Who doesn’t love the warm, gooey delight of homemade Cinnamon Rolls? Whether you’re looking for a quick treat for a weekend brunch or a special dessert for the holidays, our easy cinnamon roll recipe has got you covered. Our recipe makes the best cinnamon rolls that are soft, fluffy, and absolutely irresistible!

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Why You Will Love Making the BEST Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are not just for breakfast anymore! These delightful pastries are perfect for any occasion. Hosting a brunch? Whip up a batch of these rolls and watch your guests’ eyes light up. Celebrating a special occasion or holiday? Cinnamon rolls can easily become a cherished tradition in your household. And the best part? They’re versatile. Add a dash of nutmeg or sprinkle some raisins, and you’ve got a whole new flavor profile.
You might think that making cinnamon rolls from scratch is a daunting task, but it’s surprisingly straightforward. With our step-by-step instructions, even a baking newbie can create delicious cinnamon rolls. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about kneading the dough and spreading that cinnamon sugar filling. It’s therapeutic, really!
Buying cinnamon rolls from a store or bakery can be pricey, especially if you’re feeding a crowd. Making them at home not only saves you money but also allows you to control the ingredients. No more preservatives or additives you can’t pronounce!
There’s a unique joy in sharing something you’ve made from scratch. When you present a tray of warm cinnamon rolls, freshly glazed with homemade cream cheese frosting, you’re not just sharing food. You’re sharing love, effort, and a piece of your heart. And trust us, the compliments you’ll receive will make all the effort worthwhile!

Ingredients You’ll Need

You’ll need all the ingredients in the photograph below.

Ingredients needed; cinnamon, unsalted butter, brown sugar, eggs, flour, milk, yeast, cream cheese frosting, and sugar.

How to Make Cinnamon Rolls with Step-by-Step Instructions

A complete printable recipe and the measurements in both US customary and metric are available in the recipe card below.

Preparing the Dough

Start by combining your instant yeast with warm milk and sugar in a large bowl. This mixture should sit for about 10 minutes, becoming foamy.

Adding sugar to milk in a mixing bowl. — Combine sugar and milk.

Adding yeast to milk and sugar in a mixing bowl. — Add yeast and let it sit for 10 minutes until it becomes foamy.

Someone cracking open an egg above a bowl of mixed ingredients. — Add butter and eggs.

Then, mix in the melted butter and eggs. Gradually add in the all-purpose flour and salt. Don’t be alarmed if the dough is a bit sticky; that’s perfectly normal!

Someone holding a pinch bowl of salt above the bowl that has the ingredients in. — Add flour and salt, and mix until combined.

Dough on a floured surface. — Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead a few times.

Dough ball in a mixing bowl. — Shape the dough, place in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and set aside until it has doubled in size.

Once combined, transfer it to a lightly floured surface and give it a gentle knead. Place your dough in a lightly greased bowl, cover it with plastic wrap, and let it rise. The magic happens as it doubles in size!

Rolling and Filling

Once your dough has risen, it’s time for the fun part! Roll out your dough on a floured surface into a rectangle, aiming for about ⅓ inch thick.

Cinnamon filling in a small bowl. — Mix brown sugar and cinnamon.

Cinnamon filling spread all over the dough. — Roll out the dough and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the dough.

Now, for that iconic cinnamon roll flavor, mix your brown sugar and cinnamon powder. Spread room-temperature unsalted butter over your rolled-out dough until it’s evenly coated. Sprinkle your cinnamon sugar mixture generously over the butter.

Cutting and Second Rise

After spreading the filling, roll the dough into a log. Using a sharp knife, cut the log into eight even pieces.

Someone rolling up the cinnamon dough. — Roll the dough into a log.

Someone with a knife about to cut the cinnamon roll in half. — With the seam at the bottom, cut the log.

Cinnamon rolls cut into individual pieces. — Cur into evenly sized cinnamon rolls.

Place these rolls onto parchment paper, giving them some space to expand. They’ll need another hour to rise, making them even fluffier.

Baking to Perfection

Preheat your oven to 180ºC/356°F.

Cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet. — Place the rolls on a prepared baking sheet.

Cinnamon rolls in a baking pan. — Bake until golden brown.

Once your rolls have risen, it’s time to bake! Place them in the oven for 20-22 minutes. They should come out golden brown (and smell divine!). Resist the temptation to dig in immediately; they’re piping hot!

The Final Touch: Frosting

While your cinnamon rolls are cooling, whip up the cream cheese glaze. Using an electric mixer, combine the softened butter, confectioners sugar, softened cream cheese, and vanilla extract.

Adding vanilla extract to butter and confectioners sugar. — Add vanilla extract to butter and confectioners sugar.

Cream cheese frosting freshly whisked in a bowl. — Whisk until smooth and creamy.

