Description
Delicious homemade cinnamon rolls with a soft, fluffy dough, a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, and a rich cream cheese frosting, perfect for a cozy breakfast or brunch treat.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Filling:
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
For the Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large bowl, combine the warm milk and yeast. Let it sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Make Dough: Add sugar, melted butter, eggs, flour, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix until a soft dough forms. Knead by hand or with a dough hook for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare Filling: While the dough is rising, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- Roll and Fill Dough: After the dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread the softened butter over the surface, then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Shape Rolls: Roll up the dough tightly from the long side and cut into 12 equal slices. Place the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
- Bake Rolls: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the rolls for 20–25 minutes or until golden brown.
- Prepare Frosting: While the rolls bake, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Add milk gradually to reach desired consistency.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls and serve immediately for best taste.
Notes
- For overnight cinnamon rolls, prepare through the second rise, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
- You can add chopped pecans or raisins to the filling for added texture and flavor.
- Make sure milk is not too hot when activating yeast to avoid killing the yeast.
- Use a sharp knife or dental floss to cut rolls evenly without squashing the dough.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 28 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg
