These cinnamon rolls are the best classic soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls with a gooey cinnamon sugar filling and topped with a deliciously creamy cream cheese frosting or a classic glaze.
This classic cinnamon roll recipe is an easy homemade cinnamon roll recipe that uses pantry staples to make an easy, flavorful dough filled with a classic brown sugar and cinnamon filling and topped with a cream cheese frosting or classic simple glaze. We love this recipe because it is easy to make and perfect for a holiday or birthday brunch.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Breakfast Recipe
- Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
- Make-Ahead Breakfast
Ingredients & Substitutions
- Yeast - This recipe utilizes yeast to leaven the dough. We recommend using quick-rising yeast.
- Milk - Milk helps proof the yeast and makes the dough soft.
- Sugar - This recipe calls for cane sugar in the dough, brown sugar for the filling and powdered sugar to to create the frosting.
- Egg - An egg helps make the dough softer.
- Flour - Unbleached all-purpose or unbleached bread flour are great options for this recipe.
- Salt - Salt helps the dough to come together.
- Cinnamon - Cinnamon gives the recipe its classic flavor.
- Butter - Butter is mixed with brown sugar and cinnamon to create the classic cinnamon sugar filling for the rolls.
- Frosting or Glaze Topping - Homemade cream cheese frosting is the perfect topping for this recipe. We also love topping the cinnamon rolls with a simple glaze made of powdered sugar and milk.
Complete list of ingredients and amounts is located on the recipe card below.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Mixing Bowl - A large mixing bowl is necessary to mix the dough together.
- Plastic Wrap - We like using plastic wrap to cover the dough as it rises.
- Rolling Pin - A rolling pin helps to roll the dough out.
- Floss - I know it sounds weird, but floss makes it super easy to cut the dough into individual rolls.
- Baking Dish - A 9x13 baking dish is the perfect size for baking the cinnamon rolls in.
How to Make Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1. Make the dough.
Step 2. Assemble the cinnamon rolls and place in a baking pan.
Step 3. Bake the cinnamon rolls.
Recipe Serving Suggestions
This recipe makes 12 cinnamon rolls. We like to serve them warm with cream cheese frosting or a simple powder sugar glaze on top.
If you like this recipe, you will love our other dessert recipes.
- The Best French Silk Chocolate Pie
- Classic Scotcharoos without Corn Syrup
- Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Frosting Filling
- Classic No Bake Cookies
- The Best Key Lime Pie Bars
- Peanut Butter Cake with Creamy Peanut Butter Frosting
Expert Tips & Variations
- Allow the yeast to proof. Ensure the yeast is not old or inactive by allowing it to proof in milk with sugar prior to adding it to the dough.
- Do not add all of the flour at once. We recommend starting with 3 cups of flour when mixing the dough and slowly adding the last cup when mixing.
- Allow the rolls to cool slightly before adding icing on top. If you add the icing while the rolls are still hot straight out of the oven, it will melt into the rolls.
How to Store Cinnamon Rolls
- Countertop - in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer - in a freezer-safe container for up to 2 months.
Recipe FAQ
Yes, make these overnight cinnamon rolls by following the recipe instruction and forming the dough into rolls. Place the unbaked rolls in the baking dish and cover the dish with plastic wrap. Place the covered dish in the fridge overnight to bake in the morning.
Freeze the cinnamon rolls before baking by placing the individual rolls in a freezer-safe container. Bake by allowing the rolls to thaw in the fridge before placing in a baking dish to bake in the oven. Freeze already baked by allowing them to cool after baking and placing in a freezer-safe container to freeze.
If you want to top these cinnamon rolls with a glaze instead of cream cheese frosting, combine 2 cups powdered sugar and 4 Tablespoons milk to create a glaze.
More Dessert Recipes
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls are the best classic soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls with a gooey cinnamon sugar filling and topped with a deliciously creamy cream cheese frosting or a classic glaze.
Ingredients
Dough
- 1.5 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons (1 package) yeast
- ¼ cup cane sugar
- 1 egg
- 4 Tablespoons butter, melted
- 4 cups flour
- 1 teaspoon salt
Filling
- 1.5 cups brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 4 Tablespoons butter, melted
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 6 ounces cream cheese, softened at room temperature
- 4 Tablespoons butter, softened at room temperature
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons milk
Simple Glaze Topping
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 4 Tablespoons milk
Instructions
- Start by making the dough by adding the warm milk, yeast and sugar to a mixing bowl. Fold the yeast into the milk, cover and allow to proof for 10 minutes.
- Once the yeast has proofed, add the melted butter and egg to the bowl and whisk to combine with the yeast mixture.
- Add 3 cups of flour and salt to the mixing bowl.
- Use a dough hook to mix the ingredients together.
- Add the remaining cup of flour and mix together until the dough easily pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Use your hands to knead the dough for 5 minutes into a smooth ball.
- Place the ball of dough in the bowl and cover to allow the dough to rise for 20-30 minutes or until doubled in size.
- Make the filling by adding the butter to a small bowl and melting it in the microwave.
- Add the brown sugar and cinnamon to the bowl and stir to combine. Set aside the bowl aside.
- Once the dough has risen or doubled in size, transfer it to a floured work surface.
- Use a rolling pin to roll the dough out into a large rectangle that is ½ inch thick.
- Spread the filling over the dough.
- Roll the dough up lengthwise.
- Cut the rolled dough into 1 inch sections using a knife, bench scraper or floss.
- Place each of the cinnamon rolls in a baking dish.
- Cover the dish and allow the rolls to rise for an additional 20-30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- After allowing the rolls to rise, transfer the dish to the oven and bake for 18-20 minutes or until slightly golden brown.
- Remove the baking dish from the oven and allow the rolls to cool for 5 minutes before topping with frosting or glaze
- Make the cream cheese frosting by combining the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, milk, salt and vanilla extract in a bowl. Use a hand mixer to combine the ingredients until smooth and creamy.
- If you are topping the cinnamon rolls with glaze, combine 2 cups powdered sugar and 4 Tablespoons milk in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- Spread the frosting or drizzle the glaze over the rolls before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 503Total Fat: 18gSaturated Fat: 11gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 63mgSodium: 341mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 2gSugar: 47gProtein: 7g
