Get Our Recipe for Schitt's Creek's 'Continental Breakfast' Cinnamon Buns (2024)

During the third season of Schitt's Creek, businessman Johnny Rose (Eugene Levy) begins offering free pastries and coffee to guests in an effort to "add an extra star" to the Rosebud Motel's non-existent ratings.

The star bait: A "continental breakfast" featuring soft, pillowy cinnamon rolls stuffed with sugar and spice and slathered with a rich, cream cheese icing, baked by local Schitt's Creek quarry worker and part-time baker Ivan. "It's for business travelers, traveling the continent, eating breakfast and... continental traveling," Johnny tells his skeptical family.

While the cinnamon buns on the Pop TV series may have looked homemade, the jumbo, on-screen pastries were actually store-bought. "It was basically Cinnabon in the box," star and co-creator Dan Levy tells PEOPLE exclusively. "It was at my request because, well, they're delicious."

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"My dad and I are both very excited about food," says Levy, whose hit comedy came to an end after six seasons in April and swept the Emmy Awards in September. "We had an incredible set decorating department and production design team, who were very accommodating when it came to things we had to eat. So for the most part, I have to say that everything was quite good—mainly because we requested it."

"My problem was that if I decided to eat a cinnamon bun in a scene, I was tied to it for the entire day of shooting," he says. "And when it is something you like eating, you tend to eat more of it—which means, by the end of the day, I'd have eaten about 15 cinnamon buns, which is not necessarily the best or healthiest choice to make. But do I regret it? Not really."

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While our version isn't as easy as picking up a box at the mall, we think our recipe comes close to capturing the Rosebud Motel's pastry magic—and is worth that extra star rating.

Rosebud Motel's 'Continental Breakfast' Cinnamon Buns

2 Tbsp. active dry yeast 
1 1/2 cups warm water (100°F to 110°F), divided
1/2 cup, plus 7 Tbsp. granulated sugar, divided 
1 large egg, at room temperature 
3/4 tsp. kosher salt 
4 Tbsp. (2 oz.) unsalted butter, softened, divided 
3 3/4 cups (about 16 oz.) all-purpose flour, plus more for work surface  
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar 
3 Tbsp. ground cinnamon 
Cooking spray
3 oz. cream cheese, softened
2 1/4 cups (about 9 oz.) powdered sugar 
1 tsp. vanilla extract 
2 Tbsp. whole milk

1. Beat yeast, 1/4 cup of the warm water, and 1 tablespoon of the granulated sugar with a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on low speed until combined, about 15 seconds. Let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add egg, salt, 6 tablespoons of the granulated sugar, 2 tablespoons of the butter, and remaining 1 1/4 cups warm water; beat on medium-low speed until combined, 1 to 2 minutes.

2. Remove paddle attachment, and replace with dough hook. With mixer running on low speed, gradually add flour, beating until flour is incorporated, about 3 minutes. Increase speed to medium, and continue beating until dough is smooth and stretchy (but still wet) and pulls away somewhat from inside of bowl, 10 to 12 minutes.

3. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap, and let dough rise at room temperature until doubled in size, about 40 minutes.

4. Whisk together brown sugar, cinnamon, and remaining 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a small bowl until combined.

5. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently roll into a 24- x 10-inch rectangle. Sprinkle dough evenly with cinnamon-sugar mixture, leaving a 1/4-inch border on all sides. Roll dough into a log starting from the 10-inch side. Using a serrated knife, cut roll crosswise into 8 (1 1/4-inch-wide) slices.

6. Preheat oven to 325°F. Line bottom of a 10-inch springform pan with parchment paper; spray lightly with cooking spray. Place slices, cut sides up, in prepared pan, leaving a little room between buns. Cover loosely with plastic wrap, and let stand at room temperature until almost doubled in size and puffy, about 30 minutes.

7. Place springform pan on a large rimmed baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven until buns are light golden and a wooden pick inserted into center bun comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, and let cool in pan on a wire rack while you prepare frosting. 

8. Beat cream cheese and remaining 2 tablespoons butter with an electric mixer on medium speed until creamy, 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually add powdered sugar, beating on low speed until combined, 2 to 3 minutes. With mixer running on low speed, beat in vanilla and 1 tablespoon milk. With mixer continuing to run on low speed, add remaining milk, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating until smooth and creamy, 30 seconds to 1 minute.

9. Remove cinnamon buns from springform pan; spread generously with cream cheese frosting, and serve.

Serves: 8 (serving size: 1 cinnamon bun)
Active time: 30 minutes
Total time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Get Our Recipe for Schitt's Creek's 'Continental Breakfast' Cinnamon Buns (2024)

FAQs

What type of flour is best for cinnamon rolls? ›

Use bread flour: bread flour is available at most grocery stores and it makes ALL the difference in achieving softer, fluffy, perfect cinnamon rolls. JUST TRUST ME. Make sure you flour your work surface and the rolling pin: this is to prevent the cinnamon rolls from sticking to the surface or to the rolling pin.

