Sweet cinnamon rolls are the perfect snack or breakfast treat. Learn how to make them from scratch with this recipe for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.
Best Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
When was the last time you had fresh, warm Homemade Cinnamon Rolls? If you have never had the homemade version, you are missing out. Try this recipe to see how simple it is to make this sweet dessert from scratch.
You may wonder what makes this recipe the best of all time. Not only is this recipe easy to follow, even if you are a beginner at baking, but it is also the kind of recipe you can make with simple ingredients.
If you have yeast, sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, and a handful of other ingredients, you will have everything you need to make these delicious Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.
Note: This recipe is one of those few exceptions on our site that has more than 10 ingredients. We try to keep things VERY easy around here, and limiting ingredients and time spent is one of our favorite ways. That being said, this recipe is too delicious to leave out of our recipe box! It’s an exception that is so flavorful and worth the extra ingredients if you have the time and resources to make it.
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How to Make Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch
Be sure to see the recipe card below for full ingredients & instructions!
- Combine yeast with warm water.
- Add the rest of the sugar, salt, and butter and then knead into a ball.
- Let the dough rise.
- Knead the dough.
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Roll the dough and shape it into a rectangle.
- Brush with cinnamon and sugar.
- Roll the dough into 8 1½-inch width pieces.
- Place them in a baking pan and lightly brush them with egg wash.
- Bake for 25-28 minutes.
- To make the cream cheese icing: combine softened cream cheese, softened butter, milk, vanilla, powdered sugar, and cinnamon until it’s smooth and creamy.
- Top your cinnamon rolls with the cream cheese frosting.
To proof yeast means to dissolve it in warm liquid (often with a little bit of sugar) and leave it for a few minutes, or until foamy. Proofing yeast ensures that it is alive and vigorous enough to make your dough rise.
When following this recipe, you will have 8 Homemade Cinnamon Rolls available to eat and serve to loved ones.
You can freeze cinnamon rolls to keep them fresh. You can freeze them for up to 6 weeks before defrosting them in the refrigerator and heating them to eat them warm.
After you add the cream cheese frosting, feel free to add nuts, raisins, sprinkles, or even some powdered sugar.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Use enough flour on a flat surface when kneading your dough to keep the dough from constantly getting stuck to the surface.
- Add as much cinnamon as you would like to your cinnamon rolls. If you like them extra sweet, you may want to add a bit of extra sugar and cinnamon.
- Nuts and raisins are optional, but they add more texture and flavor to these rolls, so they are worth adding into your dough.
Cinnamon rolls may seem intimidating, but once you try them you will realize they are easy! These homemade cinnamon rolls are great to make for breakfast and even make a delicious dessert treat.
If you make this recipe be sure to leave us a comment or rating. Enjoy!
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 2¼ teaspoons instant yeast 7 grams (1 envelope)
- 1 cup warm water 227 grams
- ½ cup granulated sugar 100 grams, divided
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams, melted (¼ stick)
- 3 cups all-purpose flour 360 grams, plus more for kneading
For the Filling
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 42 grams, melted
- ⅓ cup brown sugar 107 grams
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 25 grams
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 6 grams
- ½ cup raisins 85 grams, optional
- ¼ cup chopped nuts 30 grams, optional
- 1 large egg 50 grams, for egg wash
For the Glaze/Frosting
- 3 ounces cream cheese 85 grams, room temperature
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 28 grams, room temperature (¼ stick)
- 2 teaspoons milk 9 grams
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 4 grams
- 2 cups powdered sugar 226 grams
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Equipment
- Kitchen Scale (optional)
- Rolling Pin
- 8×8 Baking Pan
- Hand Mixer
Instructions
For the Rolls
- In a small bowl, combine the yeast with the warm water and ¼ cup of the sugar. Let sit for about 10 minutes to proof.2¼ teaspoons instant yeast, 1 cup warm water, ½ cup granulated sugar
- Once the yeast has bloomed, transfer to a large bowl, and add the remaining sugar with the salt, and melted butter. Stir to combine. Using a fork, slowly stir the flour into the mixture, gently kneading the dough, until well combined and it forms into a ball of dough. Gently place the dough onto a lightly floured board. Cover and let the dough rest and rise, in a warm area, for 30 minutes before kneading.½ teaspoon kosher salt, 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 3 cups all-purpose flour
- Knead the dough until it is smooth and can be formed into a clean ball shape.
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease an 8×8-inch baking pan. Set aside.
- Roll and shape the dough into a rectangle, about ¼-inch in thickness. The dough should be about 12 inches wide, and 16-18 inches long. Brush the top with melted butter and sprinkle the sugar and cinnamon on top. Add in the raisins and/or nuts if desired.3 tablespoons unsalted butter, ⅓ cup brown sugar, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, ½ cup raisins, ¼ cup chopped nuts
- Roll the dough, starting at the longest edge, and then cut into 8 1½-inch width pieces. Place them close together in the greased baking pan, cut side down. Leave them untouched for about 30-60 minutes until they rise.
- Before placing them in the oven, lightly brush them with the egg wash.1 large egg
- Bake at 375°F for about 25-28 minutes. Once they are golden brown, remove from the oven. Allow to slightly cool before topping with any glaze or frosting. Top with additional raisins and chopped nuts, if desired.
For the Cream Cheese Glaze/Frosting
- Using a hand mixer, combine all of the glaze ingredients, whisking until the frosting is smooth and creamy. For thicker frosting, add an additional cup of powdered sugar. Brush on the top of rolls while warm. Serve warm.2 tablespoons unsalted butter, 2 teaspoons milk, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, 2 cups powdered sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, 3 ounces cream cheese
Notes
- Use enough flour on a flat surface when kneading your dough to keep the dough from constantly getting stuck to the surface.
- Add as much cinnamon as you would like to your cinnamon rolls. If you like them extra sweet, you may want to add a bit of extra sugar and cinnamon.
- Nuts and raisins are optional, but they add more texture and flavor to these rolls, so they are worth adding into your dough.
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