Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Bacon-Apple Frosting Recipe

Name: Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Bacon-Apple Frosting Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 8 small sandwiches
Ingredients: 1 (8-roll) package Pillsbury cinnamon rolls; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 6 slices bacon, thinly sliced cross-wise; 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/8-inch dice; 2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar; 2 tablespoon bourbon; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 8 ounces cream cheese, softened; 8 ounces confectioners’ sugar; 1/8 teaspoon salt

Overhead view of Cinnamon Roll Waffles on a cooling rack over a rimmed baking sheet. A ramekin of Bacon-Apple Frosting is in the frame and one of the waffles has been frosted. — Serious Eats / María del Mar Cuadra

Have you heard of the website Waffleizer? It was brought to my attention by some SE editors, who pointed me to their cinnamon roll waffles. Waffleizer's goal is to cook anything in a waffle iron, and, well, hats off to them! As a food stylist, I use unconventional tools to prepare food (fire starter, anyone?) and duly doff my cap to anyone who thinks a breakfast-making iron is the perfect thing to cook squid, quesadillas, and cinnamon rolls with.

The only issue I had with Waffleizer? They used cinnamon roll dough made from scratch. All I could think of when reading the SE editors' email exchange was the summer I spent at the Kappa Sigma frat house with my friend Kate (please don't ask—it was a squirrel-infested nightmare). Given the pledge-fit cooking method, I decided against the made-from-scratch method.

I went with the pop-out Pillsbury cinnamon roll dough instead. Just fire up your waffle iron, pat the dough rounds down, press, and voilà! Cinnamon roll waffles.

I'm not done yet.

Pillsbury comes with a little bucket of white icing, but please, do you know me at all? I did take a little extra time for the filling. Cream cheese and confectioners' sugar quickly whipped up and then: crisp bacon strips and apples sautéed in the rendered fat with brown sugar and bourbon. Oh, and the waffles are split, brushed with bacon fat, and griddled before getting slathered in this filthy frosting.

(I know, and, you're welcome.)

February 2012

Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Bacon-Apple Frosting Recipe

Prep 10 mins

Cook 35 mins

Active 30 mins

Cooling Time 10 mins

Total 55 mins

Makes 8 small sandwiches

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For the Cinnamon Roll Waffles:

1 (8-roll) package Pillsbury cinnamon rolls
2 tablespoons unsalted butter

For the Bacon-Apple Frosting:

6 slices bacon, thinly sliced cross-wise
1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/8-inch dice
2 tablespoons packed dark brown sugar
2 tablespoon bourbon
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
8 ounces confectioners' sugar
1/8 teaspoon salt

For the Cinnamon Roll Waffles: Open package and separate cinnamon rolls. Flatten each dough round with fingers to 1/2-inch thickness.
Preheat waffle iron according to manufacturer’s instructions. Brush with melted butter. Place one dough round on each waffle grid. Cook on medium-high heat setting until waffle iron beeps and cinnamon roll waffle is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to cooling rack and repeat with remaining butter and dough.
For the Bacon-Apple Frosting: Line large plate with 2 layers paper towels. Cook bacon in large skillet over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes. With slotted spoon, transfer to prepared plate.
Transfer all but 2 teaspoons rendered bacon fat to bowl. Add apples, brown sugar, bourbon, and cinnamon to skillet and cook until golden but still crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to plate and cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
Beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and salt on low speed until incorporated. Increase speed to medium-high and beat until light, about 2 minutes. Add bacon and apples and beat just to combine, about 30 seconds.
To Assemble: Slice waffles in half. Brush cut sides with remaining bacon fat. Cook 8 waffle halves, cut sides down, in now-empty skillet until toasted, 1 to 2 minutes. Repeat with remaining waffle halves.
Spread 8 waffle halves with icing and top with remaining 8 waffle halves. Serve.

Special Equipment

Waffle iron, pastry brush, cooling rack, large skillet, hand mixer

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
3129	Calories
150g	Fat
400g	Carbs
45g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Amount per serving
Calories	3129
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 150g	193%
Saturated Fat 75g	377%
Cholesterol 358mg	119%
Sodium 3115mg	135%
Total Carbohydrate 400g	145%
Dietary Fiber 10g	35%
Total Sugars 335g
Protein 45g
Vitamin C 0mg	1%
Calcium 370mg	28%
Iron 5mg	28%
Potassium 1067mg	23%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.