21 Recipes With Cinnamon To Spice Up Your Fall

When fall rolls around each year, there's one flavor that is craved more than anything else — and no, it's not pumpkin spice. Cinnamon is certainly not limited to autumnal themes, but it definitely tastes better in such contexts. The spice adds a quintessential warmth to any recipe, making it an ideal inclusion for that time of year when things cool down and a little extra comfort is needed in everyday foods.

For those looking to spice up the season by way of cinnamon, certain recipes do the trick better than others. Cinnamon can be added to just about any type of food looking to add a nutty, subtly sweet, and somewhat citrusy undertone, but it seems to be most effective in dessert recipes.

Below, a compilation chock full of inspiration, both sugary and otherwise. Give these recipes a shot and not only will autumn be loaded with cinnamon-infused goodies all season long, but it'll also be full of so much warmth that it might just last through the winter as well.

There is perhaps no cinnamon-infused baked good more iconic than a cinnamon roll, and these homemade beauties add a special flair with which store-bought simply can't compete. A labor of love, perhaps, but their freshly-baked goodness will make any effort well worth it, especially upon seeing the ear-to-ear grins on kids' faces after they dig in.

The recipe comes together in the form of three parts: dough, filling, and glaze. The making of the dough is by far the most time-extensive, but a large chunk of that is spent waiting for everything to rise and double in size. From there, it's just a matter of rolling, filling, baking, and glazing.

Recipe: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Rhubarb is a summery ingredient, whereas cinnamon is an autumnal one; together in this rhubarb cinnamon cake, they make a seasonal-fusion dessert worth enjoying in any season.

Those who have an abundance of rhubarb in the garden will find a welcome use for it with this recipe, which effortlessly combines a crumble and a cake into one delightful dessert. The cinnamon adds a welcome touch of warmth that pairs well with the rhubarb, making a wholesome baked treat perfectly fit for family dinners.

Recipe: Rhubarb Cinnamon Crumble Cake

There are few desserts more rich or inviting than a custard, and this recipe puts a spiced (and baked) twist on the classic pudding-like treat. While custard seems like the type of dessert one might spend hours making, it's actually quite easy; the most difficult part is having patience as it bakes for nearly an hour.

These cinnamon-infused, single-serve custard portions are best enjoyed with lots of fresh fruit on the side, which helps offset the richness. Any berries will work here, or if there are none readily available, enjoy the spiced custard as-is; it will still taste great.

Recipe: Baked Cinnamon Custard

Put a can of refrigerated biscuits to good use with this maple cinnamon sticky buns recipe; shortcuts won't matter when it comes to the taste of these buns, which are sweet, rich, nutty, and perfectly spiced.

The baking process is a breeze. Crack open the can, bake the biscuits, and top them off with the sticky-sweet topping. Perfect for a Saturday morning treat, these maple cinnamon sticky buns might just become a fall weekend go-to.

Recipe: Maple Cinnamon Sticky Buns

Those who follow a vegan diet or avoid dairy can rejoice over these vegan cinnamon rolls, which sub out dairy products in two clever ways. First, they use vegan butter in the dough itself and in the cinnamon filling; they also utilize oat milk for the icing on top. 

Planning a homemade brunch with vegan/dairy-free friends? These cinnamon rolls taste just as good as any dairy-laden ones. Serve these vegan delights with other plant-based foods for a breakfast or brunch spread that will cater to just about anyone's needs.

Recipe: Vegan Cinnamon Rolls

While this cinnamon flop cake is typically served for breakfast, given its similarity to coffee cake, it could just as easily be dished out for dessert with no complaints. This treat features a simple vanilla cake as its base, with plenty of cinnamon-y goodness thanks to a brown sugar and cinnamon topping.

Another reason why this cake makes for a surprisingly ideal breakfast option is because it's incredibly easy and straightforward. Those who bake often likely already have every ingredient on hand, and the process really is as simple as mixing ingredients, baking the cake, then enjoying it alongside a hot cup of coffee.

Recipe: Cinnamon Flop Cake

For those who want their desserts to look as good as they taste, then these baked cinnamon apple roses deliver on both ends. These impressive confections really do closely resemble the romantic flower, so reserve this recipe for special occasions like Valentine's Day or date night.

There are essentially two components to this recipe, one being the from-scratch dough that serves as the base for the roses, and the other being the roses themselves, which cleverly get their shape from thinly-sliced apples. If you've ever enjoyed cinnamon apples before, you'll love these cinnamon roses, which offer a similarly sweet, warm flavor profile.

Recipe: Baked Cinnamon Apple Roses

One big difference between plantains and bananas is that the former is best enjoyed cooked instead of raw. Luckily, there are countless ways that you could cook a plantain — frying is a common option, or go the roasting route, as this sweet plantain recipe does.

Start by peeling and slicing ripe plantains, then coat them in a simple mixture of coconut oil, salt, and cinnamon. Despite being a recipe for sweet plantains, don't add any sugar — the fruit is sweet enough on its own, making for a simple snack that doesn't need any help.

Recipe: Simple Roasted Sweet Plantains

There are few breakfast options more classic than good ol' pancakes, but vegan and gluten-free folks often have to avoid such dairy- and flour-laden stacks. Thanks to this recipe, both vegan and gluten-free, just about anyone can enjoy the joys of pancakes with the added bonus of cinnamon-y goodness.

A big perk to these pancakes is they're much heartier than typical flapjacks; oats and cashews bulk them up. Whip up this special pancake batter and the rest of the process is like any other pancake recipe — cook the cakes on a griddle, then adorn them with syrup, fruit, or perhaps even a sprinkle of powdered sugar.

Recipe: Vegan and Gluten-Free Cinnamon Oatmeal Pancakes

When plain old cinnamon rolls just aren't cutting it anymore, these red velvet cinnamon rolls could provide enough pizzazz for a Saturday morning breakfast. This recipe essentially comes together as any cinnamon roll recipe could, but includes boxed red velvet cake mix in the dough, which adds that iconic red hue along with a dessert-like decadence.

While this recipe does somewhat take advantage of a shortcut by using boxed cake mix, the cinnamon rolls are ultimately made from-scratch, so there is a decent amount of waiting time involved. The result is well worth the wait, not only because these cinnamon rolls taste so good, but because they're beautiful, too.

Recipe: Red Velvet Cinnamon Rolls