The smell of homemade cinnamon rolls baking in the oven is reason enough to make them—but that first warm, gooey bite? Pure joy. These rolls are soft, buttery, and spiraled with cinnamon-sugar goodness, then topped with a rich cream cheese glaze that melts right into the swirls.
Whether it’s a lazy weekend brunch or a surprise treat for someone you love, this recipe brings bakery-quality cinnamon rolls to your kitchen—with simple ingredients and cozy vibes baked right in.
⏱ Prep Time 25 minutes (plus 1.5 hrs rising) | 🔥 Cook Time 25 minutes | 🍽 Servings 9 | 🌱 Difficulty Level Intermediate | 📦 Storage Tips Store in an airtight container for 2 days or refrigerate up to 5 days. Reheat before serving.
Ingredients List
For the dough:
- ¾ cup warm milk (about 43°C/110°F)
- 2¼ teaspoons active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg + 1 egg yolk (room temp)
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (melted)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- For the filling:
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter (softened)
For the glaze:
- 115g (4 oz) cream cheese (softened)
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- ¾ cup powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk (if needed to thin)
Instructions
- Activate the yeast: Combine warm milk, yeast, and a teaspoon of sugar. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
- Make the dough: Mix in the rest of the sugar, eggs, melted butter, flour, and salt. Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Let it rise: Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
- Fill and roll: Roll dough into a rectangle (about 14″x9″). Spread with softened butter, then sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Roll tightly and cut into 9 pieces.
- Second rise: Place rolls in a greased 9-inch baking dish. Cover and rise again for 30–45 minutes.
- Bake: Preheat oven to 180°C (350°F). Bake rolls for 23–25 minutes until golden brown.
- Glaze: Beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk. Spread over warm rolls.
💡 Recipe Notes / Tips
- Too sticky? Add 1–2 more tablespoons of flour while kneading.
- Want overnight rolls? Prepare up to step 5, refrigerate overnight, then bring to room temp and bake in the morning.
- For a gooier center, bake just 22 minutes and glaze immediately.
🧮 Nutrition Info (approx. per roll, 9 rolls)
- Calories: 390
- Carbs: 50g
- Fat: 18g
- Protein: 6g
- Sugar: 24g
❓ FAQs
- Q: Can I freeze cinnamon rolls?
A: Yes! Freeze before baking or after. For baked rolls, reheat from frozen in a warm oven. - Q: Can I skip the cream cheese glaze?
A: Absolutely. You can use a simple vanilla icing or just dust with powdered sugar. - Q: Why didn’t my dough rise?
A: Make sure your yeast isn’t expired and your milk wasn’t too hot—it can kill the yeast.
Made these warm and fluffy rolls? Share the swirl and tag your batch with #the_food_pedia on Instagram 🍥
