If you’re craving something irresistibly soft, sweet, and slathered with a luscious cream cheese frosting, look no further than these Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. They’re warm, gooey, and fill the kitchen with the kind of cinnamon aroma that gathers everyone around the table in minutes. Whether it’s a cozy weekend treat or a holiday breakfast tradition, these cinnamon rolls strike that perfect balance between simplicity and showstopper, ensuring bakers of all levels can experience the magic of this beloved classic.
Ingredients You’ll Need
One of the best things about Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls is just how approachable the ingredient list is—every item brings something unique to the party, from soft pillowy dough to that signature swirl of sweetness. Here’s what you need, along with the reason behind each must-have staple:
- Warm Milk: Kickstarts the yeast, ensuring your rolls become light and fluffy.
- Active Dry Yeast: Gives the rolls their lovely rise and airy texture.
- Granulated Sugar: Adds just enough sweetness to the dough.
- Large Egg: Binds the dough, enriching both flavor and texture.
- Unsalted Butter (melted + softened): Provides richness to the dough and creates that irresistible, gooey filling.
- All-Purpose Flour: Forms the base—you want a soft yet sturdy dough that’s easy to work with.
- Salt: Enhances flavor, ensuring your cinnamon rolls aren’t one-dimensional.
- Brown Sugar: Adds depth and a caramel note to the signature swirl.
- Ground Cinnamon: The heart and soul of every great cinnamon roll—spicy, warm, and fragrant.
- Cream Cheese (softened): The magical ingredient in your frosting for tangy, creamy perfection.
- Powdered Sugar: Creates the luscious, melt-in-your-mouth texture in the frosting.
- Vanilla Extract: Rounds out the sweetness in your glaze for bakery-quality flavor.
- Milk (for the frosting): Helps achieve that perfect, spreadable consistency you’ll want to slather everywhere.
How to Make Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1: Activate the Yeast
Start by pouring your warm milk into a large mixing bowl or the bowl of your stand mixer. Sprinkle the yeast over the top and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, until it’s creamy and foamy. This step is where the dough’s transformation begins, so make sure your milk isn’t too hot or too cold. That foamy layer means your yeast is alive and ready to work its magic.
Step 2: Mix and Knead the Dough
Add in the sugar, egg, melted butter, flour, and salt to your yeast mixture. Mix until a sticky dough forms—don’t worry, it’ll come together soon! Knead by hand or with your mixer’s dough hook for about 5 to 7 minutes until smooth, soft, and elastic. This kneading step develops the gluten, creating rolls that bake up pillowy and tender every time.
Step 3: First Rise
Transfer your kneaded dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover it with a towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour. When the dough has doubled in size, you know your patience is about to pay off—this is when you’ll start imagining those fluffy, swirled treats coming out of your oven.
Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Sugar Filling
While your dough is rising, stir together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. This blend is what gives Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls their signature swirl, packed with caramel aroma and a lingering cinnamon warmth in every bite.
Step 5: Shape and Fill the Rolls
Roll your dough out on a floured surface to a large rectangle, about 14×9 inches. Spread the softened butter all over the top, reaching right to the edges for maximum gooeyness. Scatter your cinnamon-sugar mix evenly to make sure every roll gets that delicious swirl.
Step 6: Roll Up and Slice
Starting from the long edge, roll your dough tightly into a log. Slice it into 9 to 12 even pieces using a sharp knife or even dental floss for perfectly clean cuts. Arrange the rolls, swirl side up, in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish, making sure they’re nestled in together but with a little space to grow.
Step 7: Second Rise
Cover your dish and let the rolls rise again for about 30 minutes, until they’re puffed and just touching each other. This is the last burst of rise they need before transforming into golden, pillowy spirals in the oven.
Step 8: Bake
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Slide your pan onto the middle rack and bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the rolls are golden brown on top with a tempting aroma that’ll have everyone peeking in the kitchen. Don’t overbake—pull them when the tops are just set for a soft, gooey center.
