Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
If there’s ever a recipe that reliably brings happiness, comfort, and that mouthwatering scent wafting through your home, it’s these Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls. With a pillowy, buttery dough and a gooey swirl of brown sugar and cinnamon, each bite offers the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Topped off with a vanilla-kissed glaze, these rolls are every bit as soft and decadent as the bakery treats you crave, and making them from scratch is more doable than you’d ever imagine! Whether you serve them for a weekend brunch, a holiday breakfast, or as an afternoon pick-me-up, Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are certain to earn you rave reviews and requests for the recipe, every single time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls is how basic kitchen staples transform into something magical. Each ingredient plays a role in making these rolls fluffy, flavorful, and gorgeously golden—don’t skip a thing if you want bakery-level results in your own kitchen!
- All-purpose flour: Provides the structure and tenderness that makes each roll delightfully soft but not dense.
- Instant yeast: Speeds up the rise, giving you light, airy dough with a minimal wait.
- Warm milk (110°F): Encourages quick activation of the yeast and imparts subtle richness.
- Granulated sugar: Sweetens the dough and helps feed the yeast during rising for an optimal texture.
- Unsalted butter (softened): Lends irresistible buttery flavor to both the dough and filling, ensuring every bite melts in your mouth.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and brings all the flavors together.
- Large eggs: Add moisture, richness, and tender structure to the dough.
- Brown sugar (packed): Creates the classic caramelized swirl that defines a great cinnamon roll.
- Ground cinnamon: The star spice, giving warmth and the telltale aroma everyone loves.
- Powdered sugar: Forms the smooth, sweet glaze that crowns each roll.
- Milk (for glaze): Just enough to achieve that pourable, luscious icing.
- Vanilla extract: Adds depth and rounds out the glaze with a fragrant finish.
How to Make Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Step 1: Bloom the Yeast
Start by combining your warm milk, instant yeast, and granulated sugar in a large mixing bowl. Let this mixture sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it looks foamy—this means the yeast is alive and ready to make your dough rise beautifully. Skipping this step is tempting, but trust me, taking a moment here means guaranteed, fluffy rolls later.
Step 2: Mix the Dough
Add your softened butter, eggs, salt, and half the flour to the yeast mixture. Mix everything together until it’s just combined—don’t worry about lumps at this point. Gradually incorporate the remaining flour, then knead the dough by hand or with a dough hook for 5 to 7 minutes. You’re looking for a dough that’s smooth, elastic, and just a little tacky to the touch.
Step 3: First Rise
Place the dough ball in a greased bowl, cover it with a kitchen towel or plastic wrap, and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour, or until it’s doubled in size. This slow rise is where the magic happens: the dough becomes even softer and lighter, and it starts to develop those subtly sweet flavors you want in Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.
Step 4: Make the Filling
While the dough rises, stir together the packed brown sugar and ground cinnamon in a small bowl. This mixture is the iconic center of every cinnamon roll. Keep your softened butter on standby—spreading it over the rolled dough ensures the cinnamon-sugar swirl sticks and oozes with every bite.
Step 5: Shape and Fill
Once the dough is doubled, punch it down gently and roll it out on a floured surface to form a 16 by 12-inch rectangle. Spread an even layer of softened butter over the surface, then sprinkle your cinnamon-sugar mixture right up to the edges. Roll the dough up tightly from the long side into a log and slice into 12 even rolls. Each swirl promises that perfect combination of buttery softness and sweet spice.
Step 6: Second Rise
Arrange the rolls, spiral side up, in a greased 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Cover and let them prove for about 30 minutes while you preheat your oven to 350°F. The rolls will puff up, ensuring they’ll fill every inch of your baking dish once they bake. If you’re patient, letting them rise a bit longer at this stage makes them unbelievably fluffy.
Step 7: Bake
Bake the rolls in the preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until you see a gorgeous golden color on top. Your kitchen will smell like pure heaven! When they’re perfectly baked, the tops should be lightly crusted and the centers delightfully soft.
Step 8: Glaze
While the rolls are still warm, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract to make the glaze. Drizzle generously over the rolls, letting it seep into every swirl. The result is an irresistible, glossy finish that makes your Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls totally bakery-worthy.
