Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
These Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls are the ultimate cozy weekend breakfast. After making these many times, I’ve discovered the trick to perfectly gooey rolls with a crispy bacon topping. The warm, comforting aroma of these rolls will make your whole house smell like a cozy bakery. Jump to the recipe card or keep reading for my best tips, including how to prevent the #1 mistake. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Classic Split Pea Soup Recipe Perfect for Cozy Dinners and Easy Mushroom Spinach Lasagna for a Cozy Dinner.
Why This Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls Is Pure Comfort
- Gooey maple glaze with a hint of bourbon
- Crispy candied bacon topping
- Perfect for a cozy weekend breakfast or brunch
- Better than takeout, these rolls are easy to make at home
What You'll Need for Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- Active dry yeast
- Warm milk
- Sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter
- Bourbon
- Maple syrup
- Bacon
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Optional: Powdered sugar
- Optional: Vanilla extract
đź“ť Ingredient Notes
- Active dry yeast: Make sure your yeast is fresh for the best rise.
đź›’ Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Stand mixer — For easy dough kneading → See on Amazon
- Pizza stone — For even baking and a crispy crust → See on Amazon
How to Make Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine yeast, warm milk, sugar, and salt. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Add eggs, flour, and butter. Knead until smooth.
- Let it rise: Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Assemble the rolls: Roll out the dough into a large rectangle. Spread the filling evenly over the dough. Roll up tightly and slice into 12 equal pieces.
- Bake the rolls: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, seam side down. Let them rise for another 30 minutes. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Prepare the glaze: While the rolls are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, and vanilla extract. Add more powdered sugar or syrup to reach your desired consistency.
- Add the bacon topping: In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Chop the bacon and sprinkle it over the rolls.
- Serve: Drizzle the glaze over the rolls and serve immediately.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
- Common mistake and fix: The #1 reason these rolls fail is over-kneading the dough. To prevent this, stop kneading when the dough is smooth and elastic. Over-kneading can result in tough, dry rolls.
- Pro tip: For extra flaky layers, chill the dough for 1 hour before rolling it out. This helps the butter separate and create flaky layers.
- Pro tip: To make the rolls ahead, prepare the dough, let it rise, and assemble the rolls. Cover the baking dish and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let the rolls rise for 1 hour before baking as usual.
- Pro tip: For a extra gooey center, pour some of the glaze into the bottom of the baking dish before adding the rolls. This creates a delicious, caramel-like layer.
Storing & Reheating Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftover rolls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes. Make-ahead tip: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight. In the morning, let it rise for 1 hour before assembling and baking the rolls.
Freezing Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Freeze baked rolls for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat leftover rolls in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat leftover rolls in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, but be careful not to overheat and make them tough.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a less boozy flavor, use only 1 tablespoon of bourbon in the glaze.
- Best substitution: If you don't have bourbon, you can substitute it with rum or even vanilla extract for a similar flavor.
- Make-ahead: These rolls can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as usual.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your rolls are not rising, make sure your yeast is fresh and that the dough is in a warm place. If the rolls are rising too much, let them rise for less time.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality maple syrup — For the best flavor in the glaze and candied bacon topping → Check price on Amazon
Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- Active dry yeast
- Warm milk
- Sugar
- Salt
- Eggs
- All-purpose flour
- Unsalted butter
- Bourbon
- Maple syrup
- Bacon
Seasonings
- Ground cinnamon
- Ground nutmeg
- Salt
- Black pepper
Optional Toppings
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, combine yeast, warm milk, sugar, and salt. Let it sit for 5 minutes until frothy. Add eggs, flour, and butter. Knead until smooth.
- Let it rise: Cover the bowl and let the dough rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare the filling: In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper. Set aside.
- Assemble the rolls: Roll out the dough into a large rectangle. Spread the filling evenly over the dough. Roll up tightly and slice into 12 equal pieces.
- Bake the rolls: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Place the rolls in a greased baking dish, seam side down. Let them rise for another 30 minutes. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Prepare the glaze: While the rolls are baking, whisk together powdered sugar, maple syrup, bourbon, and vanilla extract. Add more powdered sugar or syrup to reach your desired consistency.
- Add the bacon topping: In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crispy. Drain on a paper towel. Chop the bacon and sprinkle it over the rolls.
- Serve: Drizzle the glaze over the rolls and serve immediately.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a less boozy flavor, use only 1 tablespoon of bourbon in the glaze.
- Best substitution: If you don't have bourbon, you can substitute it with rum or even vanilla extract for a similar flavor.
- Make-ahead: These rolls can be made ahead and frozen. Thaw overnight in the fridge and bake as usual.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved depending on your needs.
- Troubleshooting: If your rolls are not rising, make sure your yeast is fresh and that the dough is in a warm place. If the rolls are rising too much, let them rise for less time.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftover rolls in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10 minutes.
- Freezer: Freeze baked rolls for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.
- Oven reheat: Reheat leftover rolls in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat leftover rolls in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, but be careful not to overheat and make them tough.
- Make ahead: The dough can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight. In the morning, let it rise for 1 hour before assembling and baking the rolls.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 450
- Protein: 8g
- Fat: 15g
- Carbs: 65g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 25g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Cholesterol: 70mg
- Sat. Fat: 9g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls FAQs
Yes, you can make the dough ahead of time and refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, let it rise and assemble the rolls as usual.
Over-kneading the dough or not letting it rise enough can result in dry rolls. Make sure to follow the recipe instructions closely.
Yes, you can freeze baked rolls for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15 minutes.
While you can make individual cinnamon rolls in the air fryer, the baking time and method may vary. It's best to follow a specific air fryer cinnamon roll recipe for the best results.
The best way to reheat these rolls is in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. This helps maintain the texture and flavor of the rolls.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Better Than Takeout Bourbon Maple Bacon Cinnamon Rolls and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
