Description
Indulge in the heavenly scent of fresh, bakery-style cinnamon rolls right from your own kitchen. These pillowy, butter-drenched swirls feature a soft yeast dough wrapped around a classic cinnamon-brown sugar filling and topped with a creamy, tangy cream cheese frosting. Perfect for slow weekend mornings or holiday brunches, this simplified method makes achieving golden, gooey perfection easier than ever for bakers of any level.
Ingredients
1 cup warm whole milk
1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
1 tsp salt
1 large egg
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup softened unsalted butter (for filling)
1 cup brown sugar, packed (for filling)
2 tbsp ground cinnamon (for filling)
4 oz cream cheese, softened (for icing)
1/4 cup softened butter (for icing)
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar (for icing)
1 tsp vanilla extract (for icing)
1 tbsp milk (for icing)
Instructions
Activate the yeast by combining warm milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar in a bowl and letting it sit for 5 minutes until foamy.
Combine the remaining sugar, melted butter, salt, egg, and flour into the yeast mixture and mix until a shaggy dough forms.
Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5-7 minutes until it becomes smooth and elastic.
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a warm towel, and let it rise for 60 minutes or until doubled in size.
Roll the dough out into a 12×18 inch rectangle.
Spread the softened butter over the surface and sprinkle evenly with the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
Starting from the long edge, roll the dough tightly into a log.
Use unflavored floss to slice the log into 12 even pieces.
Arrange the rolls in a 9×13 inch baking dish, cover, and let them rise for an additional 30 minutes.
Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
Whisk together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth, then spread over warm rolls.
Notes
Use unflavored dental floss for clean cuts without squishing the dough.
Store leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 1 month.
Ensure milk is warm (not hot) to avoid killing the yeast.
- Prep Time: 30
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 210mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 45mg