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Home » Recipe » All Manner of Sweet Things » Baking » Rum & Raisin Cinnamon Rolls

Rum & Raisin Cinnamon Rolls

Published on September 19, 2014 by Elizabeth Atia 59 Comments
Last Updated on January 28, 2019

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because even raisins love a generous nip of dark rum

cinnamon rolls

When I first started delving into the wonderful world of baking, around the age of 12, one of the first recipes I ever made was a basic cinnamon roll. It had a baking powder-raised scone base topped with plenty of butter, cinnamon sugar and raisins.

Every time I made it I set the fire alarm off. Every… single… time!

The oven temperature must have been too high, or I left them in too long, but whatever I did I followed those recipe instructions to the letter every time, and every time the front and back doors of the house would have to be opened and kitchen cloths used to waft the smoke away from the fire alarm.

It became a thing – someone would wait, poised, near the fire alarm to blow the smoke away from it every time I made cinnamon rolls.
The cinnamon rolls would have burnt raisins and burnt filling, and they were really dry and chewy, but I didn’t care – I thought they were lovely and I had made them myself.

cinnamon rolls

Fast forward a few decades and I’d completely gone off the notion of burnt cinnamon rolls. I’d tried a few recipes over the years, and although most would turn out reasonably ok, any raisins peeking out of the top of the filling would get burnt during cooking. Blergh.

The solution? Give them raisins a good hefty dose of rum!

This recipe is adapted from a Cinnamon Sweet Roll recipe from the Robin Hood Baking Festival 2002 Quick & Easy Baking Recipes leaflet my Canadian grandparents sent me in a care package some years ago.

rum and raisin cinnamon rolls

The rum soaked raisins add a lovely, juicy flavour to the yeasty, soft sweet rolls smothered in cinnamon sugar. Be warned – they are very moreish and incredibly delicious while they are warm – you don’t even really need the icing drizzle (if you can even wait until they cool enough to put it on!)

If you don’t fancy adding booze to your bakes (although keep in mind baking them will evaporate the alcohol) you could always substitute it with apple juice.

cinnamon rolls recipe

Table of Contents

  • Rum & Raisin Cinnamon Rolls
    • Affiliate Links
    • Instructions 
    • Environmental Information

Rum & Raisin Cinnamon Rolls

Rum soaked raisins and a sugar glaze make these cinnamon rolls irresistible!
0 from 0 votes
Print Rate
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
Servings: 12 rolls
Author: Elizabeth

Ingredients

  • 1.75 tsp fast-action dried yeast
  • 560 grams strong white bread flour
  • 56 grams butter
  • 60 grams granulated sugar
  • 0.5 tsp sea salt
  • 250 ml full fat milk
  • 1 large egg beaten
  • 100 grams raisins or sultanas
  • 25 ml dark rum
  • 30 grams butter melted
  • 200 grams dark brown sugar
  • 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 200 grams icing sugar
  • 6 tsp cold water
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Affiliate Links

This recipe card may contain affiliate ingredient and equipment links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Instructions 

  • The lazy way: Place the yeast, bread flour, butter, granulated sugar, salt, milk and egg in your bread machine, select the regular dough cycle and allow it to run through.
  • The elbow grease way: Place flour, sugar, salt and yeast in a large bowl. Make a well in the centre. Melt the butter and add with the milk and egg and stir with a wooden spoon until combined. Turn out onto a floured board and knead for ten minutes. Place dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover with a cloth and leave in a warm place to double in size, about an hour and a half.
  • Meanwhile, soak the raisins in the rum, stirring occasionally to make sure they all get their little dose of alcohol. Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.
  • When the dough has risen, punch it down and roll out on a floured surface to a half inch thick rectangle approximately 15 inches by 12 inches.
  • Brush with the melted butter, sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon sugar and top with the rum soaked raisins.
  • Roll up tightly starting at the short side and slice into 12 even sized pieces.
  • Place rolls, cut side up, on a greased baking tray (or use a silicone baking mat), cover, and leave to rise for 30-40 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, preheat your oven to 180 C/ 350 F.
  • I tend to poke any raisins peeking out back into the layers with a cocktail or kebab stick to stop them burning. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
  • To make the icing, sift the icing sugar and stir in enough water to make a not-too-runny consistency, but runny enough to drizzle over the rolls.
  • Store in an airtight container - will keep fresh for a few days. Reheat in the microwave for 30 seconds to refresh. Leftovers freeze well.

