DIY: Cheaper, Healthier Cinnabon (R) Minibons (R)

Good Day!
Do you like Cinnabon (R) Minibons (R)?
Do you chafe at the price -- almost $3.50 (or more) for a pack of 6, depending where you buy?
Do you feel guilty after eating even one, considering the nutritional impact?

Let's take a look:
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 roll
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 300
Calories from Fat 99
Total Fat 11.0g
Total Carbohydrates 45.0g
Dietary Fiber 0.5g

And this is just for ONE!

Can we do better, nutritionally and price-wise?
Definitely!

Onward!

Step 1: What You Need

What you need:
- 1 pack of 6-to-a-pack pecan spins (or twirls) in the plastic tray, most local grocery stores have them in the bread aisle. Mrs. Freshley's (R) is a common brand, but others are out there. Usual price from $0.80 to $1.20.
- 1 container Betty Crocker (R) whipped butter cream frosting (or other brands/flavors per your preference). Usually in the baking goods aisle for around $1.70. Alternatives: make your own butter cream or cream cheese icing; plenty of recipes on the web (I can't vouch the nutrition info will be the same, though the price will probably be lower).
- 1 spatula or butter knife.
- Half-tablespoon measuring spoon, if you're precise.
- Plate (reduce trash, use a recyclable paper plate, or a washable plate).
- Microwave oven (standard disclamer: microwave ovens are all different, cooking times may vary).

Step 2: Prepare the Rolls

Place two to four pecan rolls on a paper plate. If you're adventurous, or cooking for two, place all six.

Open the icing container.

Drop about a half-tablespoon of the icing onto each roll and spread with the knife or spatula.

Place the plate into the microwave and cook the rolls for about 10 seconds. The icing should melt and become somewhat runny, like a cinnamon bun's icing should be. If not, move the rolls around on the plate, and zap 'em for another 3 or 5 seconds.

Careful, they will get hot. Please, be careful. Do not drop a hot cinnamon roll in your crotch and sue me. In fact, if you want to try this, you will promise to be careful, and monitor children, and will not get litigious should any harm befall you, your kin, pets, homework, electronics, or other property.

(Yes, I know, I'm not funny.)

Step 3: Eat the Rolls

Being careful not to burn yourself, pick up one of the rolls and consume by placing into your mouth, biting, chewing, and swallowing. Don't rush this step. Savor that warm, creamy, cinnamon-y flavor. It really does taste just like a Minibon (R).

Alternative: you may use an eating utensil known as a "fork" to act as mediator for pieces of food between the plate and your mouth. Having recently had jaw surgery, I had no option. Normally I can eat these things whole.

My wife's assessment: "These things are too damn good."

That's it!

Notes on the pictures: you can see in the pictures how the icing melts into the nooks and folds of the cinnamon roll, and melts into the cinnamon filling of the roll. The last picture shows what any Cinnabon (R)-eater has seen in the bottom of a Cinnabon (R) carton: liquefied icing mixed with cinnamon. I tell ya... there's really no difference in flavor. When I'm jonesing for a cinnamon roll, these are my go-to snack now.

Step 4: Cost and Nutrition Value

Because the icing is a bulk item and has enough icing for about 56 spins (at a half-tablespoon apiece) that's 18 cents for six spins. Total cost, then, is about $1.40, assuming a price of $1.20 for the pecan spins... that's 23 cents per serving (one spin). Even if you add a few cents for the electricity to nuke the spins, it's still less than half the price of the official Cinnabon (R) Minibons (R).

Nutritionally, here's how the Minibons (R) looked:

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 roll
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 300
Calories from Fat 99
Total Fat 11g
Total Carbohydrates 45g
Dietary Fiber 0.5g

Here's how our "home-made" versions look, adding up the values for the spins and the icing:
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 roll
Amount Per Serving:
Calories 125
Calories from Fat 46
Total Fat 4.8 g
Total Carbohydrates 19.8 g
Dietary Fiber 1g

I'd say that's pretty good! It may not be "healthy" by traditional definitions, but it'a a lot healthier than the Cinnabon (R) Minibons (R).

Enjoy!