Homemade cinnamon rolls are the ultimate dessert recipe for indulging in cozy comfort food at home. Picture this: the aroma of cinnamon, butter, and freshly baked bread wafting through your kitchen, making everyone impatient for the first warm bite.
Each roll is a masterpiece of soft, pillowy dough, layered with a perfectly spiced filling and topped with tangy cream cheese frosting.
Why Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Are Special
These rolls are not just another dessert—they’re an experience. Unlike store-bought versions, this recipe is crafted with care and precision, ensuring every bite is bursting with flavor and texture.
The filling combines cinnamon, nutmeg, and brown sugar, creating a rich, caramel-like swirl that complements the soft dough. The cream cheese frosting adds just the right amount of tangy sweetness, making it impossible to stop at just one.
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Even better, this recipe is beginner-friendly. With clear instructions for the dough, filling, and frosting, you’ll have bakery-quality rolls with minimal fuss.
Make-Ahead Tips for Stress-Free Baking
One of the best features of this cinnamon roll recipe is its versatility. The dough can be prepped the night before, allowing you to focus on baking and frosting the next day. Simply refrigerate the dough during the second rise, and when you’re ready to bake, bring it to room temperature.
The frosting and filling can also be made ahead of time. Store them in zip-top bags at room temperature for up to 24 hours. This way, assembling the rolls becomes a breeze, even on busy mornings.
Variations to Suit Every Taste
While the classic cinnamon roll is undeniably delicious, this dessert recipe offers room for creativity. Here are some fun variations to try:
- Apple Cinnamon: Add diced Granny Smith apples to the filling for a fruity twist.
- Double Chocolate: Mix cocoa powder into the frosting and sprinkle chocolate chips in the filling for an indulgent treat.
- Pumpkin Spice: Replace the yogurt in the dough with pumpkin puree and add warming spices like cloves and ginger.
These adaptations allow you to personalize the recipe for any occasion, making it a go-to dessert no matter the season.
Troubleshooting Tips for Perfect Rolls
Achieving cinnamon roll perfection might take a bit of practice, but these tips will ensure success:
- Dough Consistency: If the dough feels too firm, give it an extra 15 minutes to proof. A properly proofed dough should be soft and airy.
- Filling Spread: If the filling seems too stiff, warm it slightly to make spreading easier.
- Shaping the Rolls: Use unflavored dental floss to slice the rolls cleanly without squishing the dough.
With these tips in mind, you’ll have picture-perfect cinnamon rolls every time.
Why This Recipe is Perfect for Dessert Gatherings
Cinnamon rolls are a crowd-pleaser for any gathering. Their rich flavors and warm, comforting aroma make them the star of any dessert spread.
Serve them with a drizzle of extra frosting or alongside coffee for a dessert recipe that feels both luxurious and homey.
Make extra batches and freeze them for later—these rolls reheat beautifully, making them a fantastic option for meal prep. Whether you’re hosting a brunch, potluck, or cozy evening with friends, this recipe will be the highlight of the table.
A Recipe Worth the Effort
Homemade cinnamon rolls are the dessert recipe you didn’t know you needed in your life. Their soft, flavorful dough, perfectly spiced filling, and luscious cream cheese frosting make them irresistible.
Roll up your sleeves and try these cinnamon rolls—you’ll never want to go back to store-bought again.
Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
Equipment
- Stand mixer with paddle attachment
- Rolling Pin
- Parchment-lined baking pan (9×13-inch or two 8×3-inch round pans)
- 2-quart saucier or saucepan
- Zip-top bags
- Offset spatula
Ingredients
Frosting:
- ½ cup cream cheese softened to about 70°F
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1¼ cups powdered sugar
Filling:
- 1 stick unsalted butter softened to about 70°F
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Dough:
- 3½ cups all-purpose flour plus extra for rolling
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons instant dry yeast
- 1¾ teaspoons kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon baking soda
- 1 stick unsalted butter melted
- ½ cup milk
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 cup pecans toasted
Variations:
Apple Cinnamon:
- Substitute cream cheese with 4 tablespoons unsalted butter in the frosting.
- Add diced Granny Smith apple (6 ounces) into the filling.
Banana:
- Replace milk with ¼ cup mashed bananas and yogurt with equal mashed bananas.
Pumpkin Spice:
- Use canned pumpkin puree in place of yogurt and add 2 teaspoons ground ginger to the filling.
Double Chocolate:
- Add ¼ cup cocoa powder to the frosting and 3 ounces chopped dark chocolate to the filling.
Sticky Buns:
- Add a layer of 1½ cups brown sugar ⅓ cup heavy cream, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the pan before arranging rolls.
Instructions
Prepare the Frosting:
- In a stand mixer bowl, combine cream cheese and vanilla with half the powdered sugar. Beat on low to combine, then gradually add the remaining sugar. Mix on medium until smooth and pale, about 5 minutes. Store in a zip-top bag at room temperature for up to 24 hours.
Make the Filling:
- Using the same mixer bowl, cream butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Mix until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Transfer to a zip-top bag and set aside.
Prepare the Dough:
- In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, yeast, salt, and baking soda.
- Melt butter in a saucier, then stir in milk and yogurt. Warm mixture to about 80°F, then add to dry ingredients. Stir to form a shaggy dough.
- Knead with a mixer on low speed until smooth and elastic, about 20 minutes. The dough should stretch without tearing.
Proof the Dough:
- Cover the dough and let rise at 70°F until doubled, about 90 minutes.
Shape and Fill:
- Roll dough on a floured surface into a 13-inch square. Spread cinnamon filling evenly, sprinkle with pecans, and roll into a log, seam-side down.
- Cut into 6 equal pieces with dental floss. Arrange in a parchment-lined baking pan. Cover and refrigerate overnight (up to 48 hours).
Bake the Rolls:
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Let rolls sit at room temperature while preheating.
- Bake covered for 45 minutes, then uncover and bake an additional 15 minutes until golden brown.
Finish and Serve:
- Snip a corner off the zip-top frosting bag and spread frosting over warm rolls. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nancy has been a plant person from an early age. That interest blossomed into a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Nancy worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.