Giant Cinnamon Roll Scone

Published April 22, 2020

Giant Cinnamon Roll Scone
Susan Spungen for The New York Times (Photography and Styling)
Total Time
1½ hours
Rating
4(2,434)
Comments
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Just when you thought the world couldn’t improve upon cinnamon rolls, this dreamy mashup comes along. Adapted from “Procrastibaking: 100 Recipes for Getting Nothing Done in the Most Delicious Way Possible” (Atria, 2020) by Erin Gardner, they are actually quite easy to put together: Toss together a basic scone dough, then roll it out, spread it with a sweet cinnamon-butter filling, cut it into strips, roll it up, score and bake. Once cooled, drizzle the roll with a simple vanilla sugar icing, gently break into wedges and serve to the delight of your loved ones. —Margaux Laskey

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Ingredients

Yield:8 scones

    For the Dough

    • cups/285 grams all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
    • cup/65 grams granulated sugar
    • 1tablespoon baking powder
    • ½teaspoon kosher salt
    • ¾cup/170 grams cold unsalted butter (1½ sticks), cubed
    • ½cup/120 milliliters heavy cream, plus more as needed
    • 1teaspoon pure vanilla extract

    For the Filling

    • 3tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
    • ¼cup/55 grams dark brown sugar
    • 2teaspoons ground cinnamon

    For the Glaze

    • 1cup/125 grams confectioners’ sugar
    • 1teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • 2 to 3tablespoons whole milk
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

498 calories; 27 grams fat; 17 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 8 grams monounsaturated fat; 1 gram polyunsaturated fat; 59 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 31 grams sugars; 5 grams protein; 266 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

  2. Step 2

    Prepare the dough: In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, granulated sugar, baking powder and salt. Add the cubed butter, then pinch and press the butter into the flour until the mixture resembles coarse sand.

  3. Step 3

    Make a well in the center of the sandy mixture and add the heavy cream and vanilla. Toss and fold until it comes together to form a loose dough.

  4. Step 4

    Dust your work surface with flour and turn the dough out onto it. Gently knead the dough two or three times to bring it together. Use your hands to press the dough into a 5-by-14-inch rectangle with a long side facing you. Imagine the dough divided vertically into three equal sections, like a standard sheet of paper folded to fit into an envelope. Carefully lift the section on the right and fold it over the center section. Lift the section on the left and fold it over the other two layers. When you look at your dough from the front, you should see three distinct layers. Turn the little dough package so that one of the folded edges is facing you.

  5. Step 5

    Use your hands to press the layered dough back down into a long rectangle similar in size to the first one you made, flouring your work surface and dough as needed.

  6. Step 6

    Make the filling: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, brown sugar and cinnamon. Drizzle the filling on top of the dough and spread it out using a spoon or silicone spatula to fully cover the top surface of the dough.

  7. Step 7

    Cut the dough lengthwise into four equal strips. Pick up a strip and transfer it to the prepared baking sheet, filling-side up. Roll it up tightly, then stand it up on one of its flat sides in the center of the sheet. Pick up another strip, and wrap that strip, filling-side in, around the standing coil starting where the first coil left off. Repeat with the two remaining strips. Gently push the circle of coiled dough down to adhere the strips together and flatten the dough to about 9 inches in diameter. Cover and chill the dough for at least 30 minutes, or up to overnight.

  8. Step 8

    Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the chilled roll into 8 wedges, leaving the cut pieces together in a circle instead of pulling them apart.

  9. Step 9

    Bake, rotating the pan halfway through, until the scones have puffed and browned around the edges, 20 to 24 minutes.

  10. Step 10

    Transfer the sheet to a rack to cool for 20 to 30 minutes before carefully moving the warm scones onto a cutting board or serving platter. (If you don’t let them cool first, they will fall apart when you try to move them.) Using a knife, gently slice to separate the 8 individual scones, but don’t pull them apart.

  11. Step 11

    Make the glaze: In a small bowl or glass measuring cup, whisk together the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla with enough milk until the glaze is spreadable. Drizzle it over the scones and serve.

Tip
  • Scones are best enjoyed shortly after baking, but leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days. Enjoy at room temperature or reheat the scones in the toaster oven.

Ratings

4 out of 5
2,434 user ratings
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Comments

Alternative wording for step 7: Cut your rectangle into 4 equal strips, in the direction of stripes on an American flag. Take one strip and roll it into a cinnamon roll, then set it in the center of the pan. Take the next strip and wrap it around the first cinnamon roll to create a larger cinnamon roll. Repeat with the third and fourth strips so that in the end you have one giant cinnamon roll in the middle of your pan, then press down on it gently to make the whole thing about 9in in diameter.

I can't for the life of me picture what you are talking about in step 7. Can you please clarify, or add pictures? thank you!

Made this a second time in a cast iron skillet lined with parchment —25 min at 350. Came out beautifully! Bonus, you don’t have to chill the dough for 30 min, so you can get to the deliciousness faster!

Not nearly done in the middle after 28 min. Should have separated wedges just slightly before baking.

Perfect combination of scone and cinnamon roll. Half a recipe of icing was plenty.

I don't (can't) drink dairy milk, and keep only oat milk on hand. I've used it successfully in place of dairy milk in some recipes. What effect would using oat milk instead of heavy cream have on this end product? I see there's quite a bit of fat provided by the butter. tia

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Credits

Adapted from “Procrastibaking” by Erin Gardner (Atria, 2020)

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