What’s better than a cinnamon roll? A giant cinnamon roll! This skillet pastry holds swirls of delicious cinnamon-sugar goodness, and it’s topped with decadent orange-cream cheese glaze.

Believe me when I say that I may never bake individual cinnamon rolls ever again! My favorite part of a cinnamon roll is the soft, flaky interior, and – guess what. You get more of that when you make one giant cinnamon roll! And you can slice it like cake! I really love how all those beautiful layers separate ever-so-slightly on the plate. It’s irresistible when smothered with orange-nested cream cheese glaze (I swoon!).


Following, you’ll find step-by-step instructions for the skillet cinnamon roll. I hope it will serve as a helpful guide while you make your own!


The entire process is a little messy, but well worth the end result. The muscovado sugar really punches up the brown sugar flavor, so it’s worth seeking out next time you’re at the grocery store.

Just look at that landscape of swirly goodness up there. I can’t wait to try out different versions of this skillet pastry. Maybe I’ll hide some Guittard Fair Trade chocolate between the layers next time.

Giant Skillet Cinnamon Roll with Orange Cream Cheese Glaze
Ingredients
Dough
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 4 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 cup warm water 90-110°F
- 2 eggs room temperature
- 6 cups all purpose flour sifted
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
Filling
- 1/2 cup butter melted
- 1 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup moscovado sugar or dark brown sugar
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon mixed together
Glaze
- 4 oz. cream cheese slightly melted
- 4 tablespoons butter melted
- 2 cups confectioners’ sugar
- 2-4 tablespoons hot milk
- 2 teaspoons orange extract
- Zest of one-half organic orange
Instructions
- For the dough, heat milk, 1/2 cup sugar and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Stir until sugar melts and a few small bubbles appear at the edges of the pan. Remove from heat and let cool while you prepare the other elements.
- Dissolve yeast and 1 teaspoon sugar in very warm water (90°F to 110°F) in the bowl of a standing mixer (or a large bowl if you don’t have a stand mixer). Stir with the paddle attachment (or wooden spoon) until well blended. Let stand 10 minutes.
- Beat eggs into yeast mixture. Stir in cooled milk mixture (it should be lukewarm), switch to the dough hook then add in flour a little at a time until dough is elastic. Add melted butter and mix, then add in more flour until dough is elastic and pulls away from the sides of the mixer. Note: you may not have to use all the flour. Do not add so much flour that the dough does not stick to your hands. Set a timer and knead with the dough hook (or knead with hands on a floured surface) for 5 minutes.
- Place dough in a buttered bowl and turn it over to coat the entire surface. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place 1 hour or until doubled (mine took a little longer than an hour to double).
- Punch down dough and turnout onto a lightly floured surface. Knead a few times and cut into two pieces. Roll out each piece to 12×9-inch rectangles.
- For the filling, brush the rolled dough pieces with the melted butter. Sprinkle each with half the cinnamon sugar mixture.
- Cut the each dough piece into 5 even strip lengthwise. Roll one strip up as if you were making a regular cinnamon roll. When you get to the end, use another strip and continue rolling. When the dough spiral reaches about 6-inches in diameter, (3-4 strips-worth of spiraling) place it in the center of a lightly greased 12-inch cast-iron skillet. Continue spiraling dough strips around the middle. This is a messy job, but just embrace the mess. It’ll be well worth the end result.
- When all the dough has been used, cover and let rise about 45 minutes or until doubled.
- Preheat oven to 400°. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until golden. Keep a close eye on it so it doesn’t over-bake! (Note: Some of you are reporting longer bake times. It’s important that this roll gets baked long enough so it isn’t doughy in the middle. Allow the top of the roll to become deep golden brown, and then place a sheet of aluminum foil over the roll so it can bake longer without over-browning.)
