There are certain smells that make me stop in my tracks.
Pleasant smells… the other kind make me RUN.
I spend a good deal of time in the airport. The Atlanta airport, like many others in the US, has a Cinnabon. I can walk away from the waffle cone smell at Ben & Jerry, the pizza from Sabrro, the Chick-fil-a chicken biscuits… but the smell of that cinnamon laced sugar bomb makes me pause.
Rather than having a 730 calorie bomb, I decided to make my own. And one-up them by adding peanut butter and apples.
It takes a couple of steps, but they are steps you’ll be glad you took as soon as you bit into this gooey-chewy cinnamon-laced roll. Plus, you can make a few to reheat for a quick breakfast throughout the week!
The pic above starts out with the uncooked, apple lined rolls in a ramekin. Then I baked the egg and cinnamon soaked bread into a hot roll oozing with baked apple deliciousness. After dumping neatly turning it on to a plate, I topped with peanut sauce.
A note on the bread and peanut sauce: I used P28 High Protein Bread to make this a super-high protein treat. You could use any bread, but know that P28 slices are huge so you may need an additional slice if you use a smaller bread. For the sauce, I used my beloved peanut flour. You could easily sub in peanut butter (or any nut/seed butter), or use a vanilla protein powder in the same proportions to make a glaze.
This would be good without the apples too… but it’s fall. Be festive! It adds a fresh sweetness to the decadent roll. And that’s pretty marvelous.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Peanut Butter Apple Cinnamon Roll
For the Roll
- 1/4 C egg whites (or flax egg)
- 2 tsp sugar-free syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp butter extract
- 1 slice P28 High Protein Bread*
- 1/4 apple, sliced very thin (plus more, to top)
For the Glaze
- 1 T unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 1 T peanut flour (or peanut butter)*
- 1 tsp sugar-free syrup
- 1/4 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp butter extract
Instructions for the Roll
Preheat oven to 375.
In a bowl, beat together eggs, syrup, cinnamon, and extract.
Slice the bread into 3 long strips, gently flattening and stretching out. Soak strips in the egg mixture, as if you were making french toast.
Line strips with the thin apple slice, roll up like a cinnamon roll, and place in a prepared ramekin.
Bake for 10 mins (until lightly browned). Allow to cool slightly. Turn ramekin over onto you plate to remove the roll. You may need to loosen the edge first.
Instructions for the Glaze:
Mixing together milk, peanut flour (or butter), syrup, cinnamon, and extract.
Slather across your cinnamon rolls.
Take a bite. Have a moment of silence. Continue to inhale the roll.
Approximate nutritionals: 223 calories, 4.6g fat, 328g sodium, 22.5g carbohydrates, 4.1g fiber, 8.2g sugar, 24.8g protein
*Notes:
- You can use any type of bread. P28 bread slices are huge – if you use another brand, you may need to use 1/5-2 slices
- Vanilla protein powder can be used in place of the peanut flour for a more “traditional” glaze. I like using Growing Naturals.
***
Thank you all SO MUCH for the kind comments and participation in blogiversary week! Check back at the Growing Naturals and Favorite Things posts for the last 2 winners! I’ll have a discount code from the Growing Natural folks tomorrow!
Is there a “treat” you always have when you travel? I’m a sucker for Coke Zero and pretzels on the plane.
Have you ever re-created a favorite restaurant meal in a healthier way? What was it? Feel free to link up – sharing is caring!
These look absolutely perfect!
What a fabulous idea. Cinnamon rolls are kind of one of my favorite foods of all time, but I can’t even remember the last time I had one!
Oh my goodness, perfect timing. My husband was away for business this weekend and brought home some cinnamon rolls that he didn’t finish, which look yummy, but are definitely not vegan. Now I can indulge!
Oh good! I always think of you when I’m making something… gotta have the vegan option. 😉
Ahh, the dreaded Cinnabon smell!!!! I SO hear you on this one – as someone who has also spent my fair share of time in airports, I know that the Cinnabon smell is nearly irresistible! As always, I’m impressed (and drooling) by your creativity. I do have a “treat” every Thursday as I’m coming home … it’s a fun way to mark the end of the travel week and congratulate myself on surviving :). It’s almost always either dark chocolate, or a bag of popchips – not the healthiest options in the world, but I love them both and I’m all about treats every so often!
