What are the ingredients in Cinnabon? Unveiling the Classic Roll's Recipe

December 1, 2025 •

2 min read

Cinnabon's signature Makara cinnamon, harvested exclusively from the tropical forests of Indonesia, is the key ingredient that sets its rolls apart from competitors. Knowing what are the ingredients in Cinnabon involves understanding the specific components that make their rolls so irresistible, from the dough to the decadent frosting.

Quick Summary

An in-depth look at the specific components and proprietary blend that create Cinnabon's unique, world-famous flavor, including details on the special cinnamon, dough composition, and creamy frosting.

Key Points

Makara Cinnamon: Cinnabon uses a proprietary cassia cinnamon from Indonesia called Makara, known for its strong aroma and flavor.
Margarine for Gooeyness: The filling uses margarine, which saturates the dough better than butter, creating Cinnabon's signature gooey texture.
Cream Cheese Frosting: A rich, tangy cream cheese frosting is applied generously to warm rolls, which melts into the crevices and adds to the signature texture and flavor.
Dough Ingredients: The dough consists of enriched bleached flour, yeast, sugar, eggs, and a combination of margarine and vegetable oils for a soft, sweet base.
Hidden Preservatives: Unlike homemade recipes, commercial Cinnabon products contain a list of stabilizers and preservatives to maintain freshness and consistency.
Flavor Engineering: Every ingredient, including specific forms of fat and a unique cinnamon, is precisely chosen and managed to produce a consistent and irresistible sensory experience.

The Core Components: Dough, Filling, and Frosting

Cinnabon's classic cinnamon rolls consist of three main parts: a soft dough, a cinnamon-sugar filling, and a cream cheese frosting. While the precise recipe is confidential, the primary ingredients are known.

The Signature Dough

The dough is made with enriched bleached flour, yeast, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, and a combination of margarine and vegetable oils instead of just butter. Other ingredients like water, milk, and potentially buttermilk contribute to its texture and flavor.

The Famous Makara Cinnamon Filling

The filling is what truly sets Cinnabon apart, featuring their exclusive Makara® Cinnamon from Indonesia. This specific type of cassia cinnamon has high levels of volatile oils, resulting in a distinct, strong aroma and sweet flavor. The filling also includes brown sugar for a rich sweetness and margarine, which is crucial for achieving the signature gooey consistency.

That Iconic Cream Cheese Frosting

A generous layer of smooth, rich cream cheese frosting is essential to the Cinnabon experience. It contains cream cheese for tanginess, powdered sugar for sweetness and structure, margarine or butter for richness, and vanilla extract to enhance the flavor.

Cinnabon's Secret to Gooey Perfection

The unique gooey texture is a result of specific ingredient choices and the baking process. The use of margarine in the filling helps saturate the dough, keeping it moist, while the Makara cinnamon's properties also contribute to a gooey consistency. The frosting is applied while the rolls are still warm, allowing it to melt and seep into the pastry.

Cinnabon vs. Homemade: A Comparison of Ingredients

Comparing Cinnabon's commercial ingredients to typical homemade recipes reveals some key differences.


Feature	Typical Homemade Recipe	Commercial Cinnabon Ingredients
Fat	Unsalted Butter (Dough & Filling)	Margarine (partially hydrogenated soybean/cottonseed oils) and Vegetable Oils
Cinnamon	Standard Ground Cinnamon	Proprietary Makara® Cassia Cinnamon
Frosting	Butter, Cream Cheese, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla	Cream Cheese, Margarine, Powdered Sugar, Vanilla, Lemon Juice
Texture	Often rich, buttery, but can be less consistently 'gooey'.	Engineered for maximum ooey-gooeyness and saturation.
Dough Ingredients	Flour, Yeast, Sugar, Salt, Milk, Butter, Eggs	Enriched Bleached Flour, Yeast, Sugar, Water, Margarine, Oils, Salt, Buttermilk, Eggs, Preservatives, Stabilizers.

Conclusion: The Sum of its Irresistible Parts

The distinctive flavor and aroma of a Cinnabon Classic Roll come from a deliberate combination of ingredients. The proprietary Makara® Cinnamon, the use of margarine for optimal gooeyness, and the signature cream cheese frosting all contribute to the unique taste and texture. While home bakers can create delicious cinnamon rolls, replicating the specific Cinnabon experience requires these particular ingredient choices. For more information, the official Cinnabon website is a useful resource.

Beyond the Classic: Other Ingredients to Know

Cinnabon also offers items like the Pecanbon, which includes additional ingredients such as pecans and caramel sauce, expanding the range of flavors. For those baking at home, understanding the function of each ingredient is key to approximating the Cinnabon taste, even without the exclusive Makara blend.

Frequently Asked Questions

Cinnabon uses a proprietary, trademarked cinnamon called Makara, which is a type of cassia cinnamon harvested from Indonesia and is known for its strong aroma and high volatile oil content.

The gooeyness is achieved by using margarine in the filling, which saturates the dough during baking, combined with the characteristics of the Makara cinnamon. Applying the cream cheese frosting while the roll is warm also causes it to melt and seep into the pastry.

Yes, Cinnabon's signature frosting is a cream cheese-based recipe. It also includes margarine or butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla to create its rich, creamy texture and tangy-sweet flavor.

The commercial Cinnabon products use margarine, which is a key component for achieving the signature texture in their gooey filling. Homemade copycat recipes often use butter as a substitute.

While Cinnabon follows a specific process in its stores, the dough and ingredients are pre-manufactured and delivered to each location. The rolls are baked and frosted fresh throughout the day.

No, you cannot buy Makara cinnamon at a regular grocery store. It is Cinnabon's proprietary and trademarked blend, and it is not sold for retail.

A basic copycat recipe for the rolls would include ingredients like enriched flour, yeast, milk, eggs, sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, butter, cream cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla.