Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe You’ll Want for Every Weekend
Cinnamon rolls elevate ordinary breakfasts into extraordinary sensory journeys with their hypnotic fragrance and pillowy texture.
These spiraled delights whisper promises of comfort in every golden-brown layer.
Bakers worldwide have fallen in love with the transformative magic of these sweet treats.
Warm spices dance through tender dough, creating a symphony of flavor that awakens sleepy taste buds.
Silky swirls promise decadence in each carefully crafted bite.
The alchemy of butter, sugar, and cinnamon turns basic ingredients into pure culinary poetry.
Unleash a wave of deliciousness that will make your kitchen feel like a sweet sanctuary.
Frosting, Rolling, and Baking Tips
Control dough rising by placing it in a warm, draft-free area like inside an unheated oven with the light on, ensuring consistent temperature for perfect texture.
Use softened butter at room temperature for easier spreading and more even distribution of filling, preventing tough spots in your cinnamon rolls.
Utilize unflavored dental floss for clean, precise cuts through the dough log, preventing squishing and maintaining beautiful roll shapes.
Prepare rolls up to the point of second rising, then freeze unbaked. Thaw overnight in refrigerator and bake fresh, giving you make-ahead convenience without sacrificing taste.
Serving Cinnamon Rolls Warm and Gooey
Storage Tips to Keep Rolls Soft
Quick Recipe Overview
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes
Calories: 450 kcal
Servings: 11
Joy of Cooking Cinnamon Rolls Ingredient List
For Dough Base:For Wet Ingredients:For Filling and Topping:Baking Tools to Make These Rolls Rise
How to Prepare These Sweet Morning Rolls
Create Soft And Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls
Mix flour with yeast in a spacious bowl. Create a soft base that will transform into pillowy rolls. Activate the yeast gently to ensure perfect rising.
Warm milk, butter, sugar, and salt together. Pour slowly into flour mixture, stirring until a silky smooth texture develops. Ensure ingredients combine seamlessly for rich flavor.
Knead the mixture thoroughly on a lightly floured surface. Work the dough until it becomes smooth and stretchy, about 8 minutes. Add eggs one at a time, incorporating completely for a tender texture.
Transfer dough to a greased container. Cover with a soft cloth and place in a cozy spot. Let the dough expand and rise until it doubles in size, developing deep flavor and airy texture.
Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter into a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle with a hint of flour to enhance texture. The filling will create a swirling, fragrant center in each roll.
Roll dough into a generous rectangle. Spread filling generously, leaving a small border. Carefully roll into a tight log, creating beautiful spirals of sweet cinnamon goodness.
Slice the log into even portions using a sharp knife. Arrange rolls in a buttered baking pan. Allow a final rise, letting the dough become puffy and light.
Heat oven to 375°F. Bake rolls until they turn a beautiful golden brown. The kitchen will fill with an irresistible aroma of warm cinnamon and sweet dough.
Whisk powdered sugar with cream until smooth. Drizzle generously over warm rolls, creating a decadent finishing touch that makes every bite pure bliss.
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Fluffy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 11 1x
Description
Homemade cinnamon rolls with classic American warmth deliver comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen. Sweet spirals promise delightful moments where flavor and nostalgia intertwine, and you will savor each tender, aromatic bite.
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups (590 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ oz package (2 tsp) (7 g) active dry yeast
- 3 large eggs (150 g), at room temperature
- 1 cup (240 ml/g) milk
- ⅓ cup (75 g) unsalted butter, diced
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, cold (cut into pieces)
- ⅓ cup (65 g) granulated white sugar
- ¾ cup (155 g) light brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp (2 g) salt
- 3 tbsps (21 g) dried milk powder (optional)
- ½ cup (50 g) raisins or currants and/or chopped nuts (optional)
- ¾ cup (90 g) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar
- about 2 tbsps half-and-half or light cream
- half-and-half (or light cream)
Instructions
- Dough Preparation: Combine flour, instant dry milk, and yeast in a large mixing bowl, creating a foundational mixture for the cinnamon rolls.
- Liquid Integration: Introduce warmed milk, melted butter, sugar, and salt into the flour mixture, stirring until a uniform consistency develops.
- Kneading Process: Gradually fold in remaining flour, working the dough until it becomes smooth and elastic, pulling cleanly from the bowl’s edges.
- Egg Incorporation: Gently fold eggs into the dough, one at a time, ensuring complete integration to enhance richness and texture.
- First Rise: Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, cover, and allow to rise in a warm environment until volume doubles, approximately 1-1.5 hours.
- Cinnamon Filling Creation: Blend brown sugar, ground cinnamon, flour, and cold butter until the mixture resembles coarse, crumbly breadcrumbs.
- Dough Rolling and Filling: Punch down risen dough, roll out on a floured surface into a rectangular shape, then evenly distribute cinnamon filling, optionally adding nuts or raisins.
- Roll Formation: Tightly roll the dough into a log, sealing the edge with water to prevent unraveling, then slice into 8 equal portions.
- Second Rise and Baking Preparation: Arrange rolls in a greased baking pan, cover, and let rise until nearly doubled in size, about 30-45 minutes, while preheating the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Baking and Finishing: Bake rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden-brown, then brush with cream wash for shine and softness, and drizzle with a smooth powdered sugar and heavy cream glaze before serving warm or at room temperature.
Notes
- Warm Milk Precision: Use a thermometer to ensure milk is exactly 110°F for optimal yeast activation and perfect dough development.
- Dough Rising Secrets: Choose a consistently warm spot like near a preheated oven or inside a turned-off oven with the light on for ideal rising conditions.
- Rolling Technique: Roll dough into a precise rectangle and spread filling evenly to guarantee consistent flavor and texture in every bite.
- Glaze Consistency Control: Add cream gradually to powdered sugar to prevent lumps and achieve a silky, smooth drizzling texture that complements the rolls perfectly.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 11
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 30 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg
Michael Thompson
Founder & Culinary Director
Expertise
Classical & Contemporary Cooking Techniques, Global Cuisine Appreciation, Nutrition & Menu Engineering, Sustainable Cooking Practices, Farm-to-Table Cuisine
Education
Southwestern Oregon Community College
Michael grew up in Oregon, where he learned early that food tastes better when it’s fresh, local, and made with care.
After earning his degree from the Southwestern Oregon Community College, he focused his career on teaching others how to cook with the seasons, reduce food waste, and reconnect with what’s on their plate.
Michael keeps his cooking simple, sustainable, and full of flavor. His favorite part of the process? Watching people realize how easy and satisfying it can be to cook a single great meal from scratch.