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    Home » Breakfasts » Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    Published: Feb 11, 2020 · Modified: Feb 11, 2020 by Kate · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    The Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe! These soft cinnamon rolls taste just like Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and they're topped with yummy cream cheese frosting! Directions for making ahead and freezing and step-by-step photos can be found just above the recipe.

    Homemade cinnamon roll on a white plate

    If you love soft, gooey cinnamon rolls, then these Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are for you! These big, fluffy cinnamon rolls taste just like Cinnabon cinnamon rolls.

    They're topped with rich cream cheese frosting that pairs perfectly with the sweet brown sugar butter filling.

    There are step-by-step photos and plenty of tips to help you make amazing homemade cinnamon rolls. I've also included directions for overnight cinnamon rolls and for freezing the cinnamon rolls so that you can make these rolls when you have time and bake when you're ready.

    How To Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    Foamy yeast in a silver mixing bowl

    Add the yeast, warm milk, and part of the sugar to a mixing bowl. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy. If the yeast doesn't foam, start over with new yeast.

    Mix in the eggs, butter, remaining sugar, and vanilla until combined.

    Risen cinnamon roll dough in a silver mixing bowl

    Add 3 cups of flour and mix in. Continue mixing in flour ¼ cup at a time until the dough comes together. It should be soft and slightly sticky.

    Cover and let rise until dough has doubled in size.

    Cinnamon roll dough rolled into a rectangle

    Roll dough into a 12x24-inch rectangle. Mix butter, sugar, and cinnamon together.

    Cinnamon roll filling on dough

    Spread filling over dough. Roll dough up lengthwise.

    Cinnamon roll dough cut in pieces

    Cut dough into 12 equal-sized rolls. Place in pan.

    Unrisen cinnamon rolls in glass pan

    Cover pan and let rolls rise until almost doubled in size.

    Baked cinnamon roll in a glass pan

    Once rolls are almost double in size, uncover and bake until golden brown.

    Cream cheese frosting in a white mixing bowl

    Toward the end of the baking time, beat the butter and cream cheese together. Mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and pinch of salt.

    Let the baked cinnamon rolls stand for 5 minutes, and then spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm rolls.

    Cream cheese frosting spreading on homemade cinnamon rolls

    Tips

    • Milk: You can use anything from skim to whole milk. Using whole milk will give you a dough that's a little softer and a little richer.
    • Yeast: You can use either instant yeast or active dry yeast. Just make sure that if you use active dry yeast that the yeast foams. If the yeast doesn't foam, start over as the rolls won't rise if it doesn't foam.
    • Mixing: You can mix by hand if you prefer. Just add an additional 2 or so minutes to the kneading time.
    • Rising: If your kitchen is cool, your rolls will rise slowly. To create a warm spot for the rolls to rise, preheat oven to 350F for exactly 60 seconds. Press cancel. This creates a nice warm spot for the dough to rise.
    • Cutting: I like to use a serrated (bread) knife to slice the cinnamon roll dough. This helps to avoid smooshing the rolls as they're cut.
    • If your filling leaks out of the baked rolls, immediately place a lid over the pan and carefully invert. This will help the filling to reincorporate into the rolls. Just be careful as the filling will be hot. 
    • Frosting: Don't chill the frosting after you make it. The frosting needs to be at room temperature to spread over the warm rolls.

    Close up picture of a cream cheese frosted homemade cinnamon roll in a glass pan

    Make-Ahead (Overnight) Instructions 

    • After the cinnamon rolls have been assembled in a baking dish, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and cover with a tea towel or aluminum foil and place them in the refrigerator. 
    • In the morning, remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let them come to room temperature and finish rising (this takes about 30-40 minutes). 
    • Then bake according to recipe instructions.

    Freezer Instructions

    • Place the unbaked cinnamon rolls in the baking pan. 
    • Cover tightly with plastic wrap and then with aluminum foil 
    • Freeze for up to 1 month. 
    • To bake, remove cinnamon rolls from the freezer the night before you'd like to bake them and place them in the fridge. 
    • Place the pan out at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking. 
    • Uncover and bake according to the instructions. 

    Homemade cinnamon roll with a bite on a fork

    More Sweet Roll Recipes!

    • Easy Sticky Buns
    • Maple Cinnamon Rolls
    • Cinnamon Roll Bites

    If you’ve tried this homemade cinnamon roll recipe, don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below. I love to hear from people who've made my recipes!

    You can SUBSCRIBE to receive my latest recipe newsletters or FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST for even more delicious food.

