Description
These Cinnamon Roll Bliss Bars deliver all the gooey, buttery, cinnamon-swirled magic of classic cinnamon rolls without the yeast or wait time. Perfect for brunch, dessert, or any time you need a sweet treat, these tender bars feature a soft vanilla base with gorgeous ribbons of brown sugar cinnamon filling. Ready in under an hour and feeds a crowd!
Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened (for batter)
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon Filling:
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with parchment paper, leaving a 2-inch overhang on two sides for easy removal.
2. Make the cinnamon filling: In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until well combined. Let rest for 5 minutes to thicken slightly. Set aside.
3. Mix dry ingredients: In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, and salt until evenly combined.
4. Cream butter: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter with an electric mixer on medium speed for about 1 minute until creamy and smooth.
5. Add wet ingredients: Beat in eggs and vanilla extract until well incorporated.
6. Combine wet and dry: Add the dry ingredient mixture and milk to the butter mixture alternately, starting and ending with dry ingredients. Mix on low speed just until combined—do not overmix. The batter should be thick but spreadable.
7. Spread batter: Pour the batter into your prepared pan and use an offset spatula to spread it evenly into all corners.
8. Add cinnamon swirl: Drop spoonfuls of the rested cinnamon filling across the top of the batter. Using a butter knife or wooden skewer, gently swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter using figure-eight motions. Don’t overmix—two or three passes through the pan is perfect.
9. Bake: Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, until the center is just set and a toothpick inserted comes out with moist crumbs (not wet batter).
10. Cool and slice: Let the bars cool in the pan for 15 minutes to set the texture. Use the parchment paper overhangs to lift the entire slab onto a cutting board, then slice into 12-16 bars with a sharp knife.
11. Serve: Enjoy warm or at room temperature. Optional: drizzle with cream cheese frosting or powdered sugar glaze.
Notes
Room temperature ingredients are crucial—cold butter won’t cream properly and cold eggs can curdle the batter. Set them out 30-60 minutes before baking.
Don’t skip the 5-minute rest time for the cinnamon filling—this helps it thicken so it swirls beautifully without sinking.
These bars are meant to be soft and tender—don’t overbake. Pull them when the center is just set but still slightly soft.
For a cream cheese frosting: Beat 4 oz softened cream cheese with 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons softened butter, and 1 teaspoon vanilla until smooth. Spread over cooled bars.
Storage: Keep in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or refrigerate if frosted for up to 5 days.
Freezer-friendly: Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight or microwave for 20-30 seconds.
Gluten-free option: Use a 1:1 gluten-free baking flour blend as a direct substitute for all-purpose flour.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Dessert, Breakfast, Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
Keywords: cinnamon roll bars, cinnamon bliss bars, easy cinnamon rolls, cinnamon swirl bars, no yeast cinnamon rolls, cinnamon dessert bars, brunch bars, potluck dessert