Morning buns and cinnamon rolls are both delicious pastries often enjoyed at breakfast or as a sweet treat with coffee. While they may look similar, they are quite different in terms of flavor, texture, and how they are made. Understanding the differences can help you decide which one is better suited to your taste, whether you’re baking them at home or picking them up from a bakery.
In this article, we’ll break down the differences between morning buns and cinnamon rolls, focusing on their dough, sweetness, flavor, and more. If you’re looking to elevate your baking skills, you might want to check out how to use heavy cream in cinnamon rolls or explore creative flavor combinations like chocolate and cinnamon.
Morning Buns vs. Cinnamon Rolls: The Basics
At first glance, morning buns and cinnamon rolls may seem alike. But they are made from different types of dough and have unique flavors and textures.
What is a Morning Bun?
A morning bun is made from croissant-like dough, also known as laminated dough. This dough is rolled with layers of butter, creating a light and flaky texture—similar to a croissant. Morning buns are usually less sweet than cinnamon rolls and may be flavored with citrus zest or cinnamon. They are often coated in granulated sugar for a slight crunch.
Morning buns are commonly found in artisan bakeries and are appreciated for their complex textures and balanced sweetness. For a more detailed look at how this dough is made, check out this guide on laminated dough.
What is a Cinnamon Roll?
A cinnamon roll is made with a soft, yeasted dough that’s rolled out, covered in cinnamon-sugar filling, and shaped into spirals. The dough is soft and chewy, and cinnamon rolls are typically topped with a sweet glaze or cream cheese frosting, making them much sweeter than morning buns.
Cinnamon rolls are often considered a more indulgent treat, with a stronger focus on sweetness. For a fun variation, you might want to try these strawberry cheesecake cinnamon rolls.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns have a flaky, buttery texture due to their croissant dough, while cinnamon rolls are made with soft, chewy dough and are much sweeter.
Dough and Texture
The type of dough used in morning buns and cinnamon rolls is what gives them their unique textures.
Morning Bun Dough: Light and Flaky
Morning buns are made from laminated dough, the same type used for croissants. This dough is layered with butter and rolled out multiple times, creating thin, delicate layers that puff up in the oven. The result is a pastry that is light, flaky, and crisp on the outside, while being soft and buttery on the inside.
Laminated dough takes time and precision to make because it requires keeping the butter cold while rolling and folding the dough. For a better understanding of the process, take a look at this step-by-step guide on laminated dough.
Cinnamon Roll Dough: Soft and Chewy
Cinnamon rolls are made from yeasted dough, which gives them a soft, pillowy texture. The dough is rolled out, filled with a layer of cinnamon-sugar, and rolled into spirals. After baking, the rolls are topped with frosting or glaze, making them moist and sweet.
Unlike the flaky layers of a morning bun, cinnamon rolls are soft and chewy, making each bite rich and indulgent. Some bakers use heavy cream to make cinnamon rolls even softer—learn more about that technique in this guide on using heavy cream in cinnamon rolls.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns have a flaky texture from the laminated dough, while cinnamon rolls are soft and chewy, with a gooey center.
Flavor Profile
Even though both pastries include cinnamon, their flavors are very different.
Morning Bun Flavor: Bright and Balanced
Morning buns are known for their more balanced flavors. They often include citrus zest, like orange or lemon, which adds a bright and refreshing note to the pastry. The combination of cinnamon and citrus zest creates a light, refreshing flavor that pairs perfectly with the buttery, flaky dough.
Morning buns are less sweet than cinnamon rolls, and the sweetness typically comes from a dusting of sugar on the outside. This makes them a great option for those who prefer a treat that’s not overly sugary.
Cinnamon Roll Flavor: Rich and Sweet
Cinnamon rolls are rich and indulgent, with their primary flavor coming from the cinnamon-sugar filling. The sweetness of the filling is often enhanced by a generous topping of cream cheese frosting or a sugary glaze. This makes cinnamon rolls significantly sweeter than morning buns, creating a dessert-like experience.
If you’re feeling adventurous, you can experiment with other flavor combinations, such as adding chocolate to your cinnamon rolls. Check out this chocolate and cinnamon flavor pairing guide for inspiration.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns have a lighter, more balanced flavor with hints of citrus, while cinnamon rolls are all about being rich and sweet.