How to Serve Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Garnishes
For a simple finishing touch, add a dusting of extra cinnamon, a handful of toasted chopped pecans, or a few ribbons of zest from an orange. These little extras add visual appeal and a pop of flavor that complements the gooey glaze and soft, sweet interior.
Side Dishes
Pair your fresh-from-the-oven Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with a platter of juicy fresh fruit, a creamy yogurt parfait, or softly scrambled eggs. These lighter sides help balance the sweetness and create a celebratory breakfast spread everyone will adore.
Creative Ways to Present
Try stacking the cinnamon rolls on a tiered cake stand for an elegant brunch, or arrange them in a circle on a large platter and drizzle extra glaze in the center for dunking. For a fun twist, serve individual rolls in parchment cups for easy, grab-and-go portions at picnics or holiday gatherings.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you somehow have leftovers, cover the cooled Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls tightly with plastic wrap or store them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two days. Their texture stays soft and tender, especially if you keep them from drying out.
Freezing
To freeze your cinnamon rolls, let them cool completely, then wrap each roll individually or the entire pan in plastic wrap and foil. They’ll keep beautifully in the freezer for up to two months. For best results, wait to add the glaze until after you’ve reheated them.
Reheating
To bring back that fresh-baked warmth, microwave individual rolls for 20–30 seconds or reheat a whole pan, covered in foil, in a 300°F oven for about 10 minutes. Add glaze after warming if you made them ahead or after freezing for that just-like-new taste and texture.
FAQs
Can I make Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls the night before and bake in the morning?
Absolutely! After you’ve sliced and arranged the rolls in your pan, cover and refrigerate overnight. In the morning, let them sit at room temperature for 30–45 minutes before baking as directed. This makes them perfect for special breakfasts or holidays.
Do I need a stand mixer to make the dough?
No stand mixer required! You can mix and knead everything by hand with great results—the dough is quite forgiving. Just be sure to knead until smooth and elastic for the signature soft texture.
What is the difference between instant yeast and active dry yeast?
Instant yeast, used in this recipe, doesn’t need to be dissolved before mixing and cuts down your rise time. If you only have active dry yeast, dissolve it in the warm milk first and expect your dough to take a little longer to rise.
How do I slice the dough neatly without squishing the rolls?
Dental floss (unflavored!) or a very sharp serrated knife works wonders for clean slices. Slide the floss under the rolled dough, cross the ends over, and pull tight to cut without flattening your beautiful swirls.
Can I double the recipe for a crowd?
Yes, these Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are a true crowd-pleaser! Double all ingredients and use two pans, baking side by side. Watch the bake time, as it may need a few extra minutes depending on your oven and pan size.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking for a treat that always wows, these Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are it. Bringing them to the table is like gifting a little moment of joy—and trust me, you don’t have to be an expert baker to pull them off. Make a batch, share generously, and watch them vanish faster than you can say “Save me another one!”
Print
Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
- Total Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Yield: 12 rolls 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Indulge in the irresistible aroma and flavor of these easy homemade cinnamon rolls. Soft, fluffy dough swirled with a sweet cinnamon filling and topped with a vanilla glaze – the perfect treat for breakfast or dessert!
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter (softened)
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
For the filling:
- 1 cup brown sugar (packed)
- 2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1/3 cup unsalted butter (softened)
For the glaze:
- 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- Add softened butter, eggs, salt, and half the flour; mix until combined. Gradually add remaining flour and knead for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
- In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll dough into a 16×12-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter over dough and sprinkle evenly with cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Roll up tightly from the long side and cut into 12 slices. Place rolls in a greased 9×13-inch pan, cover, and let rise for 30 minutes.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.
- In a small bowl, whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla to make glaze. Drizzle glaze over warm rolls before serving.
Notes
- For extra fluffy rolls, let them rise for an additional 20–30 minutes before baking.
- You can prepare the rolls the night before, refrigerate, and bake in the morning.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 roll
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 9 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 3 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 5 g
- Cholesterol: 40 mg
