One Pantry Staple Turns Canned Cinnamon Rolls Into Sweet, Sticky Goodness

The smell of cinnamon goes right to your brain, triggering feelings of warmth. It's no wonder cinnamon rolls are so irresistible. Psychology is at play the moment you smell them. But canned cinnamon rolls can get a little predictable sometimes. Like anything else, those made from scratch always seem better. So how do you take the canned ones to the next level and match that homemade goodness? One quick and easy trick is to ignore the simple white icing and grab some honey.

You can easily transform canned cinnamon rolls into decadent honey sticky buns. This amps up the sweetness and that gooey, sticky quality that makes these such an indulgence. If you're looking for something super simple, you can drizzle honey over the top of the fresh-baked cinnamon rolls and let it soak right in. Once they've cooled enough to eat, they'll be sweet, moist, and have those subtle but unmistakable honey notes that nothing else can provide.

If you want to build your flavors and get a little more in-depth, you can opt for a rich honey glaze to top the cinnamon rolls. This will thicken the honey up so it's closer to a traditional icing. The consistency of the honey ensures that this is especially thick and velvety. If you love that sumptuous decadence of a sticky bun and don't mind your treats a little messy, this is the way to go.

A good honey glaze for cinnamon rolls doesn't have to be too difficult to produce. Whisk just a few tablespoons of heavy cream with enough powdered sugar to make a smooth and creamy mixture. You can add more cream or sugar as needed to achieve the desired amount, texture, and consistency. Add in a few tablespoons of honey to give it more body and richness. Wildflower honey will add some subtle floral and fruity notes that won't overpower the cinnamon, while the citrusy undertones of orange blossom honey can brighten up the warmth of the spice. Any kind of honey will work and add a new dimension to an old classic.

For a more luxurious glaze, you could add in some melted butter and a splash of vanilla or almond extract. The butter gives it a silkiness and a hint of salt that will make the other flavors come alive. The vanilla or almond will complement and enhance the flavor already present. You can also top the buns with crushed walnuts or almonds before the glaze to add some texture.

Pour your glaze over the buns while they are still warm. Let them sit for a few minutes so the glaze can soak in and set, preventing it from running when you separate the buns. With just a few minutes of work and some simple pantry staples, you can turn even the most mundane store-bought cinnamon rolls into something exciting.