- Whisk together glaze ingredients, adding additional milk as needed. Glaze pastry in the pan while it is still hot. Add additional orange zest if desired. Slice into pieces and serve while still warm.
Oh my gosh that cinnamon roll is amazing! I must try that for a luxurious breakfast this weekend. Combination of my two favorite sweet things–cinnamon rolls + cake = pure awesomness. 🙂
Apple butter
What a wonderful giant cinnamon roll!! It looks so delicious too. One of my favorites to have with a good cup of coffee. Blessings dear. Catherine xo
Great recipe, pinned for this weekend's breakfast. The embroidery on the prana scarf looks lovely – thank you!
The cinnamon would be perfect for some savory dishes with farmer's market summer squashes!
That cake looks amazing! I would make cincinatti chili.
I'd love the cinnamon for some apple pie!
I would make homemade rice pudding with Fair Trade cinnamon!
Oh that. Is. Delicious.
I use cinnamon in almost everything. It is my favorite spice to bake with and I would love to win some! Especially so I can get started on whipping up some of these cinnamon rolls!
Yum! Can't wait to try it!
I would love to win this, fair trade is the best.
I would put it on so. many. sweet potatoes. And in my coffee!
I use cinnamon in both sweet and savory dishes. I will be making this giant cinnamon roll this weekend!
THIS LOOKS SO GOOD! My boyfriend's favorite food is cinnamon rolls, so I definitely want to surprise him with this the next time he has a break from the Navy.
I would try to copy your delicious cinnamon roll recipe! Thanks for sharing and good luck to all!
I'd LOVE to try YOUR recipe…I love cinnamon rolls! I also might make some home made cinnamon ice cream!
I would make churros!
I'd make Snickerdoodles!
Some apple crisp. The cinnamon roll looks great!
I would use the fair trade cinnamon in some oatmeal cookies…hold the raisins!
I've got to stick with the classic cinnamon rolls…and my mother has a great recipe!
I would make cinnamon roll cake. It is sooo good!
This looks very delicious, i think i might try doing this for mothers day
wow…i'll make cinnamon scented banana bread.
We'll after reading this the first thing I'd make are these cinnamon rolls they look amazing!
I definitely think good cinnamon needs to be used in cinnamon rolls! Though I'm sure I could find some other uses too.
I'd make my favorite breakfast, oven baked french toast with cinnamon and cardamom, topped with cinnamon whipped cream!
I would use it in everything possible. I love cinnamon!
snickerdoodles 🙂
I'd make this giant cinnamon roll for sure. But I'd also use it to make my favorite french toast recipe.
Cinnamon raisin bread
Mother of Cinnamon Rolls!!! *see what I did there*
Once again, you continue to amaze me with your creativity! BEAUTIFUL!
I'd make baked apples with Fair Trade cinnamon!
This is a perfect breakfast or any meal of the day! I think all that spice has to be used in something speacil like a honey spiced custard tart with pecans. I am planning to make this roll on mother's day it is that good
OMG! I would love to reproduce your cinnamon rolls! I have such a weakness for that sweetness!
With this recipe, I can successfully make my mother something with cinammon in it! I made mojito cake pops based on the recipe on this website and it cams out so perfect!
I would make Chai-Spiced Donut Muffins…. you know, the kind you roll in butter after they are baked then roll in cinnamon-cardamom-ginger? Yummm!
I'd probably be boring and make french toast, but it would be the BEAT french toast there is!
Holy moly that thing is so huge and so awesome! That cinnamon would be awesome in the crumble to a fruit cobbler!
Wow, looks yummy! I'd love to make some cinnamon rolls like these 🙂
This looks fabulous !
Thank you for the pictures to guide with the process.
Rose
Don't even know how to call this thing.. but it looks super delicious!
That looks amazing! I love cinnamon in everything!
"Needs more cinnamon" can be said for just about every baked good, no matter how much I put in.
I would probably make oatmeal and a cup of tea.
I would make these cinnamon rolls!
This looks so delicious, I would love to make this for my mother on mothers day! Such a sweet touch to just the normal brunch! Xo V
Pumpkin cinnamon rolls! 🙂
I can only say, oh my god! That´s really must tastes delicious! Congratulations from Spain!