You have to celebrate the survival of another week on the road! I’d got for the chocolate and the chips – sweet and salty! 😉
Oh my Gosh! I think the Cinnamon Rolls were the reason why I gained 7 kilos in 4 months when I was in San Diego 16 years ago. I freaking love them but on the other hand I am glad we can not get them here in Switzerland, would be dangerous 🙂
Totally love that you made a healthy version!!
You have Swiss chocolates and cheese. I’d take that over a Cinnabon any way! 😉
Ok, ok…so I have to admit it took me a minute to figure out what the heck you did here, but NOW I get it…GENIUS! And omg, so freaky because I’ve been thinking of a verrrrrry similar sort of creation involving P28 bread and peanut flour…but I’m it’s still my little secret for now! 😉
I TOTALLY get what you mean about Cinnabon…even though I’ve never actually had one of their rolls (because it would probably put me in a COMA!), I’m like Pavlov’s dog when I pass the shop at the mall! Same with those German roasted nuts! Confession: I always sample the nuts without any intention of actually buying them! Lol
Cinnamon roll up pancakes?!
I’ve never tried the PB2 bread! Didn’t even know it existed. Looks awesome and it has all my favorites.
P28 – not to be confused with the peanut flour stuff. 😉 They do have peanut butter though, and it really good.
Damn your giveaways- I actually didn’t really want the giveaway but moreso to get you to visit Australia- it better happen buddy!
1. Please enter the P28 contest- your creations would have them going gaga.
2. Stupid Australian customs delaying P28 bread here- so much for an early september release
3. This recipe will be made…once said bread arrives.
When I travel- pepsi max and beef jerky- the overpriced airport kind 😉
What is this contest? I went to their website and didn’t see anything.
I don’t know if we can be friends if you drink Pepsi… 😉
These cinnamon rolls are my new favourite recipe of the day, delicious 😀
Cheers
CCU
Thank you SO much! That’s huge coming from you baking-rockstar self!
YUM! I completely know what you mean when it comes to LOVING that cinnamon roll scent. When I worked in the mall, I would pack my lunch/dinner and go sit in the Cinnabon eating area so I could smell the sugary, cinnamony goodness coming from their booth….yum.
You are a better woman than I am! I couldn’t sit that close… danger zone! 😉
YUM! this looks absolutely fantastic! i rarely eat cinnamon rolls just since they provide no nutritional value, so i really like the looks of yours!
**SKIPS OFF TO GOOGLE P28 HIGH PROTEIN BREAD!!!!!**
Try the flat bread… YUM.
Lol, the other morning a guy sitting next top me in the airport opened his breakfast — a massive Cinnabon . . . . and scarfed the whole thing up right in front of me. First, I couldn’t believe he was eating that . . . and then second, I couldn’t believe he didn’t offer me any 😉 This look like a much healthier alternative!
I always wonder who really eats all of the stuff like that… but obviously a lot of people do! I’m with you on the bite…. I’ve come so close to asking strangers for a fry it’s scary. LOL!
i’m with you, love that smell. When i worked at starbucks in college, i never drank the coffee (only the espresso) but i loved the smell on my clothes of the coffee. maybe because it gave me a high at 4am? haha
your cinnabon is way better!
This loks amazing! I’m going to have to check out P28 bread! I don’t know much about it but it sounds delicious 🙂
Cinnabon is the most cruel thing in existence. I’ve never smelled anything so good…and it taunts me while I am HANGRY on my way home from work in the subway. NOT COOL. Love this recipe! PB + apples is a brilliant addition!
Ohhhh… in the subway?! That’s just wrong.
The smell of cinnamon anything makes me weak in the knees. And when it’s combined with doughy, sugary goodness? I’m done for. In a way, I’m kind of lucky to have allergies because it keeps me away from putting myself in a sugar coma. That doesn’t mean I’m not getting high off the scent, though 😉
That was the only good thing about when I tried to be vegan. I quit eating the office junk food!
I always pick up a specialty drink from Starbucks when travelling. It helps tame down the chaos of the airport!
These look so good! I can’t even remember the last time I had a cinnamon roll, but you’re making me think that I need to change that immediately. And of course, cannot go wrong with adding PB and apple!
I really like to get those Gardetto’s Mustard Pretzels when I’m traveling. I can only really seem to find them in airports. That’s probably a good thing.
They always have those at hotel meetings. Torture.
