Easy-to-make cinnamon rolls perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert, complete with a sweet icing that elevates every bite!

Start your day or sweeten your evening with this easy cinnamon rolls recipe, ideal for breakfast, brunch, or dessert. With their soft, fluffy texture and rich, sweet icing, each bite is a delightful treat. This recipe offers a straightforward guide to creating irresistible cinnamon swirls that are guaranteed to delight your family and friends, whether you’re new to baking or have years of experience.

I fell in love with homemade bread at an early age.  The steaming soft inside and warm crusty outside… Mmmm!  You can’t beat that! These easy cinnamon rolls bake up with the best essence of homemade bread wrapped in sweetness.

What You’ll Love About This Recipe

• Perfectly Sweet: A heavenly icing that seeps into every swirl, enhancing the flavor.
• Simple Ingredients, Amazing Results: Simple ingredients make this recipe easy to make any time. Follow the easy instructions for fluffy, sweet rolls every time.
• Icing on the Cake: A simple but delicious icing recipe ensures a luscious finish that melds perfectly with each swirl.
• A Treat for Any Occasion: Perfect for making any breakfast, brunch, or dessert extra special.
• A Delicious Classic: Guaranteed to be a hit among both your loved ones and guests, satisfying sweet cravings with ease through classic flavors.

Ingredients Needed

Rolls:

• Warm water
• Dry yeast
• Sugar
• Milk
• Salt
• Eggs
• Flour
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon

Simple Vanilla Icing:

• Powdered sugar
• Cream
• Vanilla or almond extract

Recipe Overview

*Find the full instructions at the bottom of the post in the recipe card*

Making the Dough

1. Bloom the Yeast: Combine warm water, yeast, and a bit of sugar. Let it sit until it foams. This takes about 5 minutes. Make sure to do this in a bigger bowl or cup than you think you’ll need as the yeast may expand 2 to 3 times it’s original size.
2. Mix Wet Ingredients: Heat milk slightly, then mix with sugar, salt, and beaten eggs in a large bowl.
3. Combine with Flour: Add the bloomed yeast mixture and gradually mix in flour to form a sticky dough.
4. 1st Rise (Proofing): Cover the dough with a damp towel or plastic wrap and set in a warm part of the kitchen. Let the dough rise until it has doubled in size. This will take 40 minutes to an hour depending on how warm your home is.

Making the Cinnamon Rolls

1. Prepare the Dough: After the first rise or proofing session, pour the dough out on a heavily floured surface. Sprinkle additional flour over the top to avoid it from sticking. Roll the dough out into a 1/2 thick square, then cover with melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
2. Form the Rolls: Roll the dough into a log and cut into slices. Place slices in a greased baking dish or on a greased cookie sheet.
3. 2nd Rise (Proofing): Loosely cover the baking dish or cookie sheet and let the cinnamon rolls rise until doubled.

Baking the Cinnamon Rolls

1. Start preheating your oven to 400°F before the rolls have completed their 2nd rise.
2. Once your cinnamon rolls have doubled in size, it’s time to bake them to golden perfection. Place the rolls in the preheated oven and bake for 15-18 minutes, or until they are beautifully golden brown and the centers are cooked through.

This is the moment when all the delightful aromas fill your kitchen, signaling that something delicious is on its way.

Making The Icing

This vanilla Icing is so easy to make yet delicious. You would never guess it’s just 3 ingredients and only takes a couple of minutes to make.

1. Combine powdered sugar, cream, and extract.
2. Mix ingredients until smooth icing. Apply to warm rolls for a delicious finish.

If you prefer a thicker icing or frosting, feel free to add additional powdered sugar. If the icing is to thick, add a teaspoon at a time of additional cream.

Recipe Tips

• Heating Milk: Warm the milk on the stove or in the microwave but be careful not to boil it. Just a gentle warmth is enough.
• Handling Sticky Dough: If the dough feels too sticky to manage, lightly flour your hands and the surface where you’re working. However, the dough should retain a bit of stickiness for the best texture.
• Yeast Choices: You can use either active dry yeast or instant yeast for this recipe. I prefer using active dry yeast and bloom before adding to the dough. This way I can ensure the yeast is active and alive (bubbly and growing) before it goes into the dough. If you opt to use instant yeast, you can follow the recipe accordingly or skip the blooming step and add it directly to your dry ingredients.
• Cutting Rolls: For slicing the rolls, dental floss is my secret weapon. It allows for a clean, easy cut through the dough, ensuring beautifully shaped cinnamon rolls.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do I need to heat the milk before adding it to the mixture?

Heating the milk slightly helps activate the yeast, ensuring your rolls rise properly. Just make sure it’s warm and not hot, as too high a temperature can kill the yeast. It also helps break down why proteins in the milk which can make it harder for gluten to form. this can directly affect the texture and density of the rolls.

My dough is too sticky to handle. What should I do?

If the dough is too sticky, sprinkle a little flour on your hands and work surface. The dough is supposed to be somewhat sticky, but additional flour should make it easier to handle without compromising the texture.

What is “blooming” yeast?

Blooming yeast means activating it by dissolving it in a warm liquid (usually water or milk) with a bit of sugar or carbohydrates. In essence, this process “wakes up” the yeast. This step ensures the yeast is alive and active, ready to help your dough rise.

Can I use instant dry yeast, active dry yeast, or fresh yeast in this recipe?

Yes, you can use any of these types of yeast. If you choose instant dry yeast, you can add it directly to your dry ingredients without blooming but this may affect the time it takes for your dough to rise.

Active dry or fresh yeast are made from the same stuff. Active dry yeast is made from fresh yeast. It is pressed and dried until the yeast becomes dormant (until it is reactivated by the blooming process). Fresh yeast still has to be activated also. It is important to note that if you are using fresh yeast you will need twice as much yeast (by weight) as the recipe calls for active dry yeast.

How do I cut the cinnamon rolls cleanly?

Using dental floss to cut the rolls is an effective technique. Slide the floss under the rolled dough, cross the ends above, and pull tightly to slice through. This method prevents the dough from being compressed, as might happen with a knife.

Storing Cinnamon Rolls

Freshly baked cinnamon rolls taste best but can be stored at room temperature, covered, for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave for 10-15 seconds for best results.

Are you a sweet roll lover or savory dinner roll type?

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If You Like This Recipe You May Also Like:

Cinnamon is one of those spices that just smells and tastes homey, warm and wonderful. If you love the smell of a cinnamon goodie baking in the oven you have to try my 15-Minute Mini Cinnamon Muffins or my Cinnamon Apple Bread Pudding. Both of these recipes are always a hit and fill the kitchen with that sweet warm aroma.

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Easy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe Card:

Originally Published: 05.17.2017 Updated: 03.07.2024