Description
Soft, fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls filled with buttery cinnamon sugar and topped with rich cream cheese frosting. Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or holiday mornings, these classic American cinnamon rolls are made from scratch with a tender yeast dough, a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, and a creamy frosting that melts over the warm rolls for an irresistible treat.
Ingredients
Dough
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)
- 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F/43°C)
- ⅓ cup sugar
- ⅓ cup melted butter
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp salt
Filling
- ½ cup softened butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Cream Cheese Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- Activate yeast: In a medium bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Stir gently and let sit for 5–10 minutes until the mixture is foamy, indicating the yeast is active.
- Mix dough ingredients: Add melted butter, eggs, and salt to the yeast mixture. Gradually mix in flour until a soft dough forms that pulls away from the sides of the bowl.
- Knead dough: Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth, elastic, and slightly tacky but not sticky.
- First rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it loosely with plastic wrap or a kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- Prepare filling and roll dough: Roll the dough out on a floured surface into a large rectangle approximately 16×12 inches. Spread the softened butter evenly over the dough. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle the mixture evenly over the buttered dough.
- Form rolls: Starting from one long side, roll the dough tightly into a log shape. Use a sharp knife or dental floss to slice the log into 12 even rolls.
- Second rise: Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, cover with a towel or plastic wrap, and let them rise for another 30 minutes until puffy.
- Bake rolls: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 22–25 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through.
- Make frosting: While the rolls bake, beat together softened cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and milk until smooth and spreadable.
- Frost and serve: Spread the cream cheese frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls right after baking for the best melting effect. Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Use dental floss for clean, even slices of the cinnamon roll log without squishing the dough.
- Reheat rolls before serving to restore their softness and gooey texture.
- Store leftover cinnamon rolls covered tightly at room temperature for up to 3 days or freeze for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
