Do you know that the Swedes love their cinnamon rolls so much that they actually celebrate a day that’s entirely dedicated to this wonderful cinnamon treat? Every year on October 4^th, the Swedes celebrate Cinnamon Roll Day to indulge themselves. The day was first celebrated in 1999 and since then, everybody loves it till date. It was intended to be a day to commemorate Swedish baking traditions, with a particular focus on cinnamon buns. Cinnamon rolls are now greatly popular all over the world.

So, you must be wondering if cinnamon buns are a thing at all! Although, cinnamon buns are not as widely common as cinnamon rolls, they are just as savory. Well, there are cinnamon rolls and sticky buns. While the differences between the two are subtle, they are differences after all.

Cinnamon Roll

No brunch is complete without the inclusion of this sweet baked treat called cinnamon rolls. As the name suggest, it is a sweet roll filled with a cinnamon-sugar filling. Cinnamon rolls are a common breakfast recipe, but can be consumed any time of the day. The rich aroma alone is enough to tempt every living soul into a full-force obsession. These are very popular all over the world, particularly North America and Northern Europe. The cinnamon rolls that are so popular today are believed to have originated in Sweden. The Swedes call them ‘kanelbulle’ and they even celebrate a day to promote the rich history of cinnamon rolls. A cinnamon roll is all about four things – the pan sauce, the dough, the filling and the topping. They offer a lot of mix and match possibilities for the cinnamon roll baker.

Cinnamon Bun

Cinnamon buns (sometimes called cinnamon roll) are a sweet and savory breakfast recipe and a type of dessert. They are a favorite Pennsylvania Dutch treat baked in a pan with the nuts and sweeteners on the bottom. After the buns are baked, they are inverted so that the gooey bottom becomes the topping. It produces a bun that is soft, tender and fluffy, and packed with cinnamon filling. It’s a comforting homemade treat – hot out of the oven with warm sticky glaze. Adding this caramelly and nutty glaze to a cinnamon roll enhances the textual contrast. A sticky bun served warm with the sugar-butter mixture dripping onto your fingers is surely a treat worth savoring.

Difference between Cinnamon Roll and Bun

Ingredients

Both cinnamon rolls and buns are a classic breakfast delight that fill the entire kitchen with the rich aroma of cinnamon. Both involve yeasted dough that is patted into a rectangle and sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar, rolled into pinwheels, and sliced into rolls. One of the major differences between the two is that cinnamon buns contain nuts (usually pecans). Cinnamon rolls, on the other hand, do not have nuts, at least not traditionally.

Topping

The process of making cinnamon buns begins with the yeast dough that is slathered with butter, sprinkled with brown sugar, cinnamon and nuts. It is then rolled into pinwheels, sliced, and baked in a mixture of melted butter, sugar and pecans. The buns are placed over the baking dish and after it’s baked, the dish is flipped so that the glaze becomes the topping. Cinnamon rolls, on the other hand, are often topped with cream cheese frosting or a sugar glaze.

Taste and Appearance

Cinnamon rolls deliver a distinctive cinnamon flavor that blends well with the sweetness of the creamy icing. A signature cinnamon roll creates many layers, and each layer adds flavor, texture, color and moisture. The cinnamon filling is spread between these layers. The final product ends up fluffier and softer, with a strong buttery flavor. Cinnamon buns have this wonderful, scrumptious old-fashioned goodness with a sweet, cinnamon flavor.

Cinnamon Bun vs. Cinnamon Roll: Comparison Chart

Summary

Both cinnamon rolls and buns are prepared from sweet yeast dough, which is then rolled into pinwheels, sliced and baked in a mixture of butter, cinnamon and sugar. Cinnamon buns, once baked, are flipped out of the pan so that the caramel glaze becomes the topping. They are then topped with white icing. Cinnamon rolls, on the other hand, are topped with cream cheese frosting or a sugar glaze. Cinnamon rolls are often served plain or topped with raisins or pecans. And cinnamon buns are basically cinnamon rolls covered with caramel and pecans.

Are sticky buns and cinnamon rolls the same?

Sticky buns are inverted so that the pan lining becomes the topping, making them sticky throughout. Cinnamon rolls are often served plain or topped with raisins or pecans. Sticky buns are cinnamon rolls covered with caramel and pecans.

How do you know when a sticky bun is done?

When the roll turns golden brown on top and full baked in the center, it is safe to say the buns are done. You can use a fork or a knife to pull up the roll and check if it’s baked.

Why are sticky buns sticky?

The buns are flipped once they are baked and the caramel glaze runs over them and seeps between the layers, forming a sticky texture throughout.

Sharing is caring!