Description
This recipe delivers soft, sweet, and delightfully decadent cinnamon rolls with a luscious cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast or dessert, these homemade cinnamon rolls feature a tender, fluffy dough rolled with a spiced cinnamon-sugar filling and topped with a rich, creamy glaze that melts into every bite.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 large eggs (room temperature)
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 to 4 ½ cups all-purpose flour
For the Filling
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
For the Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 ounces cream cheese (softened)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 to 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Activate Yeast: In a large mixing bowl, combine the warm milk and active dry yeast. Allow this mixture to sit for 5–10 minutes until it becomes foamy, indicating that the yeast is active and ready to use.
- Prepare Dough: Add granulated sugar, eggs, melted butter, and salt to the yeast mixture. Mix well to combine all ingredients. Gradually incorporate the all-purpose flour, adding 1 cup at a time until a soft dough forms suitable for kneading.
- Knead Dough: Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook and knead for about 6 minutes.
- First Rise: Place the kneaded dough in a greased bowl. Cover it and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until the dough doubles in size.
- Prepare Filling: While the dough is rising, mix packed brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl to create the spiced filling.
- Roll Dough: Once risen, punch down the dough to release air bubbles. Roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a 16×12-inch rectangle.
- Add Filling: Spread the softened butter evenly over the rolled dough, then sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture on top.
- Form Rolls: Tightly roll the dough starting from the long edge, then cut the roll into 12 even slices to form individual cinnamon rolls.
- Second Rise: Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Cover and let them rise for another 30–45 minutes until they become puffy.
- Preheat Oven: While the rolls rise, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake Rolls: Bake the rolls for 22–25 minutes or until they turn golden brown and are cooked through.
- Prepare Frosting: While the rolls bake, beat softened cream cheese and butter together until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until the frosting reaches the desired consistency.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the cream cheese frosting on the warm cinnamon rolls immediately after baking. Serve and enjoy.
Notes
- You can prepare these rolls ahead of time by shaping them and refrigerating overnight before the second rise. Allow them to sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes before baking.
- For added texture and flavor variations, incorporate chopped pecans or raisins into the cinnamon sugar filling.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
