The Best Cinnamon Rolls You'll Ever Make: A Fun & Easy Recipe

If you’ve been dreaming about fluffy, gooey cinnamon rolls that rival your favorite bakery, you’re in the right place! These cinnamon rolls are an absolute delight—soft, pillowy dough wrapped around a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, topped with the most luscious cream cheese glaze. They are going to become a holiday staple in out home! We made them Christmas Day and they were #chefskiss! Let’s get baking!

Ingredients:

For the Dough:

• ¾ cup warm milk (110°F)

• 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast

• ¼ cup granulated sugar

• 1 large egg + 1 egg yolk

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted

• 3 cups bread flour

• ½ tsp salt

For the Filling:

• 2/3 cup packed brown sugar

• 1 ½ tbsp cinnamon

• ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened

Right Before Baking

• 1/2 cup of Heavy Cream (to pour over cinnamon rolls)

For the Cream Cheese Glaze:

• 4 oz cream cheese, softened

• 3 tbsp unsalted butter, softened

• ¾ cup powdered sugar

• ½ tsp vanilla extract

The Process:

1. Make the Dough

• In a small bowl, mix warm milk, yeast, and a teaspoon of sugar. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes until frothy—this is your yeast proving itself!

• In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar, egg, egg yolk, and melted butter. Stir in the yeast mixture.

• Add bread flour and salt, then mix until a dough forms. Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 8 minutes until smooth and elastic. Alternatively, use a stand mixer with a dough hook for 5 minutes.

• Transfer the dough to a greased bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for 1-1.5 hours, or until it doubles in size.

2. Prepare the Filling

• In a bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Keep your softened butter handy!

3. Roll It Out & Fill

• Once the dough has risen, roll it into a rectangle about 9x14 inches. Spread the softened butter over the dough and sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture, covering every inch.

• Roll the dough tightly into a log and cut it into 9-12 even pieces. Place the rolls into a greased 9x9-inch baking pan.

4. Second Rise

• Cover the rolls and let them rise again for 30-45 minutes until they puff up beautifully. Preheat your oven to 350°F.

5. Add Heavy Cream

• After the second rise, pour the 1/2 cup of heavy cream over the cinnamon rolls. This will help with adding more moistness and goodness to the rolls =)

6. Bake to Perfection

• Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. While they’re baking, whip up the cream cheese glaze by mixing all the glaze ingredients until smooth.

7. Glaze & Enjoy

• Once out of the oven, spread the cream cheese glaze generously over the warm rolls, letting it melt into the crevices.

Pro Tips:

• Make Ahead: Prepare the rolls the night before, let them sit overnight in the fridge, and bake them fresh in the morning. Do not do the second ride process. After shaping and cutting them, wrap the container in plastic wrap and put in the fridge. Before baking, let them sit out on the counter to come to room temperature and for the second rise process for 2.5-3 hours until they puff up.

• Freezing: You can freeze the unbaked rolls and bake them whenever you’re craving something sweet. Put them in the refrigerator overnight to thaw, and then the next day before baking, let them sit out on the counter to come to room temperature and for the second rise process for 2.5-3 hours until they puff up.

There you have it! These cinnamon rolls are a hug in pastry form—perfect for brunch, holidays, or just because. Happy baking! 🍴

XOXO

Tiff