Here’s a soft, decadent recipe for Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls — tender, buttery rolls with a sweet cinnamon-sugar swirl and a creamy, luscious cream cheese filling.
🍥 Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Rolls
⭐ Ingredients (makes 12 rolls)
Dough
- 2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
- ¼ cup warm water (105–110°F / 40–43°C)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 cup milk, warmed
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 3 ½ – 4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 4 oz cream cheese, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Cinnamon Sugar Swirl
- ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
Glaze (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2–3 tbsp milk or cream
- ½ tsp vanilla
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Make the dough
- In a small bowl, dissolve yeast in warm water with a pinch of sugar. Let sit 5–10 minutes until foamy.
- In a large bowl, combine melted butter, warm milk, sugar, salt, and egg.
- Add yeast mixture and gradually add flour, mixing until a soft dough forms.
- Knead on a floured surface 5–7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
- Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise 1–1.5 hours until doubled.
2. Prepare the cream cheese filling
- Beat together cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Set aside.
3. Roll out the dough
- Punch down dough and roll into a rectangle about 12×18 inches.
- Spread softened butter over the dough.
- Sprinkle cinnamon sugar evenly over butter.
- Dot with cream cheese filling, then gently spread.
4. Roll and cut
- Roll dough tightly from the long side into a log.
- Cut into 12 equal rolls and place in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
5. Second rise
- Cover with a towel and let rolls rise 20–30 minutes until puffy.
6. Bake
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake rolls 25–30 minutes, until lightly golden.
- Cool 5–10 minutes before glazing.
7. Glaze (optional)
- Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla.
- Drizzle over warm rolls.
⭐ Tips & Variations
- Extra gooey: Add a cream cheese layer on top after baking, like a frosting.
- Nutty twist: Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts with cinnamon sugar.
- Mini rolls: Use smaller dough rectangles to make bite-sized rolls.
- Flavor boost: Add a pinch of nutmeg or pumpkin spice to the cinnamon sugar.
If you want, I can also give you a make-ahead overnight version or a quick no-yeast version for faster baking.