Notes

Variation: replace the raisins with dried apple, the rum with brandy, and the water in the icing with maple syrup to make Apple Brandy Cinnamon Rolls with a Maple Glaze
 

Environmental Information

Tried this recipe?Mention @TangoRaindrop or tag #elizabethskitchendiary!

blogging linkies

Linking up with Recipe of the Week by A Mummy Too, Treat Petite by Cakeyboi and The Baking Explorer, Baking with Spirit by Cake of the Week and Four Seasons Food – Autumn, by Eat Your Veg and Delicieux.

OTHER RECIPES YOU MIGHT LIKE
Quick Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls by Veggie Desserts
Stollen Breakfast Buns by Supergolden Bakes
Rum & Raisin Muffins by I’d Much Rather Bake Than…

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Filed Under: Baking, Bread, Recipe Tagged With: Cinnamon Rolls, Raisin, Rum

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Comments

  1. Natally says

    April 11, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    Made these and they tasted great, thanks!

    Reply
  2. Maya Russell says

    March 20, 2015 at 6:28 am

    I think I’m going to have to do these rum soaked raisin rolls!! I love them anyway, but have never done my own.

    Reply
  3. charlotte clavier says

    January 20, 2015 at 7:48 pm

    Oh boy they do look delicious. Definitely a recipe i want to try out for myself

    Reply
  4. Amanda Botterill says

    January 18, 2015 at 2:24 pm

    oh my these sound absolutely delicious

    Reply
  5. kayleigh white says

    January 11, 2015 at 12:53 pm

    My mouth is watering just looking at these!

    Reply
  6. Pam Francis Gregory says

    November 12, 2014 at 12:22 pm

    These look fantastic!

    Reply
  7. Lou, Eat Your Veg says

    November 10, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    A Gorgeous recipe! They look absolutely perfect and I’m loving your rum soaking tip for unburnt raisins. Thanks so much for linking up to September’s Four Seasons Food ‘Getting Fruity’ challenge, and my apologies for taking until now to read, and drool over, your post.

    Reply
  8. Danielle Vedmore says

    October 19, 2014 at 5:25 pm

    I seriously need to make these! Cinnamon rolls are one of my faves – have never had one with rum in though! Yum!!!!

    Reply
  9. stephen holman says

    October 19, 2014 at 1:34 pm

    these look yummy!!! 😀

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      October 19, 2014 at 1:38 pm

      Thanks Stephen – they are rather lovely if I do say so myself!

      Reply
  10. tracy nixon says

    October 19, 2014 at 6:57 am

    I made these yesterday just to try them before Christmas and they were gone in 10 minutes ! My dad especially liked them!

    Reply
  11. Tracy Nixon says

    October 16, 2014 at 7:13 am

    Great recipe for Christmas!

    Reply
  12. sarah brooker says

    September 27, 2014 at 2:53 pm

    these look soooo good!

    Reply
  13. Stuart Vettese says

    September 26, 2014 at 8:53 pm

    Thanks for taking the time to enter – a petite treat indeed!

    Reply
  14. bev says

    September 24, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    look delicious

    Reply
  15. Kirsty Hijacked By Twins says

    September 24, 2014 at 1:36 pm

    These really do look so delicious! I love the rum and raisin combination x #recipeoftheweek

    Reply
  16. Julie's Family Kitchen says

    September 23, 2014 at 9:46 pm

    Yum, you have baked these to perfection. I absolutely loved the sound of the rum and raisins, dare I say it but I have a bottle of rum that I usually soak my Christmas cake fruit in. I can’t wait to try your recipe, especially as I have all the right ingredients ( I love it when that happens). By the way, you have the photographed cinnamon rolls absolutely beautifully.

