup and both extracts until smooth. Spread on warm cinnamon rolls. Sprinkle with extra bacon, if desired.
Recipe Notes
- You can mix by hand but then you'll need to knead the dough for about 5-8 minutes on a floured surface before letting rise for the first time.
- It's helpful to have an instant read thermometer to test your milk temperature so it's warm enough to activate the yeast but not too hot.
- Make these ahead of time and cover with plastic wrap. Store in refrigerator up to overnight to bake in the morning (allow to come to room temperature first).
- You can freeze unbaked cinnamon rolls or freeze leftovers.
Recipe Nutrition
Have you checked out my Breakfast Pinboard? Come hungry, leave happy.
Sweets from friends:
Maple Bacon Cinnamon Buns by Oven Adventures
Cake Batter Cinnamon Rolls by Chef in Training
Maple Bacon Muffin Tops by Something Swanky
Last Updated on February 2, 2023
I want to make these right now! They look incredible!
Thanks Kathy!
These look amazing Dorothy!! I am going to Portland this summer, and now I have a new thing to add to my to do list. I’d heard of this doughnut shop before, but I forgot. I know, the horror! In the mean time, I’m going to have to make some of these. Yummy!
YES! And while you’re in Portland come to Sacramento. 😉 Kidding. (NOT REALLY.)
I think I need to try this. I’ve heard so much about it by now that I feel like I’ll have no rest until I get a bite of some bacon sweetness. There’s an ice cream shop here in Seattle that have a maple bacon ice cream, and apparently it’s really popular.. Maybe I should just have a maple bacon weekend!
OMG. I think I just found the next thing I want to make!! YUM! Thanks for visiting Yvonne!
you have me drooling over here….seriously want one right now :(.
Then my goal is accomplished. 🙂 Thanks Sarah!
Those look amazing! I’ve never made “from scratch” cinnamon rolls! I’ve made them from frozen bread dough but I really should give it a try! Plus, bacon makes everything better, right?
Thanks Tonia! Yes, you must try! I love homemade! 🙂
You seriously outdid yourself with this recipe, Dorothy! These look absolutely incredible. I can’t wait to make them! And I’m already getting special requests from friends to bake a batch for them too. Definitely going to be a hit. 🙂
I hope you love them Elaine! 🙂 Thank you!
Oh my, bacon + maple! I only got to know and love those after moving to Canada. If I show these to my Canadian husband I know what he will want as weekend breakfast 🙂
The combo is amazingly good! One of my favorites. 🙂
Ooooohhhhh, Dorothy, these are awesome!!! The pictures are fab, and I officially have a craving for cinnamon rolls now! Maple bacon ones 🙂
Then I’ve done my job, hee hee! 🙂
You had me at BACON. …and I haven’t stopped drooling since reading it was followed by “cinnamon rolls”! Holy moly, girl!! Sounds A M A Z I N G ! ! ! Pinned 😉 Wish I could have this for breakfast tomorrow….I’d jump in bed immediately just to pass the time til I could eat these! lol. Thanks for another out of this world recipe, Dorothy! You rock! ;*)
I know, I reallllllllly want cinnamon rolls today. LOL, I wonder why?
Hey, Dorothy! I’m co-hosting the Sweet & Savoury Sunday link party tomorrow (yay!) Wanted to revisit your awesome bacon cinnamon rolls post and invite you to come on over to my blog to share tomorrow … they’re sure to make all the other party-goers drool! lol! You’re welcome to bring a couple other faves too! Hope to see you and your AMAZING recipes tomorrow!! 🙂 Have a fabulous day, girl! :*)
I’ll stop by tonight! 🙂 Thanks Brenda!
These look and sound delicious!!!! Love the addition of the bacon, that just sounds like it’s out of this world good!!!! YUM!!!
Thanks Maria!
Featured In