Step 9: Make and Spread the Frosting
While the rolls bake, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and just enough milk to reach a creamy, spreadable consistency. As soon as the rolls come out, frost them generously while they’re still warm so the glaze melts into every swirl—resist the urge to wait, because this is where the magic happens!
How to Serve Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Garnishes
For a fun twist, sprinkle a dusting of extra cinnamon, a handful of toasted pecans, or even some orange zest on top of the warm frosting. Not only do these add lovely color and crunch, but they also make your Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls look (and taste) ultra-special.
Side Dishes
Pair your cinnamon rolls with creamy scrambled eggs, crisp breakfast bacon, or a big bowl of seasonal fruit. The contrast keeps breakfast balanced, letting the sweet and spiced rolls shine as the main attraction while satisfying everyone’s morning hunger.
Creative Ways to Present
For brunch gatherings, artfully pile your cinnamon rolls onto a beautiful platter and serve with little bowls of extra frosting. Or, pop them each into cupcake liners for grab-and-go treats. If you’re really feeling festive, drizzle with a colorful glaze or arrange them in a wreath shape for extra wow factor.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you happen to have any rolls left (they tend to disappear quickly!), keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. For slightly longer storage, refrigerate, but bring them to room temperature or warm gently before enjoying so they stay soft and lush.
Freezing
Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls freeze beautifully! Just wrap cooled, unfrosted rolls tightly in plastic wrap, then in foil, and stash them in the freezer for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and frost fresh before serving for just-baked flavor anytime.
Reheating
To bring back that soft, gooey texture, warm individual cinnamon rolls in the microwave for 20 to 25 seconds or bake in a covered dish at 300°F for 10 minutes. A quick reheat perks them up and makes the frosting extra melty again—almost like they just came out of the oven!
FAQs
Can I prepare Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls the night before?
Absolutely! After shaping and arranging your rolls in the baking dish, cover them tightly and refrigerate overnight. Let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes in the morning, then bake as usual for a slow and easy start to your day.
What if I don’t have a stand mixer?
No worries—the dough comes together just as well by hand. Mix with a sturdy spoon until it starts to pull together, then knead on a lightly floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and springy.
How do I know when my cinnamon rolls are done baking?
Your rolls are ready when the tops are golden brown and the centers no longer look doughy. If you have an instant-read thermometer, you’re aiming for about 190°F in the center for that perfect bake.
Can I use instant yeast instead of active dry yeast?
Yes! Simply swap the active dry yeast for the same amount of instant yeast and skip the initial proofing step. You can add the yeast directly with the flour and other dry ingredients, making the process even easier.
What can I substitute for cream cheese in the frosting?
If you’re out of cream cheese, try using mascarpone or even a simple vanilla buttercream. You’ll miss the tang, but you’ll still end up with an indulgently frosted topping for your Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.
Final Thoughts
If ever there was a time to treat yourself and your loved ones, these Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are it—so soft, swirly, and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Even if you’ve never made homemade cinnamon rolls before, you’ll find this recipe feels welcoming, fun, and so worth every bite! Don’t be surprised if you’re asked to make them again and again.
Print
Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 9–12 cinnamon rolls
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the warm, comforting aroma of freshly baked Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. These fluffy rolls are swirled with a sweet cinnamon filling and topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
- 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon salt
Filling:
- ½ cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
Cream Cheese Frosting:
- 4 oz cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1–2 tablespoons milk (as needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Dough: In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine warm milk and yeast. Add sugar, egg, melted butter, flour, and salt. Knead until smooth. Let rise for 1 hour.
- Filling: Mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll out dough, spread with butter, sprinkle cinnamon sugar, roll up, slice into rolls.
- Baking: Place rolls in a baking dish, let rise, then bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes.
- Cream Cheese Frosting: Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth. Frost warm rolls.
Notes
- For overnight rolls, prepare through the second rise, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 160mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 53g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
