Cinnamon Rolls
Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Filling
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
For the Icing
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, 1/2 cup of melted unsalted butter, and active dry yeast. Whisk these ingredients together until well combined. Crack in the eggs and whisk again.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, one cup at a time, whisking after each addition until partially combined. Add the granulated sugar and continue to whisk.
⏱️ 5 min
- 3
Switch from a whisk to a spatula to mix the dough. Add the vanilla extract. Continue mixing with the spatula until the dough starts to come together. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 5-7 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. Alternatively, knead in the bowl if preferred.
⏱️ 10 min
- 4
Place the kneaded dough back into the large mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough proof in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
⏱️ 90 min
- 5
While the dough is proofing, prepare the filling. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
In a separate bowl, prepare the icing. Combine the softened cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Mix with a spatula or small offset spatula until it reaches a smooth, whipped consistency. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Once the dough has proofed, uncover it and gently punch it down. Lightly flour a clean counter surface or use a large piece of plastic wrap. Transfer the dough onto the prepared surface and use a rolling pin to roll it out into a large, even rectangle, approximately 12x18 inches.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Use a pizza cutter or knife to trim the edges of the rolled dough to create a more even rectangular shape. Pour the 1/4 cup of melted butter over the dough and spread it evenly using a spoon or spatula.
⏱️ 2 min
- 9
Evenly sprinkle the prepared brown sugar and cinnamon filling mixture over the buttered dough. Gently spread it out with your hands to cover the entire surface.
⏱️ 2 min
- 10
Starting from one of the longer sides, carefully roll the dough tightly into a log. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the log into 12-16 equal slices, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min
- 11
Place the rolled cinnamon rolls into the prepared baking dish, leaving a little space between each roll. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and let the cinnamon rolls sit for about 20 minutes for a second proof.
⏱️ 20 min
- 12
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the cinnamon rolls at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350
- 13
Once the cinnamon rolls are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly in the baking dish for about 5-10 minutes. Spread the prepared icing generously over the warm cinnamon rolls using a spatula. Serve warm.
⏱️ 10 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Cinnamon Rolls
For the Dough
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Filling
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted, for brushing
For the Icing
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1/4 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar, for sprinkling
Instructions
- 1
In a large mixing bowl, combine the milk, 1/2 cup of melted unsalted butter, and active dry yeast. Whisk these ingredients together until well combined. Crack in the eggs and whisk again.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Gradually add the all-purpose flour to the wet mixture, one cup at a time, whisking after each addition until partially combined. Add the granulated sugar and continue to whisk.
⏱️ 5 min - 3
Switch from a whisk to a spatula to mix the dough. Add the vanilla extract. Continue mixing with the spatula until the dough starts to come together. Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead by hand for 5-7 minutes, or until it becomes smooth and elastic. Alternatively, knead in the bowl if preferred.
⏱️ 10 min - 4
Place the kneaded dough back into the large mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let the dough proof in a warm place for 1 to 2 hours, or until it has doubled in size.
⏱️ 90 min - 5
While the dough is proofing, prepare the filling. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix thoroughly.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
In a separate bowl, prepare the icing. Combine the softened cream cheese, confectioners' sugar, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Mix with a spatula or small offset spatula until it reaches a smooth, whipped consistency. Sprinkle with brown sugar.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Once the dough has proofed, uncover it and gently punch it down. Lightly flour a clean counter surface or use a large piece of plastic wrap. Transfer the dough onto the prepared surface and use a rolling pin to roll it out into a large, even rectangle, approximately 12x18 inches.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Use a pizza cutter or knife to trim the edges of the rolled dough to create a more even rectangular shape. Pour the 1/4 cup of melted butter over the dough and spread it evenly using a spoon or spatula.
⏱️ 2 min - 9
Evenly sprinkle the prepared brown sugar and cinnamon filling mixture over the buttered dough. Gently spread it out with your hands to cover the entire surface.
⏱️ 2 min - 10
Starting from one of the longer sides, carefully roll the dough tightly into a log. Use a pizza cutter or sharp knife to cut the log into 12-16 equal slices, about 1 1/2 inches thick. Lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
⏱️ 5 min - 11
Place the rolled cinnamon rolls into the prepared baking dish, leaving a little space between each roll. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and let the cinnamon rolls sit for about 20 minutes for a second proof.
⏱️ 20 min - 12
Preheat your oven to 350°F. Bake the cinnamon rolls at 350°F for 25-30 minutes, or until they are golden brown and cooked through.
⏱️ 30 min•🌡️ 350 - 13
Once the cinnamon rolls are baked, remove them from the oven and let them cool slightly in the baking dish for about 5-10 minutes. Spread the prepared icing generously over the warm cinnamon rolls using a spatula. Serve warm.
⏱️ 10 min