The result should be creamy and smooth. Generously spread this frosting over your cooled rolls, and serve!

For more tips on this delicious frosting, check out our post How To Make The BEST Cream Cheese Frosting!

A person is pouring icing onto a pan of cinnamon rolls.

Recipe Notes and Expert Tips

Flour: While our recipe calls for all-purpose flour, bread flour can also be used for a slightly chewier texture. However, avoid using cake or pastry flour as they might make your cinnamon rolls too soft and crumbly.
Yeast: Instant yeast is our go-to for this recipe because of its reliability and quick action. If you’re using active dry yeast, ensure you activate it properly in warm milk. The milk shouldn’t be too hot; think of a comfortable warm bath. Too hot, and you risk killing the yeast; too cold, and it won’t activate.
Milk: You can swap the whole milk for another milk if that’s what you have on hand. Plant-based milks like almond milk and soy milk work as great alternatives in this recipe. Just ensure they’re unsweetened to maintain the desired sweetness level.
Rolling the Dough: When rolling out your dough, aim for even thickness throughout. This ensures uniform baking. If your rectangle isn’t perfect, don’t stress! It’s the taste that counts. And if the dough keeps springing back as you roll, let it rest for a few minutes before trying again.
Cutting Your Rolls: A sharp knife is essential for cutting your rolls cleanly. Alternatively, you can use dental floss! Slide it under the rolled dough, cross the ends over the top, and pull tight for a clean cut. This method prevents the rolls from being squished as they’re cut.
Extra gooey: For extra gooeyness, you can increase the amount of brown sugar and cinnamon filling. Another trick is to add a bit of heavy cream over the rolls just before baking.
Frosting Tips: For the creamiest cream cheese icing, ensure your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature. If your frosting is too thick, you can add a splash of milk to thin it out. And if you’re a fan of extra frosting (who isn’t?), feel free to double the recipe!
Prep the night before: This is a great morning time-saver! After cutting the rolls and placing them on the baking dish, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, uncover and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
Experiment and Enjoy! The beauty of homemade cinnamon rolls is the freedom to experiment. Customize your rolls with additions like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or even dried fruits. Just sprinkle your chosen fillings over the cinnamon sugar mixture before rolling. You can even try a different frosting if you prefer. The world is your oyster!

How to Store Leftover Cinnamon Rolls

Sometimes, you make more than you can eat, so here’s how to store them so you can enjoy them at a later date.

Keeping Them Fresh

Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay soft and delicious for up to two days.

Remember, our homemade cinnamon roll recipe doesn’t have the preservatives that store-bought ones do, so that they won’t last as long on the counter.

Refrigerating for Longer Shelf Life

For a longer shelf life, pop your cinnamon rolls in the fridge. Place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and they can last in the fridge for up to a week.

When you’re ready to eat, just warm them up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, and they’ll be as good as new. That cream cheese frosting will get all melty, and the rolls will be soft and warm, just like freshly baked.

Freezing for Future Delights

Did you know you can freeze cinnamon roll dough? If you’ve made a big batch and want to save some for later, just place your unbaked cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container.

They can be stored this way for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then let them rise for an hour or so at room temperature before baking as usual. Voila! Fresh cinnamon rolls anytime you want.

What to Serve with Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Munch on cinnamon rolls on their own is great, but we love to pair them with a variety of different flavors.

A Warm Beverage

There’s nothing quite like the combination of a warm cinnamon roll and a hot drink. Whether it’s a cup of freshly brewed coffee, a latte with a hint of vanilla extract, or a cozy mug of tea, the warmth complements the gooey sweetness of the roll.

For those chilly mornings, a cup of hot cocoa with a dash of cinnamon can be a delightful pairing, enhancing the cinnamon flavor in the rolls.

Fresh Fruit

Balance out the sweetness of your cinnamon rolls with a side of fresh fruit. A fruit salad with a sprinkle of powdered sugar can be a refreshing counterpart.

The tartness of fruits like pineapples or oranges can cut through the richness of the cream cheese frosting, offering a delightful palate cleanser.

They taste amazing when placed on a delicious cinnamon roll apple pie.

Savory Sides

If you’re serving cinnamon rolls as part of a larger brunch spread, add some savory dishes to the mix.

Vegetarian quiches, omelets filled with veggies, egg bites, crispy breakfast potatoes, or even a simple avocado toast can balance out the meal.

The savory flavors will make the sweetness of the cinnamon rolls stand out even more, ensuring a well-rounded and satisfying meal.

Cinnamon rolls in a pan with someone putting icing on top.

More Breakfast Recipes For You To Try

Cinnamon rolls in a baking pan with icing.

Print Pin Recipe

5 from 87 votes

Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Forget the frozen aisle. Make incredibly tasty cinnamon rolls at home this weekend. Combining your own high-quality ingredients creates the most mouthwatering breakfast treat that your family will adore.

