Maple Bacon Rolls

These maple bacon cinnamon swirls are that eye-catching brunch star that mixes up warm cinnamon, crunchy bacon, and smooth maple glaze. Super simple to make anytime, they disappear fast at my house and bring that special-cozy fall vibe to busy mornings.

I whipped these up for the first time after my daughters had friends sleep over. Now, this is what we make every holiday morning. Nobody walks past the scent of bacon and maple in the oven without stopping.

Irresistible Ingredients

• Brown sugar: Melts into the bacon and gives deep, caramel vibes. Try to use fresh, soft, and lump-free sugar
• Maple syrup: Makes the glaze smooth and sweet and coats bacon in sticky magic. Real maple syrup definitely upgrades the taste
• Bacon: Delivers that smoky, salty crunch. Choose thick slices and skip the flavored kinds
• Canned cinnamon rolls: Keeps things simple with that classic spiraled dough. Pillsbury puffs up the best and tastes great

Here’s why these count: cinnamon rolls are the base, bacon adds the savory pop, and brown sugar plus maple syrup blend together for breakfast flavors you can’t fake. Really good bacon plus natural maple syrup makes all the difference here

Simple How-To Steps

Frost and Finish:

Once you pull the rolls from the oven, slather on that maple glaze while they’re still steaming. Scatter the rest of the chopped bacon over the top for crunchy bites

Make the Maple Glaze:

Stir the packaged icing together with a splash of maple syrup until you’ve got a smooth creamy glaze with lots of maple flavor

Arrange and Bake:

Set the filled-up rolls in a greased round pan, leaving space in between to let them puff up while baking. Cook for about twenty minutes or so (check the package instructions) until golden brown

Prepare the Rolls:

Drop the oven to 350°F. Open the dough can, carefully unwind each roll but keep the shape. Sprinkle bacon bits along the inside, spacing them every inch. Reroll snugly, and do the same with each one. Save some bacon for the top

Cool and Chop the Bacon:

Let candied bacon sit on a cooling rack until totally cool. This lets it set up and makes cutting into pieces a breeze

Candy the Bacon:

Mix maple syrup and brown sugar until they’re gooey. Brush over the half-baked bacon so each piece is covered. Return to the oven for another fifteen minutes until it’s dark golden and crisp

Prep the Bacon:

Spread out bacon strips on foil over a baking sheet for easy cleaning. Bake at 375°F for fifteen minutes until the fat’s cooked out but be sure it doesn’t burn

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The candied bacon’s honestly my favorite part—it’s got that crispy sweet crunch just like holiday goodies my grandma made. Everybody in my house grabs for the pieces with the extra bacon piled on top

Keeping Them Fresh

Let them cool down before sealing up any extras in a container. They’ll stay fine at room temp for a day or in the fridge up to three days. To bring back the fluffy goodness, pop a roll in the microwave under a wet paper towel. Glazed ones don’t freeze well so just skip that

Ingredient Swaps

If you want to try turkey or veggie bacon instead, go for it, just pay attention because they cook up faster than pork. No maple syrup? Use honey. Out of brown sugar? Coconut sugar will work in a pinch

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How to Serve

Best served for brunch next to a big mug of coffee or cider. I like to add scrambled eggs or cut up some fruit on the side to round things out. Honestly, they’re even a fun breakfast surprise during the week — doesn’t take much to make it special

Origins and Fun Facts

Cinnamon swirl buns go way back in both American and Scandinavian baking. People loved starting the day with sweet dough. Tossing bacon on top is pretty new and reminds me of classic diners where you’d find pancakes, syrup, and bacon all mixed together

Recipe FAQs

→ How can I keep the bacon crispy?

Let the bacon cool fully after cooking and before using it in the rolls. This keeps it crunchy even after baking.

→ Can I substitute the dough with a homemade version?

Of course! Use your favorite dough recipe, but tweak the baking time if necessary for best results.

→ Can these be prepared in advance?

Yes! Prep the rolls, refrigerate overnight, and bake them fresh the next morning for great flavor.

→ What’s the best maple syrup to use?

Go for pure maple syrup. It gives a deep, natural sweetness, unlike pancake syrups.

→ Can I add other toppings to these?

Sure thing! Sprinkle some chopped nuts or sift powdered sugar on top. Adjust for your taste buds.

→ Is there a vegetarian-friendly twist?

Yes! Leave out the bacon or swap it with a vegetarian-friendly alternative to create a meatless option.