I had this idea when I was eating a Cinnabon roll. They make the topping out of cream cheese, so why not make a cheesecake with the same flavors? The crust is cinnamon roll "discs." Bake them for half of the time on the package instructions to keep em gooey and soft through baking of the cake. Also bake a couple of extra "discs" for decorating the top of the cake. The secret ingredient in the cheesecake is lemon. Lemon enhances the cinnamon, and it's an ingredient that Cinnabon uses in their frosting for that distinct flavor.

Generously butter the sides and bottom of a springform pan. Wrap tightly with foil. Using prepared cinnamon bun dough, unroll the buns and lay the strips flat. Slice them lengthwise into 1/2 inch strips. Swirl the dough strips into flat discs. Arrange these discs along the bottom of the springform pan, to cover. Insert extra dough pieces and "mini-discs" into any gaps, to cover the bottom of the pan.

Prepare a few extra discs for decorating the top of the cake. Bake crust for half of the time instructed on package and remove to cool completely.

Prepare cheesecake batter

3 T cornstarch
2/3 c heavy cream
3- 8 oz pkg cream cheese, room temp
1 1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. lemon zest
1 T vanilla butter nut flavoring
2 eggs

Blend 1 pkg cream cheese with 1/3 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch on low speed for 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add remaining cream cheese, one pkg at at time. Scrape sides of bowl between additions.

Blend 1 package cream cheese with 1/3 cup of the sugar and the cornstarch on low speed for 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides of the bowl, then add remaining cream cheese, one package at at a time. Scrape sides of bowl between additions.

Combine remaining sugar with lemon zest. Increase speed to medium and add the lemon sugar to the cream cheese mixture. Blend in vanilla. Scrape sides of bowl.

Still using medium speed, add 1 egg, scrape bowl. Add the other egg, scrape bowl. Beat in the cream just until blended without over-mixing.

Reserve 3/4 c. batter for cinnamon mixture. Pour remaining batter into prepared pan over the crust.

Prepare cinnamon filling

Reserved 3/4 cup batter
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon

Mix well. Dollop tablespoons full of cinnamon mixture onto top of cheesecake, gently pressing down with spoon. Use a knife tip to swirl the cinnamon around top into figure-8s.

Pour boiling water into a large hotel pan or casserole. Place cheesecake into water bath. The water should reach 1/2 way up the sides of your springform pan.

Bake 1 1/4 hours. Allow to cool on a rack for 2 hours. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 more hours. To serve, remove sides of springform, and decorate the top of the cheesecake with any leftover cinnamon roll discs (unless the kids got em by now).