    Reply
  17. Sophie at Franglaise Cooking says

    September 23, 2014 at 2:54 pm

    Oh those just look amazing! The only problem now is that I want to eat them immediately and not have to wait to buy ingredients and cook them!
    #Recipeoftheweek

    Reply
  18. Carpet Cleaning Fulham says

    September 23, 2014 at 9:24 am

    Looks so delicious!! I will try it this weekend!!

    Reply
  19. Tenancy cleaners London says

    September 23, 2014 at 7:54 am

    MMM, so yummy, these raisin cinnamom rolls looks so good. That part with the fire alarmwas very funny 🙂

    Reply
  20. Yet Another Blogging Mummy!!! says

    September 22, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Those look yummy. Thinking back to when I was about 12, I used to make gingerbread men again and again. But they weren’t fancily decorated like you see now – just currant eyes and buttons #recipeoftheweek

    Reply
  21. Holly says

    September 22, 2014 at 1:28 am

    Wah! So much cinnamon goodness. Love them. Our old fire alarm used to be so so sensitive, it was awful – you couldn’t make anything without it going off!

    Reply
  22. Hayley @ Hay In A Day says

    September 21, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    Oh wow! I’ve just come back from a holiday where I was eating pastries everyday! Cinnamon buns are my favourite and I’m having withdrawal symptoms since I’m back so I may crack on and make these tomorrow!! #recipeoftheweek

    Reply
  23. Janine says

    September 21, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    I’ve only tried to make cinnamon rolls once, and it was rather disastrous as they got burnt in my new oven. These do look pretty good, though, so I might have to give it another go.

    Thanks for entering Baking With Spirit – could you do me a favour and email the link over to me (cakeoftheweek@hotmail.co.uk) so that I remember where to find the post? I’m on holiday at the moment and I don’t want to miss this off the round up!

    Reply
  24. Bea and Mara says

    September 21, 2014 at 4:05 pm

    Wowww, they look great and I love the raisin inside!!!

    Reply
  25. Charlotte Oates says

    September 21, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    My husband loves cinnamon rolls and rum and raisin. I can’t wait until he finishes the diet he’s on at the moment so I can make him some I these.

    Reply
  26. What Kate Baked says

    September 21, 2014 at 10:32 am

    This look just the most perfect, inviting cinnamon rolls Elizabeth- and i love the photo of a couple of cheeky little hands keen to mop up the stray icing!

    Reply
  27. jenny says

    September 21, 2014 at 9:20 am

    this looks absolutely fantastic and delicious! Love the styling and photos too! Great recipe. Thanks for sharing. #recipeoftheweek

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 21, 2014 at 9:23 am

      Thank you! 🙂 I’ve been playing with my new camera – only just recently moving from Auto to Manual, so I’m having a lot of fun with my food these days 🙂

      Reply
  28. Paul Wilson says

    September 21, 2014 at 1:27 am

    Looks perfect for afternoon tea.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 21, 2014 at 9:01 am

      They are, oh they so are! And breakfast, and late night telly snacking.. 😀

      Reply
  29. Kate - gluten free alchemist says

    September 20, 2014 at 10:18 pm

    Cinnamon rolls are delicious. I used to eat them by gradually unrolling them with each bite and savouring the cinnamon goo as I went. The drizzled icing looks perfect. Very tempting!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 21, 2014 at 9:01 am

      Is there any other way to eat cinnamon rolls? They’re supposed to be eaten like that, aren’t they? 🙂

      Reply
  30. Camilla @FabFood4All says

    September 20, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    10 out of 10 for fabulousness Elizabeth:-)

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 21, 2014 at 9:02 am

      Aw thanks Camilla! 😀

      Reply
  31. Janice says

    September 20, 2014 at 7:55 pm

    Gorgeous looking cinnamon rolls. It was jammy buns that I used to make when I was 12, but I never set the fire alarm off, although come to think of it, I don’t think we had a fire alarm.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 21, 2014 at 9:03 am

      Oh dear! I was thinking about that as I recalled setting the fire alarm off – I was always so worried about fire for some reason, as a child, and I am very thankful that we at least HAD a fire alarm!

