Fluffy, Sweet Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe From Scratch

Warm, gooey cinnamon rolls with a secret homemade cinnamon rolls recipe have been tempting taste buds for generations.

Sweet aromas waft through kitchens, promising comfort in every bite.

Bakers love crafting these tender spirals of dough that melt in your mouth.

Rich butter and fragrant spices create a symphony of flavors that dance across your palate.

Each roll promises a delightful blend of softness and sweetness that transforms an ordinary morning into something special.

Mastering this recipe means filling your home with irresistible warmth and charm.

Prepare to embark on a delicious baking adventure that will surely delight everyone at your table.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

Calories: 350 kcal

Servings: 12

BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Ingredient Snapshot

• Warm Milk: Activates yeast and provides rich, tender texture with subtle sweetness.
• Active Dry Yeast: Crucial for creating fluffy, soft rolls with perfect rise and airy structure.
• Granulated Sugar: Feeds yeast, adds delicate sweetness, and helps with browning.
• Large Eggs: Bind ingredients, add richness, and create soft, tender crumb.
• Unsalted Butter: Introduces luxurious flavor and helps create tender, moist dough.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and controls yeast activity.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and creates perfect rolling consistency.

• Brown Sugar: Delivers deep caramel notes and creates gooey cinnamon swirl.
• Ground Cinnamon: Introduces warm, aromatic spice core of traditional rolls.
• Softened Butter: Creates smooth, spreadable base for cinnamon-sugar mixture.

• Cream Cheese: Provides tangy, rich base with silky smooth texture.
• Powdered Sugar: Creates sweet, glossy finish for topping.
• Vanilla Extract: Adds complex, deep flavor undertone.
• Milk: Adjusts glaze consistency for perfect drizzling.

Top Tools to Bake Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

• Stand mixer or hand mixer: Perfect for mixing dough and glaze ingredients smoothly.
• Large mixing bowl: Essential for combining dough ingredients and letting it rise.
• Rolling pin: Helps roll dough into a smooth, even rectangle.
• 9×13-inch baking dish: Ideal for baking and serving the cinnamon rolls.
• Sharp knife or dental floss: Best for cutting rolls into even pieces.
• Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient amounts.
• Kitchen towel: Helps cover dough during rising process.
• Spatula: Great for spreading butter and glaze evenly.

How to Make BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls at Home

• Wake Up the Yeast

Stir warm milk with yeast and let the begin for 5-10 minutes until bubbly and alive.

• Create the Dough

Blend in sugar, eggs, butter, and salt. Gradually fold in flour until a soft, pillowy dough emerges. Knead on a floured surface until smooth and bouncy, about 8-10 minutes.

• Let the Dough Rise

Tuck the dough into a greased bowl, wrap it cozy, and let it grow for 1-2 hours until it doubles in size.

• Craft the Filling

Sprinkle cinnamon and brown sugar together. Roll out the dough into a wide rectangle and lavish it with softened butter. Dust the entire surface with the sweet, spicy mixture.

• Roll and Shape

Tightly roll the dough from the long edge into a perfect log. Slice into 12 delectable portions using a sharp knife or dental floss.

• Prepare for Baking

Nestle the rolls in a greased baking dish with gentle breathing room. Let them puff up for 30-45 minutes.

• Bake to Golden Perfection

Warm the oven to 350F. Bake the rolls until they turn a stunning golden brown, about 20-25 minutes.

• Create Dreamy Glaze

Whip cream cheese and butter until silky. Fold in powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until luxuriously creamy.

• Finish and Enjoy

Drizzle the glaze over warm rolls and serve immediately for pure bliss.

Cinnamon Roll Tricks You’ll Be Glad You Tried

• Enhance the cinnamon roll's depth by toasting ground cinnamon before mixing, which releases more intense, rich aromatics.
• Prepare rolls the night before, cover, and refrigerate. Remove from fridge 30 minutes before baking to let them rise at room temperature.
• Swap regular milk with almond or oat milk for dairy-free version. Use gluten-free flour blend for celiac-friendly option. Replace eggs with mashed banana or applesauce for vegan adaptation.
• Ensure warm milk is not hot to prevent killing yeast. Use softened butter for easier spreading. Allow dough to rise in a warm, draft-free spot for best volume and softness.
• Experiment with alternative fillings like nutella, orange zest, cardamom, or chopped nuts. Sprinkle sea salt on top for gourmet touch. Add dried fruit like cranberries or raisins for extra texture and flavor complexity.

