Roll, sweet, cinnamon bun, frosted
Common food
Photo: Wikipedia
A frosted cinnamon bun is a soft, enriched yeast dough roll swirled with cinnamon-sugar filling and topped with a thick, sweet glaze or frosting. The texture is pillowy and tender, with a gooey, caramelized center and a sticky, sweet exterior. Nutritionally, it's a calorie-dense treat, with nearly half its calories coming from fat and a significant portion from sugar.
Calorie split: 4% protein · 43% carbs · 53% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People adore the intoxicating combination of warm, spicy cinnamon, sweet dough, and rich frosting, which creates a deeply comforting and indulgent experience. It's a beloved breakfast pastry and coffee companion, often associated with cozy mornings and weekend treats.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
Its high sugar and refined carbohydrate content can cause rapid blood-sugar spikes and subsequent crashes, making it a poor choice for those managing diabetes or insulin resistance. To mitigate this, pair a small portion with a source of protein (like Greek yogurt) or healthy fat (like nuts) to slow sugar absorption, and consider enjoying it after a meal rather than on an empty stomach.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from carbohydrates.
- Contains small amounts of iron and B vitamins from enriched flour.
- Can be a source of dietary fat for satiety.
- Offers a quick calorie boost for active individuals.
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The iconic cream cheese frosting on American-style cinnamon buns is a relatively modern invention, popularized in the mid-20th century; traditional Scandinavian versions like the Swedish kanelbulle are often just topped with pearl sugar and a simple glaze.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 19.0 g |
| Energy | 452 kcal |
| Protein | 4.5 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 26.6 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 48.6 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 1.2 g |
| Total Sugars | 25.7 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 183 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 1.4 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 14.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 131 mg |
| Potassium, K | 102 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 305 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.53 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.06 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 13.0 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.30 mg |
| Thiamin | 0.21 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.14 mg |
| Niacin | 2.4 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.04 mg |
| Folate, total | 72.0 ug |
| Folic acid | 53.0 ug |
| Folate, food | 19.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 109 ug |
| Choline, total | 10.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.16 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 1.0 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 6.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 1.1 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 15.2 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 12.6 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.03 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.12 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.26 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 10.2 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 1.9 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 8.7 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.05 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 8.6 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.06 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 3.7 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 3.4 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.23 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.01 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Cholesterol | 5.0 mg |
Amino acid profile (per 100g)
Estimated from Candies, TOOTSIE ROLL, chocolate-flavor roll — USDA does not publish this profile for Roll.
| Tryptophan | 0.19 g |
| Threonine | 0.04 g |
| Isoleucine | 0.06 g |
| Leucine | 0.11 g |
| Lysine | 0.09 g |
| Methionine | 0.01 g |
| Cystine | 0.00 g |
| Phenylalanine | 0.05 g |
| Tyrosine | 0.02 g |
| Valine | 0.08 g |
| Arginine | 0.06 g |
| Histidine | 0.03 g |
| Alanine | 0.06 g |
| Aspartic acid | 0.20 g |
| Glutamic acid | 0.28 g |
| Glycine | 0.05 g |
| Proline | 0.03 g |
| Serine | 0.08 g |
| Hydroxyproline | 0.00 g |
FAQ
Why is the frosting so high in fat?
Frosting is typically made with a base of butter, shortening, or cream cheese, which are almost pure fat, combined with powdered sugar. This creates the rich, creamy texture and sweet flavor.
Is there a difference between a cinnamon roll and a sticky bun?
Yes. A cinnamon roll is a yeast roll with cinnamon-sugar filling, usually frosted. A sticky bun is similar but is baked in a pan with a caramel-pecan (or other nut) glaze on the bottom, which becomes the sticky topping when inverted.
Can I make a healthier version at home?
You can. Use whole-wheat flour, reduce the sugar in the filling, use a lighter glaze (like a powdered sugar and milk drizzle), and incorporate nuts or oats for fiber. Portion control is also key.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 4.52 kcal/g · 4% calories from protein · 1.2 g fiber · 25.7 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 2.99 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.