Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars

There are few aromas more comforting than cinnamon and sugar baking in the oven, but let's be honest—making traditional yeast-risen cinnamon rolls is a labor of love that takes hours. These Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars are the delicious shortcut we all need. Max calls them "sticky squares" because they pack all the gooey, buttery flavor of the classic breakfast pastry into a dense, chewy cookie bar. No yeast, no kneading, and no waiting required.

Decadent cookie bars featuring a buttery base, a gooey cinnamon-brown sugar filling, and a rich cream cheese glaze. No yeast required.

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Why You Will Love This Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars

This recipe captures the "bliss" of the center of a cinnamon roll. Unlike a fluffy bread, this is a bar with a tender, buttery vanilla base and a thick, caramelized layer of cinnamon-brown sugar filling running right through the middle. Topped with a generous drizzle of tangy cream cheese icing, these bars are dense, rich, and perfectly stackable. They are easier than a blondie and more decadent than a cookie.

How To Make Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars

To achieve the distinct layered look seen in the photo, we use a simple "sandwich" technique. We make a buttery dough and press two-thirds of it into the pan to form the base. We cover that with a rich mixture of melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon (and optional nuts for texture). We crumble the remaining dough over the top and bake until golden. The filling melts into a dark, gooey ribbon in the center. Once cooled, we drizzle thick cream cheese frosting over the top.

Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars Ingredients

The Buttery Dough

• 1 cup unsalted butter (softened)
• ¾ cup granulated sugar
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• ½ teaspoon salt

The Cinnamon Filling

• ½ cup unsalted butter (melted)
• ¾ cup dark brown sugar (packed)
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, to match the texture in the photo)
• 1 tablespoon flour (helps stabilize the filling)

The Cream Cheese Glaze

• 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1–2 tablespoons milk
• ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

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Step by Step Method

Make the Dough Base

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line an 8x8 or 9x9 inch square baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
• In a large bowl, cream the softened butter and granulated sugar until light and fluffy.
• Mix in the vanilla and salt.
• Gradually add the 2 cups of flour, mixing just until a soft dough forms.
• Press about ⅔ of this dough firmly into the bottom of the prepared pan to create an even base layer.

Prepare the Filling

• In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, dark brown sugar, cinnamon, the 1 tablespoon of flour, and chopped nuts (if using).
• Pour this dark, sugary mixture over the dough base, spreading it out to within half an inch of the edges.

Top and Bake

• Crumble the remaining ⅓ of the dough over the top of the filling. You can flatten pieces with your hands to create a "cobblestone" effect that allows the filling to peek through.
• Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown and the center feels set.
• Crucial Step: Allow the bars to cool completely in the pan. The filling needs to solidify, or they will fall apart when cut.

Frost and Serve

• Whisk the cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth and thick.
• Drizzle or spread the frosting generously over the cooled bars.
• Lift the bars out using the parchment paper and slice into squares to reveal the beautiful layers.

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Max’s Reaction: "I can't decide if I like the white icing or the dark gooey part better. It tastes like Christmas morning!"

What Pairs Well With Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars

These bars are quite sweet, so they pair best with unsweetened beverages. A hot cup of black coffee or an Earl Grey tea provides a nice bitter contrast. For the kids, a cold glass of milk is essential. If serving for brunch, they sit well alongside savory, salty dishes like bacon or sausage.

Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars Variations

Cake Mix Hack

• For a quicker version, mix 1 box of yellow cake mix with 2 eggs and ⅓ cup oil to make the dough base. Proceed with the filling and frosting as written.

Maple Pecan

• Swap the vanilla in the glaze for maple extract and sprinkle extra toasted pecans on top for a fall-inspired twist.

Blondie Style

• If you prefer a cakeier texture, add 1 egg and ½ teaspoon baking powder to the dough ingredients. This will result in a softer, fluffier bar rather than a shortbread texture.

Pumpkin Spice

• Add 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice to the dough mixture and use pumpkin spice creamer in the frosting instead of milk.

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Equipment

• 8x8 or 9x9 Square Baking Pan
• Electric Mixer
• Parchment Paper
• Mixing Bowls

Storage / Make Ahead / Serving Tips

Storage Tips That Keep It Fresh

Because of the cream cheese frosting, these bars should be stored in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days. Let them sit at room temperature for 10 minutes before eating to soften the butter base.

Make Ahead Strategy

These bars are actually better the next day! Making them 24 hours in advance allows the cinnamon filling to soak slightly into the crust, making them even fudgier.

Freezing Instructions

You can freeze the cut bars (even with frosting) for up to 2 months. Separate layers with wax paper to prevent sticking. Thaw in the fridge overnight.

Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars Frequently Asked Questions

A Sweet Slice of Heaven

These bars are the perfect solution when you want the comfort of a bakery treat without the hassle of yeast. They are dense, sugary, and incredibly satisfying. If you are building a dessert table, these pair beautifully with the elegant German Bee Sting Cake for a texture contrast, or the bite-sized Reese's Oreo Balls for a chocolate fix. For a brunch spread, serve these alongside Red Velvet Marble Waffles for a colorful feast.

Share your Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars! Tag us @HannahCooking with #CinnamonRollBlissBars; we’re dying to see your version and hear about your homemade kitchen stories!

⭐️ Rate this Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars recipe and let us know what twists or ingredients you used!

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Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars

Decadent cookie bars featuring a buttery base, a gooey cinnamon-brown sugar filling, and a rich cream cheese glaze. No yeast required.

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Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Cooling Time: 1 hour hour

Total Time: 1 hour hour 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 9 bar

Calories: 420kcal

Cost: $8

Equipment

• 1 Square Baking Pan (8x8 inch)
• 1 Electric mixer (Handheld)
• 1 Parchment paper (Essential)

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 cup unsalted butter - Softened (for dough)
• ▢ ¾ cup granulated sugar - For dough
• ▢ 2 cups all-purpose flour - For dough
• ▢ 1 teaspoon vanilla extract - For dough
• ▢ ½ cup unsalted butter - Melted (for filling)
• ▢ ¾ cup dark brown sugar - Packed
• ▢ 1 tablespoon cinnamon - Ground
• ▢ ½ cup pecans - Chopped (optional)
• ▢ 4 oz cream cheese - Softened
• ▢ 1 cup powdered sugar - For frosting
• ▢ 1 tablespoon milk - For frosting

Instructions 

• Cream softened butter and sugar; add vanilla, salt, and flour to form a dough. Press ⅔ into lined 8x8 pan.
• Whisk melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts. Pour evenly over the base layer.
• Crumble remaining dough over the filling. Bake at 350°F for 25-30 minutes. Cool completely.
• Whisk cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla. Drizzle over cooled bars.
• Lift bars out of pan using parchment and slice into squares.

Notes

Cool completely before cutting to ensure clean layers. Use parchment paper to prevent the sticky filling from adhering to the pan.

Nutrition

Serving: 110g | Calories: 420kcal (21%) | Carbohydrates: 48g (16%) | Protein: 3g (6%) | Fat: 24g (37%) | Saturated Fat: 14g (88%) | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 65mg (22%) | Sodium: 150mg (7%) | Potassium: 80mg (2%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 32g (36%) | Vitamin A: 700IU (14%) | Calcium: 30mg (3%) | Iron: 1mg (6%)