I Tried Cinnamon-Roll Recipes from Alton Brown, Sandra Lee, and Ree Drummond — Here’s the Winner

Cinnamon rolls are a beloved breakfast treat, but not all recipes are created equal. In a head-to-head test, three celebrity chef recipes were put to the test: Alton Brown’s scientifically precise version, Sandra Lee’s semi-homemade approach, and Ree Drummond’s indulgent, buttery classic. Each recipe was evaluated on flavor, texture, ease of preparation, and overall appeal. Brown’s method required careful temperature control and a long rise, resulting in a tender, nuanced roll. Lee’s shortcut used store-bought dough, cutting prep time significantly but sacrificing some depth of flavor. Drummond’s recipe, known for its generous use of butter and sugar, produced a rich, gooey roll that was hard to resist. The clear winner was Ree Drummond, whose cinnamon rolls delivered the perfect balance of soft, fluffy dough and a decadent, caramel-like filling. Her recipe’s straightforward steps and crowd-pleasing results make it a go-to for home bakers. For anyone craving a bakery-quality cinnamon roll at home, Drummond’s version is the one to try.