Can I substitute bread flour for all-purpose flour in cinnamon rolls? ›

Most people recommend baking cinnamon rolls with bread flour, as this creates a fluffier and softer cinnamon roll. Though all-purpose flour will also work to create tasty cinnamon rolls. All-purpose flour is exactly like bread flour, but its lack of protein will not result in as much structure.

Do people have cinnamon rolls for breakfast? ›

Are cinnamon rolls dessert or breakfast? The best answer here is both! Cinnamon rolls are lucky enough to be considered a breakfast food, and turning them into this cinnamon roll breakfast casserole definitely places it in the breakfast category—though we aren't opposed to having a scoop for dessert either!

Do you use bleached or unbleached flour for cinnamon rolls? ›

For classic cinnamon rolls, I use all unbleached all-purpose flour. You can use bleached flour if that's what you have, but I think it tastes better with unbleached.

Can I use all-purpose flour instead of bread flour? ›

Bread Flour Substitute

You can always substitute all-purpose flour for bread flour one for one in any recipe that calls for it. Your bread might not raise quite as high or have quite as much chew, if you are using all-purpose flour, but it will still be delicious and homemade and all the good things.

Why are my cinnamon rolls not fluffy? ›

There are a lot of variables that go into the consistency of dough, even down to the weather and humidity. But the most common reason cinnamon rolls don't turn out fluffy is because the dough didn't have enough time to rise.

What's the difference between cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns? ›

Structurally, cinnamon buns share the same spiral shape. They are sometimes thinner and more delicate. The most significant difference between cinnamon rolls and cinnamon buns is the inclusion of nuts. Cinnamon buns often have pecans, walnuts, or even raisins in the filling.

Can you make cinnamon rolls without bread flour? ›

Texture: This is one of my richest homemade doughs, so you're already promised a soft, springy, and fluffy texture. I usually use all-purpose flour, but if you use the optional bread flour, your rolls will be a little chewier.

Why do cinnamon rolls fall after baking? ›

If you let your cinnamon rolls rise for too long you can over-proof them. This can lead to dense rolls or rolls that collapse after baking.

What do British people call cinnamon rolls? ›

Here are the best cinnamon buns in the UK and where to buy them. Cinnamon buns are also known as cinnamon rolls and kannelbullen, and in Denmark they are even called Kanelsnegl; 'cinnamon snail'.

What is the difference between a morning bun and a cinnamon roll? ›

Contrary to cinnamon rolls, which are typically made with a rich, heavy dough, the flaky croissant-like dough used here lends itself to more of a pastry texture. I love how easily the recipe came together – the initial mixing, rolling and filling took less than 45 minutes.

What country is known for cinnamon rolls? ›

The Swedes claim it originated there in the 1920s, though ask any Nordic country in Europe and they'll tell you the sweet roll was actually their invention. Regardless of its exact birthplace, the bun is a staple of Scandinavian baking and commonly enjoyed during FIKA, a get-together with friends.

What is 00 flour in USA? ›

Most “00” flour that we see in the United States is ground from durum wheat and has a mid-range protein content of about 11 to 12%, similar to all-purpose white flour.

Why do my cinnamon rolls taste like flour? ›

If your dough is raw you can end up with a flour taste, or if your flour ratio is too high, could be you need more salt or butter or sugar, soda, yeast, it really depends on what your making.

Why is unbleached flour better than bleached? ›

Bleached flour is whiter and has a softer texture. It produces fluffy baked goods, making it a good match for cookies, pie crusts, and pancakes. Unbleached flour is less white and has a denser consistency. It tends to be best for baked goods that require structure, like yeast breads, eclairs, and pastries.

Is bread flour better than all-purpose for rolls? ›

You can also use all-purpose in many bun or roll recipes, which tend to have lower hydration and rely less on strong gluten and more on butter and sugar for texture. (Though bread flour can still give you a fluffier, almost cotton-candy-like texture in most buns and rolls.)

How do you adjust all-purpose flour to bread flour? ›

Bread Flour Substitute Recipe

Pour 1 cup flour into a large bowl and remove 1 teaspoon flour (2.6 grams). Add the vital wheat gluten and whisk to combine. Use immediately or store in an airtight container at room temperature.

How do I substitute bread flour in a recipe? ›

If you're working on a recipe that calls for bread flour and you don't have any on hand, save yourself a trip to the store and a few bucks by using an equal amount of all-purpose flour as a substitute.

Can I use bread flour instead of all-purpose for no knead bread? ›

Bread flour has more gluten-forming protein, so if you choose to use it in this recipe, the crust will be a bit thicker and you won't get quite the same open-holed structure as with all-purpose. We really prefer the texture of both crust and crumb when all-purpose flour is used.

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