Here’s a classic, soft, and gooey Cinnamon Rolls recipe with cream cheese glaze—perfect for breakfast or a sweet treat:
Ingredients
For the dough:
- 1 cup warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 large eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
For the filling:
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 ½ tbsp ground cinnamon
- ⅓ cup unsalted butter, softened
For the cream cheese glaze:
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1–2 tbsp milk (to thin if needed)
Instructions
1. Make the dough:
- Warm milk in a small saucepan or microwave. Sprinkle yeast over milk and let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, mix sugar, melted butter, salt, and eggs. Add the yeast mixture.
- Gradually stir in flour until a soft dough forms.
- Knead the dough on a floured surface for 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic (or use a stand mixer with a dough hook).
- Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–2 hours, until doubled in size.
2. Prepare the filling:
- Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
3. Assemble the rolls:
- Punch down the risen dough and roll it into a rectangle (~16×12 inches).
- Spread softened butter over the dough.
- Sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly over the top.
- Roll the dough tightly from the long side and pinch the seam.
- Cut into 12 even rolls and place in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
4. Second rise:
- Cover rolls with a towel or plastic wrap and let rise 30–45 minutes until puffy.
5. Bake:
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake 25–30 minutes until golden brown.
6. Make the glaze:
- Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
- Add powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk (1 tbsp at a time) until desired consistency.
7. Finish:
- Spread glaze over warm cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.
💡 Tips:
- For extra gooey rolls, brush melted butter over the rolls before baking.
- You can add chopped nuts, raisins, or chocolate chips to the filling.
- Dough can be made ahead and refrigerated overnight—just bring to room temperature before baking.
I can also give a quick “no-yeast” cinnamon roll version that’s ready in under an hour if you want.