MMMM love that cinnamon smell. I have never stopped into one of those places though.
HOLY CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you send me these!!!?? 😉 I don’t have a ramekin & a couple other ingredients but man this looks amazing!!! I am a cinnamon roll lover!!!!!
I was waiting to see what you would comment. 😉 It’s realllllly not so hard. Like french toast but baked! Any small baking dish would do.
I cant wait to try the P28 products. My protein supplier is getting some soon so I am so excited. I think I might make this cinnamon roll tonight, yum!! thanks for the awesome recipe!
Thank you! Let me know if you try it. 🙂
You’ll love P28 – try the flat bread!
YUM! These sound delicious!!
Drooling! I should get more P28 bread- I loved the loaves I won from your giveaway last year!
Mmmm…these rolls look so amazing!!!
oh wow this looks so good!!
Yum – these look delicious!!!
I saw this on Facebook and HAD to click on over to see this. Looks delicious. Isn’t peanut flour amazing? 🙂 I just need to get my hands on P28 bread.
Thanks!!! You could definitely do it with regular bread too – even bread pudding style!
Oh my wow! These look incredible!!! All of P28s products sound incredible – I may have to look into ordering some online…mmmm.
It’s good stuff – the flatbread and the chunky PB are my favorite. 🙂
I don’t have a specific treat but when traveling, but I put no limits on eating because food is the best way to understand culture in my opinion!
Peanut sauce is one of my favorite things, I’m so happy you incorporated into your cinnamon roll. 🙂
I totally agree on vacation. I travel a lot for work, so I try to keep it in check on those trips – especially during competition prep. 🙂
It is a sad sad day for GiGi. I do not even remember what a Cinnamon Bun tastes like. All I know… IS THAT if I put even the tiniest of bites in my mouth back in the day, I WOULD WIND UP EATING LIKE 10 and want 10 more. BLACK WIDOW got NOTHING ON ME!
Cinnabon Cinnamon rolls make me melt! I do my darndest to avoid the one at the airport!
But your version – love it! Simply Marvelous indeed!!!
I usually have a Larabar and Almonds on me while flying, but when I drive…COFFEE is my best friend! 🙂
Thanks for the recipe Laura!
I’m going to make one of these next time I go to the airport and eat it sitting in front of Cinnabon. 😉
This is freakin genius! Just pinned!
Wow! Thank you!!!
Hmmm…this is super close to fitting into my new macros, I’m going to plan this for next week and skip the apple. I wonder if I could use Ezekiel bread and still be close. This looks so good!!!!!
You’d need more protein somewhere. The P28 has 14g… maybe add more frosting? Let me know if you do it!!
Made this today – my midmorning snack. SOOOO good! 🙂 I’ll have to go back and look what changes I made.
I am so glad you liked it! Can’t wait to hear your modifications!
You win.
I’m still not sure what the contest is, but you you win.
P.S. The smells that makes me stop in my tracks are charcoal grills and McDonald’s french fries. Apparently my Pavlovian responses kick in for those. [And I don’t eat meat…or fast food….weird….]
Errrrrr…. do I win a visit from you???
Oh man, this looks SO good. It sounds good. I bet it smells AMAZING!!
These look so great! I can never turn down a cinnamon roll either!
I think they pipe that smell down the concourse! 🙂
Never heard of that bread but it looks fantastic in cinnamon roll form!
i never tasted a cinnabon until i was pregnant but it certainly hit the spot (both times i visited it) lol. nine years later and i still have a hard time walking by the place jk/lol.
i do love me a good healthy treat though..and this bun of love sure sounds like magic to me!!
LOL! Does your child love it too? My mom craved Cheetos with me and I LOVE them… but stay far, far way for safety. 😉
Considering that I am more than a tad bit obsessed with apples at the moment, I think I will stop working now to make these.
That’s what I miss the most about working from home… 🙂
What did you think??
Your food…it’s just so…creative….and you compete….how…I mean….*drool*….HOW.
It’s HOW I compete. If I had to eat the same thing I’d never survive… so I get creative. 😉
I am definitely going to try this with a flax egg! Thanks Laura!
Thank you!!! Let me know what you think!
Dude. CREATIVE MUCH?
When I travelled for work constantly in Aus, I’d treat myself to large decaf soy lattes at the airport on the way home.
Mwhahaha! Thank you. 🙂 I think there is an opportunity for chocolate here too.