Ways to Present BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

• Breakfast Companion Bliss: Pair these warm, gooey cinnamon rolls with a steaming cup of fresh coffee or creamy hot chocolate for a delightful morning treat that'll make your taste buds dance.
• Weekend Brunch Star: Serve these rolls alongside scrambled eggs, crispy bacon, and fresh fruit to create a show-stopping weekend brunch spread that'll impress family and friends.
• Cozy Comfort Sharing: Cut the rolls into smaller pieces for a perfect potluck dessert or family gathering snack, letting everyone enjoy the sweet, cinnamon-packed goodness without overwhelming portions.
• Gift of Warmth: Package these rolls in cute bakery boxes with a ribbon for a heartwarming homemade gift that'll bring instant smiles to neighbors, teachers, or loved ones during holidays or special occasions.

Storing BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Care

• Prepare cinnamon rolls early morning for breakfast or brunch, ensuring maximum softness and warmth when serving guests or family.
• Store cooled rolls in an airtight container inside the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days. Wrap individually in plastic wrap to maintain moisture and prevent drying.
• Freeze unglazed rolls in a sealed freezer bag for maximum 2 months. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and reheat at 300F for 10-15 minutes before adding fresh glaze.
• Warm refrigerated rolls in microwave for 15-20 seconds or oven at 300F for 5-7 minutes. Adding a small splash of water before reheating helps restore original softness and prevents cracking.

FAQs

• Why do I need to activate the yeast first?

Activating yeast in warm milk helps “wake up” the yeast and ensures it’s alive and ready to make your dough rise properly. This step is crucial for soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls.

• Can I knead the dough by hand or do I need a mixer?

You can absolutely knead the dough by hand. It takes about 8-10 minutes of consistent kneading to develop the gluten and create a smooth, elastic texture. Just use a bit of elbow grease!

• How do I know the dough has risen enough?

The dough is ready when it has roughly doubled in size and looks puffy. You can test this by gently pressing a finger into the dough – if the indentation remains, it’s perfectly risen.

• Why use dental floss to cut the rolls?

Dental floss creates clean, even cuts without squishing the delicate dough like a knife might. It helps you slice perfect, uniform cinnamon rolls without losing their shape.

Soft Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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4.8 from 32 reviews

• Total Time: 55 minutes
• Yield: 13 1x

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Description

Spectacular homemade cinnamon rolls deliver pure comfort with classic bakery flavors. Fluffy dough swirled with warm spices promises sweet morning delight you’ll savor down to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 cups (960 ml) all-purpose flour
• 2 ¼ tsps (7 g) active dry yeast (1 packet)
• 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk (110°F/43°C)
• 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk (110°F/43°C)
• 2 large eggs
• 1 cup (200 g) brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
• ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
• ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, softened
• 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
• ⅓ cup (67 g) granulated sugar
• 1 ½ cups (180 g) powdered sugar
• 2 tbsps ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp salt
• 23 tbsps milk (to desired consistency)

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Instructions

1. Yeast Activation: Dissolve yeast in warm milk, allowing it to foam and activate for 5-10 minutes.
2. Dough Formation: Blend yeast mixture with sugar, eggs, melted butter, and salt, then gradually incorporate flour to create a smooth, elastic dough.
3. Primary Fermentation: Knead dough on a floured surface for 8-10 minutes, then place in a greased bowl and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size.
4. Filling Preparation: Mix brown sugar and cinnamon to create a fragrant spice blend.
5. Roll Assembly: Roll out risen dough into a rectangular shape, spread with softened butter, and evenly distribute the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
6. Shaping: Tightly roll the dough from the long edge, slice into 12 equal portions, and arrange in a baking dish with minimal spacing.
7. Final Proofing: Cover rolls and allow a second rise until puffy and expanded.
8. Baking: Preheat oven to 350F and bake until rolls turn golden brown.
9. Glaze Creation: Whip cream cheese and butter, then blend with powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk to create a smooth, creamy topping.
10. Finishing Touch: Drizzle warm glaze over freshly baked rolls and serve immediately.

Notes

• Activate Yeast Correctly: Ensure milk is lukewarm (110-115°F) to prevent killing yeast; cold milk won’t activate, while hot milk destroys live cultures.
• Master Dough Consistency: Knead until smooth and elastic, avoiding overworking that can make rolls tough; the dough should spring back when gently pressed.
• Control Rising Environment: Place dough in a draft-free, warm spot around 80-85°F for optimal rising; cover with a damp cloth to prevent surface drying.
• Temperature Matters for Baking: Use an instant-read thermometer to check internal roll temperature reaches 190°F for perfect doneness without burning.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 13
• Calories: 290
• Sugar: 18 g
• Sodium: 200 mg
• Fat: 12 g
• Saturated Fat: 7 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 38 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 4 g
• Cholesterol: 60 mg