Prep Time45

Cook Time25

Total Time2 55

Servings

Calories630

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Author: Mandy Applegate | Splash of Taste

Ingredients

For the frosting:

½ cup butter softened
1½ cup confectioners' sugar
¼ cup cream cheese softened
½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the dough:

¼ ounce instant yeast
1 cup milk warm
½ cup sugar
2 eggs
⅓ cup butter melted
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt

For the filling:

1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
½ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup butter room temperature

US Customary – Metric

Instructions

For the frosting:

Mix all frosting ingredients with an electric mixer until creamy and smooth. Keep cool.
½ cup butter, 1½ cup confectioners' sugar, ¼ cup cream cheese, ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

For the dough:

In a big bowl, combine yeast, milk, and sugar and let it sit for about 10 minutes or until it gets foamy.
¼ ounce instant yeast, 1 cup milk, ½ cup sugar
Add the eggs and butter and combine well. Then add the flour and salt and mix until well combined; it will be sticky, but try to handle it as fast as possible, without touching it too much.
2 eggs, ⅓ cup butter, 4 cups all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon salt
Transfer the dough to a floured surface and knead it a few times until you can form a big ball. Then transfer the ball to a greased bowl and let it sit until it doubles its size.
Transfer the dough back to a floured surface and extend it with a rolling pin until you get a rectangle of about ⅓ inch thick.
Combine the cinnamon powder and the brown sugar. Spread the butter over the dough and cover it with the cinnamon and sugar filling mixture. Roll it to make a long log. Cut the log in 8 pieces and transfer them to two pieces of parchment paper (4 in each). Let them rise for one more hour.
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder, ½ cup brown sugar, ⅓ cup butter
Preheat your oven to 180ºC/356°F. Place the cinnamon rolls in the oven and bake them for 20-25 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let them cool, and spread the frosting. Serve and enjoy your cinnamon rolls.

Notes

Flour: While our recipe calls for all-purpose flour, bread flour can also be used for a slightly chewier texture. However, avoid using cake or pastry flour as they might make your cinnamon rolls too soft and crumbly.
Yeast: Instant yeast is our go-to for this recipe because of its reliability and quick action. If you’re using active dry yeast, ensure you activate it properly in warm milk. The milk shouldn’t be too hot; think of a comfortable warm bath. Too hot, and you risk killing the yeast; too cold, and it won’t activate.
Milk: You can swap the whole milk for another milk if that’s what you have on hand. Plant-based milks like almond milk and soy milk work as great alternatives in this recipe. Just ensure they’re unsweetened to maintain the desired sweetness level.
Rolling the Dough: When rolling out your dough, aim for even thickness throughout. This ensures uniform baking. If your rectangle isn’t perfect, don’t stress! It’s the taste that counts. And if the dough keeps springing back as you roll, let it rest for a few minutes before trying again.
Cutting Your Rolls: A sharp knife is essential for cutting your rolls cleanly. Alternatively, you can use dental floss! Slide it under the rolled dough, cross the ends over the top, and pull tight for a clean cut. This method prevents the rolls from being squished as they’re cut.
Extra gooey: For extra gooeyness, you can increase the amount of brown sugar and cinnamon filling. Another trick is to add a bit of heavy cream over the rolls just before baking.
Frosting Tips: For the creamiest cream cheese icing, ensure your butter and cream cheese are at room temperature. If your frosting is too thick, you can add a splash of milk to thin it out. And if you’re a fan of extra frosting, feel free to double the recipe!
Prep the night before: After cutting the rolls and placing them on the baking dish, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, uncover and let them sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking.
Experiment and Enjoy! Customize your rolls with additions like chopped nuts, chocolate chips, or even dried fruits. Just sprinkle your chosen fillings over the cinnamon sugar mixture before rolling. You can even try a different frosting if you prefer.
Room-temperature storage: Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container at room temperature, and they’ll stay soft and delicious for up to two days.
Fridge: Place them in an airtight container or wrap them tightly in plastic wrap, and they can last in the fridge for up to a week. When you’re ready to eat, just warm them up in the microwave for 20-30 seconds, and they’ll be as good as new.
Freeze the dough: Place your unbaked cinnamon rolls on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer bag or airtight container. They can be stored this way for up to three months. When you’re ready to bake, let them thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then let them rise for an hour or so at room temperature before baking as usual.
Freeze cinnamon rolls: Wrap leftover cinnamon rolls in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer bag in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw at room temperature before digging in! Give them a little boost in the microwave if you like them warm.

Nutrition

Disclaimer

Please note that nutrient values are estimates only. Variations can occur due to product availability and manner of food preparation. Nutrition may vary based on methods of origin, preparation, freshness of ingredients, and other factors.