If you’re craving a warm, sweet treat that’s perfect for breakfast, brunch, or even a cozy afternoon snack, look no further than these homemade cinnamon rolls. Soft, gooey, and packed with flavor, this recipe will take your cinnamon roll game to the next level.
In this post, I’ll walk you through how to make these irresistible cinnamon rolls from scratch, topped with two decadent icing options: a creamy cream cheese icing and a sweet powdered sugar icing. Get ready to indulge!
The Dough: The Perfect Soft Base
The dough is the foundation of any great cinnamon roll. For this recipe, I’ve crafted a dough that’s easy to make and perfectly soft and fluffy. I like to bulk buy flour, sugar, salt, spices, etc. from Azure!
Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredients:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour (Bread flour works too)
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1 1/2 cup of warm water
- 1 egg
- 6 tablespoons butter (softened or melted)
- 4 teaspoons quick or instant rise yeast
Instructions – Make the Dough
- Combine dry ingredients: In a large mixing bowl, add flour, sugar, and yeast. Stir them together to combine.
- Add wet ingredients: To the same bowl, add softened butter, egg about warm water (110°F). Mix together until combined.
- Knead the dough: Stir the mixture until it begins to form a dough. Once it starts to come together, turn it out onto a floured surface and knead for 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic. You can also knead it in the bowl, using a wooden spoon or your hands, if you prefer to avoid a floured surface.
- Let the dough rise: Cover the bowl with a damp towel or plastic wrap and let it rise while you’re making the filling.
The Filling: A Cinnamon Sugar Dream
It’s time to prepare the sweet cinnamon filling. This filling will give your rolls that irresistible flavor that you’ll keep coming back to.
Ingredients:
- 4 tablespoons butter (softened or melted)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
Instructions:
- Roll Dough: Roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 12×18 inches).
- Spread the filling: In a small bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Spread this mixture evenly over the dough.
- Roll it up: Starting from one edge of the dough, carefully roll it up into a tight log. Pinch the seams to seal.
- Cut into rolls: Slice the dough log into 12 even pieces and place them in a greased baking dish(9×13).
Baking: The Sweet Smell of Cinnamon Rolls
Once your rolls are ready, it’s time to bake them to golden perfection.
Instructions:
- Let the rolls rise: After cutting the rolls, cover them with a towel and let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until they’ve puffed up nicely.
- Preheat the oven: While the rolls are rising, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake: Place the rolls in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown on top.
The Icing: Two Delicious Toppings to Choose From
No cinnamon roll is complete without a generous drizzle of icing. I’ve included two options for you to choose from: a tangy cream cheese icing and a sweet powdered sugar icing. Feel free to make both and let your guests decide which one they like best!
Cream Cheese Icing
Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons cream cheese (softened)
- 3 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add the powdered sugar and vanilla extract, and beat until everything is fully incorporated and creamy.
- Spread or drizzle the cream cheese icing over the warm cinnamon rolls.
Powdered Sugar Icing
Ingredients:
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 2 tablespoons butter (softened)
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons milk
Instructions:
- In a medium bowl, combine the powdered sugar, butter, vanilla extract, and milk.
- Whisk until smooth and drizzle over the warm cinnamon rolls.
Serve and Enjoy!
Now that your cinnamon rolls are baked to perfection and topped with either the cream cheese icing or powdered sugar icing (or both!), it’s time to enjoy them. These cinnamon rolls are best served warm, so they stay soft and gooey.
Whether you’re sharing them with family at breakfast or enjoying one (or two!) for yourself, these cinnamon rolls are sure to be a hit. They’re fluffy, sweet, and irresistibly cinnamon-y — just the way a cinnamon roll should be.
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