Sweetness and Ingredients
The level of sweetness in these pastries is another important difference.
Morning Buns: Subtle Sweetness
Morning buns are typically less sweet than cinnamon rolls. They may have a light dusting of sugar on the outside, but they focus more on the flavors of the butter, cinnamon, and citrus zest in the filling. This makes morning buns feel less like a dessert and more like a sophisticated breakfast pastry.
Cinnamon Rolls: Sweet and Decadent
Cinnamon rolls are much sweeter because of their cinnamon-sugar filling and the added layer of frosting or glaze. The sweetness is what makes them so indulgent, and it’s why they are often considered more of a dessert than a breakfast item.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns are less sweet and more balanced in flavor, while cinnamon rolls are rich and sweet with frosting or glaze.
Baking Process and Technique
The techniques used to make these pastries highlight their differences.
Morning Buns: Laminated Dough
Making morning buns requires the laminating process, which involves folding butter into the dough several times to create thin layers. This process is time-consuming but results in the light, flaky texture that makes morning buns so special. After rolling out the dough and adding the filling, the buns are shaped and coated with sugar before baking.
Cinnamon Rolls: Simple Yeasted Dough
Cinnamon rolls are much easier to make. The yeasted dough is rolled out, covered in cinnamon-sugar filling, and rolled into a log before being cut into individual rolls. After rising, the rolls are baked and typically topped with frosting or glaze to add a sweet finish.
For an extra soft texture, try using heavy cream before baking. This technique helps the rolls stay moist and gooey, as explained in this guide to heavy cream in cinnamon rolls.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns require more technical skill due to the laminating process, while cinnamon rolls are simpler to make with basic yeasted dough.
Calories and Nutrition
Morning buns and cinnamon rolls also differ in their nutritional content.
Morning Buns: Higher in Fat, Lower in Sugar
Because morning buns are made with laminated dough (which contains layers of butter), they are higher in fat than cinnamon rolls. However, they are typically lower in sugar since they don’t have frosting or glaze. The balance of fat and subtle sweetness makes morning buns a slightly lighter option.
Cinnamon Rolls: Higher in Sugar and Calories
Cinnamon rolls are higher in sugar because of their frosting and sweet filling. While they might be lower in fat than morning buns, they are more calorie-dense due to the added sugar. The rich, sweet taste makes them a more indulgent treat.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns are higher in fat from the butter but lower in sugar, while cinnamon rolls are richer in sugar and calories.
Popular Variations
Both pastries can be made in different ways to suit various tastes.
Morning Buns: Citrus and Spices
Many morning buns feature citrus zest, such as orange or lemon, to brighten the flavor. Some bakers add spices like cardamom or nutmeg for extra warmth. You might also find versions with pastry cream or a sugar coating for added richness.
Cinnamon Rolls: Frostings and Add-Ins
Cinnamon rolls can be topped with various frostings and fillings. Popular add-ins include nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips. Bakers often experiment with different flavors for the frosting, such as maple glaze or coffee icing. For a unique twist, try making chocolate cinnamon rolls.
Key Takeaway:
Morning buns often include citrus zest and spices, while cinnamon rolls are more customizable with different frostings and fillings.
FAQs About Morning Buns and Cinnamon Rolls
What is the difference between a morning bun and a sticky bun?
Morning buns are made with croissant dough and are lighter, while sticky buns are topped with caramelized sugar and nuts, making them denser and richer.
Are morning buns healthier than cinnamon rolls?
Morning buns tend to have less added sugar but are higher in fat due to the butter in the laminated dough.
Can I use cinnamon roll dough to make morning buns?
No, cinnamon roll dough is too dense for morning buns, which require the lightness of laminated dough.
Conclusion
Morning buns and cinnamon rolls may both be sweet breakfast pastries, but they offer very different eating experiences. If you’re looking for something flaky, buttery, and less sweet, the morning bun is the perfect choice. But if you’re craving a rich, sweet treat with frosting, nothing beats a classic cinnamon roll.
To try more fun pastry ideas, check out chocolate and cinnamon pairings or these strawberry cheesecake cinnamon rolls.