Keep holiday brunching a little sweet, a little salty, and a whole lotta yummy with these Cinnamon Roll Li’l Smokies with Maple Cinnamon Cream Cheese Frosting. This quick and easy recipe is sure to be a family favorite!

General
Ingredients
How to make
How to make frosting
Get the recipe
Step-by-step video
Frequently Asked Questions
Nutrition information
How to Store

Today’s post is sponsored by our friends at Eckrich!

The holiday season is all about spending time with family and friends . . . which tends to mean entertaining nonstop . . . which can mean more stress and less relaxing.

Not anymore.

Today, we’re taking the stress out of holiday cooking by incorporating one of Eckrich’s versatile and fool-proof products – Li’l Smokies Original Cocktail Smoked Sausage – in this reinvented classic: Cinnamon Roll Li’l Smokies.

Now. I KNOW you’ve had cinnamon rolls and I KNOW you’ve had li’l smokies, but have you ever had them together?! It’s sweet and salty perfection.

Take a cinnamon roll, wrap it around a smokie, bake it, dip it, done.

Holiday entertaining has never been so stress-free . . .

. . . or tasty. 😉

Eckrich also comes in an array of delicious flavors and varieties, like Original or Turkey Skinless Smoked Sausage Rope, that you can substitute in this recipe or use for your other entertaining needs! For recipe inspiration, product information, and where to buy visit eckrich.com.

I know a lot of people think holiday entertaining has to be an evening activity, but I actually LOVE hosting holiday brunches, especially since we have a 3 month old at home and I’m in bed by 8 PM every night. 😉

Whether you’re a morning person or not, I promise you, you can host a successful holiday brunch with these few tips:

Make it a potluck!
- You provide at least one munchie and a few options for beverages, then let everybody else cover the rest!
Keep it semi-homemade. Everything doesn’t need to be made 100% from scratch.
- Today’s recipe uses store-bought cinnamon rolls, Eckrich Li’l Smokies Original Cocktail Smoked Sausage – which have already been crafted with just the right blend of spices, but uses a homemade cream cheese frosting!
Prep as much as you can the night before.
- Then, be sure to give yourself time to get dressed and have a cup of coffee before your guests arrive in the morning.
Keep. It. Simple. Whether it be the food, the drinks, or the decor.

The most important part of hosting a holiday brunch? The food! Whether your guests prefer sweet or salty for their breakfast treats, we’ve got ’em covered with these bite sized cinnamon roll li’l smokies.

Ingredients in cinnamon roll li’l smokies

This recipe is made up of two very simple and delicious parts:

The cinnamon roll wrapped smokies
The maple cream cheese frosting/dipping sauce

Here’s what you’ll need for the cinnamon roll smokies:

Eckrich Li’l Smokies Original Cocktail Smoked Sausage.
Store-bought cinnamon rolls.

Here’s what you’ll need for the maple cream cheese dipping sauce:

The leftover icing from the cinnamon roll tube
Cream cheese
Butter
Maple extract
Heavy cream
Powdered sugar
Salt
Cinnamon

Is that not an amazing ingredient list?! This recipe is so easy that you can even get the little chef in your life involved!

How to make cinnamon roll li’l smokies

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line two rimmed baking sheets with silicone baking mats. Set aside.
Working with one cinnamon roll at a time, place it onto a cutting board, then use your hand to gently flatten it out (see video for visuals).
Use a pizza cutter to cut the flattened cinnamon roll into 4 strips.
Place one Eckrich Li’l Smokies Original Cocktail Smoked Sausage onto the end of one cinnamon roll strip.
Roll it up, then seal the seam together.
Place the wrapped smokie seam side down onto the prepared baking sheet.
Repeat with remaining smokies. You’ll end up with 16 on each baking sheet.
Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the cinnamon rolls are lightly browned and cooked through.
Serve with maple cream cheese frosting and enjoy!

How to make maple cinnamon cream cheese frosting

Place the leftover frosting from the cinnamon roll package into a large bowl with cream cheese, butter, maple extract, and heavy cream.
Beat, using a hand mixer, until well combined.
Add in powdered sugar, salt, and cinnamon.
Beat, again, until well combined.
Serve with Cinnamon Roll Li’l Smokies!

This fun twist on a classic is sure to be a crowd pleaser with everyone, from the little ones to grandmas and everyone in between. 🙂 Keep the holidays simple and extra yummy this year!