These sweet, warm Cinnamon Knots with Coffee Icing are the perfect fall treat. Made with pantry staples, they’re packed with cinnamon, a bit of brown sugar, and topped with the most delicious coffee icing – giving these knots an extra special touch. They’re so easy to make, incredibly flavorful, and every bite has that perfect little crunch.
For the most part, I save my cinnamon rolls for Christmas (just makes them feel more special, you know?). We always look forward to them on Christmas Eve. But, I did make an exception for the apple cinnamon rolls I shared a few weeks ago. They just screamed fall, not holiday, so they totally fit.
Now, let’s talk about these cinnamon knots. They’re similar to cinnamon rolls, but not quite the same. Either way, they’re so tasty I had to share them with you! Plus, making knots lets me break my little “only at Christmas” rule.
What I love about these knots is how fast they come together—just an hour, and you’re done! I used Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Instant Yeast, which makes the process super quick and easy. The best part? The yeast cuts down on the rising time, so you don’t have to wait forever. The fine granules activate quickly, and no dissolving is needed. Using this yeast makes any yeasted dough a breeze.
And no stand mixer needed for these knots!
Here’s how it all comes together:
The dough is really simple to make. Start by mixing flour with Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Instant Yeast and a pinch of salt. Then, add warmed milk, a little brown sugar, eggs, and salted butter. Mix it all together until smooth and let it rest for 10-15 minutes. The magic of Fleischmann’s® RapidRise® Instant Yeast is that you can skip an entire hour-long rise and still get super soft, fluffy cinnamon knots!
The Filling:
For the filling, spread butter on the dough, then sprinkle on a simple mixture of brown sugar and cinnamon. I love using brown sugar because it adds a rich, deep flavor, and I go heavy on the cinnamon for an extra-delicious knot.
Shaping the Knots:
Shaping the knots is easy—don’t stress about getting them perfect. In fact, the more imperfect they are, the better! Trust me, once they bake, they’ll turn out beautifully and taste amazing—cinnamon sugar does that to everything.
To make them even more special, there’s a cinnamon topping. This is just a mix of brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter. Sprinkle it over the knots before baking, and as they bake, the topping will caramelize over them. Some of the cinnamon might fall off the knots and onto the pan, but don’t worry! I like to scoop it back up and spoon it over the knots before serving. Tip: it helps to line your baking sheets with parchment paper.
The Icing:
While the knots are baking, make the icing. It’s a simple mix of butter, maple syrup, powdered sugar, and instant coffee. It’s not too strong, not too sweet—just right. When you drizzle it on top of the warm knots, it’s perfection.
The smell of cinnamon and sweetness fills the house as they bake.
As soon as they come out of the oven, ice them and serve. These knots are seriously so good—soft, fluffy, and just the right amount of sweetness with a little crunch in every bite.
And if you make these Cinnamon Knots with Coffee Icing, don’t forget to leave a comment or rate the recipe! I love hearing from you all and always try to respond to every comment.
