Fluffy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.

  • May 2nd, 2020
  • By Katy Jao
Ingredients:

Dough:

  • 1 cup of warm milk
  • 1 packet of dry yeast (2 1/2 teaspoons of instant dry yeast)
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 room temperature eggs
  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 4 cups of all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt

Filling:

  • 1/2 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream

Cream Cheese Frosting:

  • 4 ounces of softened cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup softened butter
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Details:
  • Prep time: 1 hour
  • Cook time: 25 minutes
  • Makes: Approx. 12 cinnamon rolls
Instructions:

Refer to process photos below.

  1. Pour warm milk and yeast into the bowl of a stand mixer. Add the eggs, butter, salt, sugar, and flour.
  2. Lightly mix everything together, using the beater blade of the stand mixer until just combined.
  3. Attach the dough hook and beat the dough on medium speed for about 5 minutes until the dough becomes elastic and smooth
  4. Place the dough in an oiled bowl and cover with a kitchen towel until it has doubled in size, which should take about 30 minutes.
  5. Turn the dough onto a floured surface and roll it into a rectangle shape with a thickness of about 1/4-1/2 inch.
  6. Spread the softened butter all over the dough.
  7. Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the sugar mixture over the buttered dough until completely covered
  8. Tightly roll the dough up and seal the edges of the dough.
  9. Using a serrated knife, cut the dough log into 12 equal pieces.
  10. Place the cinnamon rolls into a greased baking dish and cover with a kitchen towel and let it prove for a second time until the rolls have doubled in size.
  11. Right before the rolls enter the oven, pour warmed heavy cream over the dough
  12. Bake at 375°F for about 22 minutes, or until the rolls are slightly golden brown.
  13. To make the frosting, combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, powdered sugar, and the vanilla extract together with an electric mixer. Beat until the frosting is smooth and fluffy.

These are the BEST cinnamon rolls in the WORLD. They are gooey and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness.

why i love this recipe

This recipe makes gorgeously fluffy and gooey cinnamon rolls. They are the classic soft cinnamon rolls that are way better than the ones found at the mall. The addition of the heavy cream before baking helps the rolls become sticky and flavorful. I love eating this with cream cheese frosting.

Although these take a little longer to make, the flavor and texture of these rolls are significantly better than the pre-made, refrigerated tubes from the grocery store. Making your own cinnamon rolls also allows you to control the amount of cinnamon and sugar, which will help make this recipe even more perfect for you!

Tips and Suggestions
  • The warm milk to make the dough should be warm, but not hot. I usually microwave the milk for about 45 seconds on high. The temperature should be similar to warm bath water.
  • After mixing the dough, it should still be a little tacky and slightly stick to the sides of the bowl. If it is too sticky, sprinkle a few tablespoons of flour while the dough is kneading.
  • The dough rising time will change depending on the temperature and humidity of the environment.
  • It’s important to use a serrated knife to prevent from crushing the rolls when slicing them.
  • The heavy cream needs to be warmed to allow the dough to stay warm and continue rising in the oven during baking. This heavy cream makes the rolls super gooey and delicious!
Notes:
  • I rarely use an entire 1/2 stick of softened butter when filling my cinnamon rolls. Just use as much as you need to cover the surface of the rectangular dough.
  • If you want large cafe-style cinnamon rolls, roll the dough up from the short side. However, this will create fewer rolls. If you want regular-sized cinnamon rolls, roll the dough up from the long side.
  • If the rolls are various sizes due to uneven rolling (that’s life!), bake the different sized rolls on separate trays to better control their baking times. That way, you’ll have regular-sized rolls and mini cinnamon rolls!
  • Feel free to double the cream cheese frosting recipe if you love to have extra frosting on your cinnamon rolls!
Let's wrap this up

This cinnamon roll recipe is the best. It’s fluffy and delicious, baking up with lots of swirls and flavor. Paired with a cold glass of milk or a hot cup of tea, this makes the perfect breakfast showstopper or the most wonderful mid-afternoon pick-me-up. Enjoy!