      Reply
  32. Urvashi@BotanicalBaker says

    September 20, 2014 at 2:41 pm

    Oh my goodness gracious me. I want to reach out and grab one of those. Corrrrrrr!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 21, 2014 at 9:05 am

      Yay! Mission accomplished 😀

      Reply
  33. Dominic says

    September 20, 2014 at 11:07 am

    i’ve never really made a successful cinnamon roll either, they’re never as sweet as I want them to be and it feels naughty adding more sugar… yours are truly beautiful, love the icing and love the swirl, they are quite quite perfect.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 11:51 am

      I know what you mean. These ones are pretty awesome though – I’d urge you to give them a try!

      Reply
  34. Tiny Tang says

    September 20, 2014 at 8:27 am

    how tasty do these look?! I definitely want to try this! x
    | Life as a Petite || Fashion, Crafts & Lifestyle Blog |

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 9:53 am

      Thanks! Let me know what you think if you do make them 🙂

      Reply
  35. Francene Stanley says

    September 20, 2014 at 8:25 am

    The cinnamon rolls look wonderful and I’m glad you worked out how to stop the raisins from burning. I remember them from my teenage years in the 50s in Australia. So yummy!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 9:53 am

      Thank you Francene 🙂 Cinnamon rolls are a big part of many childhoods, I think, and I’m glad they will form part of my own children’s memories – the smell and the taste… such nostalgia 🙂

      Reply
  36. Katie Bryson says

    September 20, 2014 at 7:34 am

    Cinnamon rolls are my absolute favourite breakfast item… I had them every chance I could when we were on holiday in California this summer. I’ve made them myself, but they’ve never been as delicious as i’d hoped. I’m going to give your recipe a try and see how it goes… this is making me crave coffee BIG TIME!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 8:01 am

      I had the last one for breakfast yesterday while typing up this post – oooh it was lovely even if it was 3 days old! I hope you try my recipe – let me know what you think if you do! 🙂

      Reply
  37. Jan Bennett @GlugofOil says

    September 20, 2014 at 6:04 am

    They look soooo good! Fantastic pictures – I want one!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 8:00 am

      Thanks Jan – been playing with the manual setting and studio lights! No more dark photos for me! 😀

      Reply
  38. Paul Wilson says

    September 20, 2014 at 12:42 am

    Looks delicious.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 8:00 am

      They are Paul, oh they are! 🙂

      Reply
  39. rebecca nisbet says

    September 19, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    you can actually make these in a bread machine? love cinnamon buns, but with rum and raison in too! my mums having this recipe!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 7:59 am

      You make the dough in the bread machine, the rest has to be done by hand and baked in the oven for lovely, softy, cinnamon sugar buttery goodness 🙂

      Reply
  40. Judith says

    September 19, 2014 at 7:43 pm

    OMG I love that you have a way of making these with a bread machine! I’ve always *loved* cinnamon rolls but really had no clue at all how to make them – especially the Cinnabon ones.

    Gotta give this a go now 😉

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 7:48 am

      What can I say – I am lazy! If I can get the bread machine to do all the work of kneading and rising then I will! 🙂 I had to Google Cinnabon – these to rather look like them, don’t they!

      Reply
  41. Keep Calm and Fanny On says

    September 19, 2014 at 7:14 pm

    I want to dip my finger in ten icing dribbles too 😉 lovely! And that’s one of my favourite photos EVER it really tells a story, smashing!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 7:47 am

      Heehee, I could see my youngest and his friend staring at those icing dribbles with such delight I had to grab my camera!

      Reply
  42. Laura says

    September 19, 2014 at 3:00 pm

    Mmmmm, these look just right. Nice and generous too 😉 I also like how you haven’t drowned them in icing like so many yeasted roll recipes do – I like to see the swirl through the icing still like you can with yours.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth says

      September 20, 2014 at 7:45 am

      Nothing’s worse than a stingy cinnamon roll! I want them big! 😀 I like to see the cinnamon swirl too, glad to hear I’m not the only one.

      Reply

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About Elizabeth

Daydream adventurer. Expat Canadian. Foodie. Calls Shetland home - for now. One eye is always on the horizon. Read More…

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