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.
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 1/4 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 1/4-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
Any milk from skim to whole milk will work. Using whole milk will give you a slightly richer and softer dough.
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.
If the yeast doesn't foam, start over. If your yeast isn't foamy, then your dough won't rise.
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.