Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

If you’re looking for soft homemade cinnamon rolls with gooey cinnamon filling and rich cream cheese icing, these bakery-style cinnamon rolls are the perfect recipe to bake. Made with soft buttery dough, brown sugar cinnamon filling, and smooth homemade icing, these rolls turn out fluffy, rich, and full of warm comforting flavor.

These homemade rolls are perfect for holidays, weekend breakfasts, brunch gatherings, and cozy homemade baking. The soft dough rises beautifully while the cinnamon sugar filling creates swirls of sweet buttery flavor in every bite.

Topped with rich cream cheese icing while still warm, these rolls are soft, fluffy, and absolutely irresistible.

Why You’ll Love These

These homemade rolls are:

• Soft and fluffy
• Filled with warm cinnamon flavor
• Topped with creamy icing
• Perfect for holidays and brunch
• Great for make-ahead baking
• Freezer friendly

Ingredients

Dough

• Warm milk
• Eggs
• Unsalted butter
• All-purpose flour
• Salt
• Granulated sugar
• Instant yeast or active dry yeast

Filling

• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

Cream Cheese Icing

• Cream cheese
• Butter
• Confectioners’ sugar
• Vanilla extract

Equipment

• Rolling pin
• Mixing bowls
• Stand mixer or bread machine
• 9×13 baking pan

How to Make

Start by combining all of the dough ingredients and kneading until a smooth soft dough forms.

Place the dough into a lightly greased bowl, cover, and allow it to rise until doubled in size.

Transfer the dough onto a lightly greased surface and roll it into a large rectangle.

Spread softened butter over the dough. In a separate bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle the mixture evenly across the buttered dough.

Starting from the long side, tightly roll the dough into a log. Slice the log into rolls and place them into a greased baking dish.

Cover the rolls and allow them to rise again until puffy and nearly doubled.

Bake until golden brown while preparing the cream cheese icing.

To make the icing, beat together the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.

Spread the icing over the warm rolls and serve fresh.

Tips for the Best

For perfect homemade cinnamon rolls:

• Use warm milk, not hot milk
• Knead the dough until smooth and elastic
• Roll the dough tightly
• Let the rolls fully rise before baking
• Frost while warm for gooey icing

The dough should feel soft and slightly tacky without being overly sticky.

Make Ahead Instructions

These rolls are perfect for overnight preparation. After shaping the rolls and placing them in the baking pan, cover and refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, allow the rolls to come to room temperature and rise slightly before baking as directed.

Storage Tips

Store leftover cinnamon rolls covered at room temperature for several days or freeze for longer storage. Reheat slightly before serving for soft gooey cinnamon rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why didn’t my cinnamon rolls rise?

Yeast may have been inactive or the dough may not have had enough warm rising time.

Can I make cinnamon rolls the night before?

Yes! These rolls are perfect for overnight refrigeration before baking.

Why frost cinnamon rolls while warm?

Warm rolls help slightly melt the icing, creating soft gooey cinnamon rolls.

Can I freeze cinnamon rolls?

Absolutely. Both baked and unbaked cinnamon rolls freeze well.

More homemade bread recipes to enjoy.

Some of my favorite kitchen tools, baking supplies, and cooking essentials used for homemade recipes can be found in my Amazon storefront. From sheet pans and mixing bowls to pantry staples and kitchen gadgets, these are products I personally love using in my kitchen for easy homemade cooking and baking.

Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 25 minutes mins

Cook Time 15 minutes mins

Resting Time 2 hours hrs

Total Time 2 hours hrs 40 minutes mins

Servings: 12

Course: Breakfast, Dessert

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients

  

Dough

• 1 cup warm milk
• 2 large eggs
• 5 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
• 4 1/2 cups All-Purpose Flour
• 1 3/4 teaspoons salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 teaspoons instant yeast or active dry yeast

Filling

• 5 tablespoons butter, softened
• 1 cup brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons cinnamon

Icing

• 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
• 8 tablespoons butter, softened
• 3 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract

Equipment

• 1 rolling pin

Method

 

1. Mix together and knead all of the dough ingredients — by hand, mixer, or bread machine — to make a smooth, soft dough.
2. Place the dough in a lightly oiled bowl, cover the bowl, and let the dough rise until it's nearly doubled in bulk, 1 to 2 hours.
3. Gently deflate the dough and transfer it to a lightly greased work surface. Roll the dough into a 16" x 21" rectangle.
4. Spread the dough with the 1/3 cup butter. Mix the brown sugar and cinnamon, and sprinkle it evenly over the dough.
   
5. Starting with a long end, roll the dough into a log and cut it into 12 slices.
   
6. Place the buns in a lightly greased 9″ x 13″ pan. Cover the pan and let the buns rise until they’re nearly doubled, about 30 minutes.
   
7. While the buns are rising, preheat the oven to 400°F.
8. Uncover the buns, and bake them until they're golden brown, about 12-15 minutes. While the buns are baking, make the icing.
9. In a bowl, beat together the cream cheese, butter, sugar, and vanilla.
10. Remove the buns from the oven. Spread the icing on the buns while they’re warm.
    
11. Serve buns warm, or at room temperature. Wrap in plastic and store at room temperature for a day or 2; freeze for longer storage.

Notes

To prepare the night before, place the shaped buns in the pan, cover the pan, and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, let the buns warm at room temperature for about an hour, covered. Uncover, and bake as directed.