    Homemade cinnamon roll on a white plate

    Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    The Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe! These soft cinnamon rolls taste just like Cinnabon cinnamon rolls, and they're topped with yummy cream cheese frosting! Directions for making ahead and freezing and step-by-step photos can be found just above the recipe.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 30 minutes
    Cook Time: 15 minutes
    Rising: 1 hour 30 minutes
    Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
    Servings: 12 cinnamon rolls
    Calories: 569kcal
    Author: Kate @ I Heart Eating

    Equipment

    • 9x13-inch glass pan
    • Stand mixer

    Ingredients

    Dough

    • 1 cup milk1
    • ½ cup granulated sugar divided
    • 1 tablespoon active dry yeast2
    • 2 large eggs at room temperature
    • ½ cup butter melted
    • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 4 - 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
    • ½ teaspoon salt

    Filling

    • 1 cup brown sugar packed
    • 2-3 tablespoons ground cinnamon to taste
    • ½ cup butter at room temperature

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 8 ounce package cream cheese softened
    • ¼ cup butter at room temperature
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
    • Pinch salt
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Grease a 9x13-inch glass baking pan. Set aside.
    • To make the dough, warm the milk to 105F.
    • Add the warm milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, and yeast to the bowl of a stand mixer.
    • Let the yeast sit for 5-10 minutes, or until foamy.3
    • Add the remaining sugar, butter, eggs, and vanilla and mix until combined.
    • Add 3 cups flour and the salt and stir in.
    • Continue adding flour ¼ cup at a time until the dough comes together and clears the sides of the bowl.
    • Knead the dough for 2-3 minutes, or until it's smooth and just slightly sticky to the touch. If the dough still seems too sticky at this point, add flour 1 tablespoon at a time. The dough should feel soft and smooth and should feel a little sticky but shouldn't come off on your finger if you pinch it.
    • Cover with a damp towel and let it rise in a warm spot until doubled, about 1 hour.4
    • Toward the end of the rising time, stir the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together until well-combined. Set aside.
    • Lightly flour your working surface.
    • Gently deflate the dough.
    • Roll the dough into a 12x24-inch rectangle that's ¼-inch thick.
    • Spread the filling over the dough. It will be a little crumbly and hard to spread. Just do your best to cover the dough.
    • Roll the dough up lengthwise and cut into 12 equal pieces.
    • Place the rolls into the prepared baking pan.
    • Cover and let rise until almost doubled, about 30 minutes.
    • Toward the end of the rising time, preheat the oven to 350 F.
    • Bake the cinnamon rolls for about 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.
    • Toward the end of the baking time making the frosting.
    • Beat the cream cheese and butter until well-combined.
    • Mix in the powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt until well-combined.
    • Let the cinnamon rolls stand for about 5 minutes.
    • Spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls.

    Notes

    1. Any milk from skim to whole milk will work. Using whole milk will give you a slightly richer and softer dough. 
    2. If you would like to use instant yeast, substitute an equal amount of instant yeast for the active dry yeast. There's no need to let it foam before continuing. 
    3. If the yeast doesn't foam, start over. If your yeast isn't foamy, then your dough won't rise. 
    4. If your kitchen is cool, you can create a warm spot by turning your oven to 350F and letting it preheat for exactly 1 minute. Press cancel after 60 seconds. Place rolls in oven to rise. 
    5. Nutrition values are estimates. 

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cinnamon roll | Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 82g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Cholesterol: 90mg | Sodium: 381mg | Potassium: 164mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 48g | Vitamin A: 774IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 102mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe? Rate it below. Mention @i_heart_eating on Instagram & tag #ihearteating!
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    About Kate

    Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Peg

      February 15, 2020 at 8:13 pm

      5 stars
      When I saw these I had to try them and they were amazing! I say were because they didn't last long.

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 16, 2020 at 8:41 pm

        That's great! I'm so glad that the cinnamon rolls were a hit. Thanks for commenting! =)

        Reply
    2. Avery

      February 15, 2020 at 12:36 pm

      5 stars
      A-MA-ZING!!! My sister and I made cinnamon rolls and the cinnamon rolls were so good!!! We just kept eating them LOL

      Reply
      • Kate

        February 15, 2020 at 12:45 pm

        Yay! I'm glad that you liked them. Thanks for commenting!

        Reply

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    I’m Kate Dean- mom to five young kids, recipe developer, and photographer. Here at I Heart Eating®, I share my family’s favorite tried-and-true recipes.

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    817 shares