How to Serve Cinnamon Rolls for Brunch

Plan by headcount

Figure one roll per person if there is a full spread, and one and a half if the rolls are the centerpiece. Cinnamon rolls are rich; people rarely finish two when there are eggs on the table.

Warm everything at once

Put the rolls in a baking dish, cover with foil, and hold them at 300F for 10 minutes. Foil on is the whole trick — uncovered rolls dry out in a warm oven. You can hold them there for 20 to 25 minutes without much loss.

Ice at the table

Serve icing warm in a small pitcher and let people pour their own. It looks generous, it keeps the tops from going sticky while they sit, and it settles the extra-icing argument without you having to.

Build the rest of the table around contrast

• Something salty: sausage, bacon, a sharp cheese board.
• Something acidic: citrus, berries with lemon, a green salad with vinaigrette.
• Something bitter: strong coffee, or black tea.

Make-ahead order

1. Night before: assemble any casserole, set the table, portion the icing.
2. 90 minutes before: start anything that bakes.
3. 15 minutes before: rolls into the covered dish in the oven, coffee on.

For a crowd, see how to build a cinnamon roll bar.