Cinnabon Delights (Taco Bell Copycat)
My Cinnabon delights are crispy little cinnamon sugar donut holes filled with rich cream cheese frosting. These taste even better than what you get at Taco Bell!
I love getting a Mexican pizza, and these Cinnabon delights at my local Taco Bell. Since mine is almost 30 minutes away, I like to make copycat recipes at home. The first time I tried this recipe, I jumped up and down. They taste just like the ones you get at Taco Bell.We love making them for lazy weekend breakfasts, holiday brunch, and late-night munchies too. They're a great side to a our cinnamon roll pancakes or breakfast burger too.
You will be reaching back into the serving dish to get just one more. Love copycat donuts? You've got to try my Krispy Kreme recipe next.
What Makes My Recipe Unique
- From Scratch Recipe: There just isn't a mix or dough on the market that tastes enough like the original.
- Super Crispy: These fry up crunchy, just like your fast food favorite.
- Perfect Frosting: Cream cheese frosting is too thick, so we'll make more of a glaze that has the perfect texture.
Ingredient Notes & Shopping Tips
- Flour: Measure your flour by spooning flour into a measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife. If you scoop your cup into the flour, you'll get too much.
- Baking Powder: Replace every 6-12 months for optimal rising.
- Milk: Use full-fat milk for moist and fluffy donuts.
- Cream Cheese: Quickly soften cream cheese by placing it in a measuring cup of hot water for 2-3 minutes.
- Oil: Use a neutral oil with a high smoke point like vegetable or canola. Avoid reusing oil from savory foods like chicken or fish, as the flavors can transfer
- Save your oil to fry out sweet treats like these Italian Zeppole.
Cinnamon
Cinnabon uses Makara cinnamon, which is more fragrant and aromatic than other varieties. It is not required for this recipe. You can find it in specialty stores or even on Amazon.
Leftovers
These are best enjoyed warm right out of the fryer.
Krystle's Tips and Tricks
- Frying: I like to deep fry in a cast iron skillet. However, you can also use any deep pan or even a countertop deep fryer.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pan: Fry only four or five at a time. This will keep your oil temperature high and ensure your end product is crunchy, not greasy.
- Filling: The filling should be a little thicker than a glaze but not as thick as frosting. You'll know it's ready when it coats the back of your spoon.
Make Sure All Your Donuts are the Same Size:
Not only will they look good, but they will also cook evenly. I like to use a small ice cream scoop.
Frequently Asked Questions
No baking is not recommended.
Dough-based desserts like doughnuts don't work well in the air fryer. Air frying this recipe is not suggested as they'll fail to rise or crisp up.
Yes, make the dough up to a day in advance. Bring to room temperature before frying.
More Copycat Recipes I Love
📖 Recipe
Taco Bell Cinnabon Delights
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Ingredients
For the Donuts
- 1 ½ Cups All Purpose Flour
- ¼ Cup White Sugar
- 2 Teaspoons Baking Powder
- ½ Teaspoon Salt
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- 1 Egg
- ½ Cup Milk
- 2 Tablespoons Butter Melted
- 1 Pinch Nutmeg Optional
- Oil For Deep Frying
- Cinnamon Sugar
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- 1 Cup Powdered Sugar
- ¼ Cup Cream Cheese Softened
- 1 Teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ Cup Whole Milk
Instructions
For the Donuts
- In a large bowl, whisk flour sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking powder. Stir in egg, milk, and melted butter. Do not over mix.
- Heat oil to 375 degrees F in a cast iron pan. Drop batter using a generous tablespoon into the hot oil. Fry 5 or 6 at a time, do not overcrowd the pan.
- Fry for about 2-3 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.
- Drain on paper towels, and roll in cinnamon sugar.
For the Cream Cheese Filling
- In a large bowl, whip cream cheese, and vanilla until smooth. Add in powdered sugar a little at a time until just combined.
- Add milk as needed until you reach your desired consistency.
- Pour into a squirt bottle or piping bag. Fill donuts with glaze, being sure to move the tip around so you get a generous amount of frosting.
Notes
- Flour: Measure your flour by spooning flour into a measuring cup and leveling it off with a knife.
- Baking Powder: Replace every 6-12 months for optimal rising.
- Cinnamon: Cinnabon uses Makara cinnamon.
- Milk: Use full-fat milk.
- Make Sure All Your Donuts are the Same Size: I like to use a small ice cream scoop.
- Frying: I like to deep fry in a cast iron skillet.
- Don't Overcrowd the Pan: Fry only four or five at a time.
- Filling: The filling should be a little thicker than a glaze but not as thick as frosting. You'll know it's ready when it coats the back of your spoon.
Nutrition
Thanks for sharing. They turned out great. I just had the stove too high at first.
My daughter wanted me to go to Taco Bell to get some of these, I told her they were closed. I found this recipe and we made them. She is 16 years old so wasn't sure how she would react to them, she absolutely loved them. Thank you so much!
Yay I'm so glad you enjoyed!
Call me crazy, but the cinnabons I get from my local Taco Bell have the vaguest suggestion of heat - maybe red pepper? But I have not seen anything like that in any of the copycat recipes I've looked at. Could the vague undertone I'm tasting be an outstanding quality cinnamon? And what brand of cinnamon do you use? Thank you in advance for your response.
Interesting, I've never picked up on that! I use McCormick's cinnamon usually or the Aldi brand in a pinch.
Would the results be the same if you use and air fryer to fry them?
Hi Christina!
Great question. I've only tried the recipe as written, but I fear the batter would not hold up as well in the air fryer. Please let us know if you do end up trying it.
I’m not getting something. How can a squirt bottle fill a little donut hole? I can see maybe a basting injector but i must be mossing something. Maybe a piping bag if it had the right attachment. Do you put filling in before you fry them or after?
Hi Michael!
Great questions. I fill after frying.
I'm sorry for the confusion. It is less of a squeeze bottle and more a piping bottle (mine is an older Wilton version similar to this https://www.wilton.com/silicone-cookie-decorating-bottle/409-7723.html). A piping bag would work great too!
I haven't tried it yet but what about making the filling in advanced freezing it and cutting it into squares and forming the dough around the frozen filling and then frying them?
Hi Leslie,
I've only tried the recipe as written, sorry. Please let me know if you try it this way, and how it goes.
Finally, a real recipe! So many other sites have a "recipe" which uses store bought Pillsbury™ Cinnamon Rolls and Betty Crocker™ Rich & Creamy creamy white frosting, which does NOT taste like the original. Thank you for posting something that actually tastes the original and not just doctoring up something store purchased.
OMW These look absolutely a.m.a.z.i.n.g. Need I say anymore? I don't think so. 🙂 I'm totally going to make these the first chance I get. Thanks for sharing!!! xo
Wow!!! This recipe was incredible!!!! I rolled the donuts in melted butter then put cinnamon/sugar on them and they turned out amazing ???? 10/10!!!!
I love these at Taco Bell, thanks for the copycat recipe
Thank you so much, these were yummy.
Thank you so much for your copycat recipe.
Thank you so much for your recipe.
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks you so much for sharing!
yummy Cinnabon balls... thank you for sharing, Krystle!! Keep it up 🙂
Awesome copycat recipe, my kids loved them.