• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Run Lift Eat Repeat

  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Breakfast
      • Breads
      • Donuts
      • Eggs
      • French Toast
      • Muffins
      • Pancakes
    • Dessert
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes & Pies
      • Cookies
      • Cupcakes
    • Dietary
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Dinner & Sides
    • Holidays
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Fourth of July
      • Labor Day
      • Memorial Day
      • Thanksgiving
    • Savory
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Fish
      • Pasta
      • Soups
      • Turkey
    • Method
      • One Pan
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
  • Extra
    • Baby
  • Shop
  • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • RECIPES
  • SHOP MY FAVORITES
  • ABOUT ME
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    My Favorite Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    This post may contain affiliate sales links. This website generates income via ads. Please see our full privacy policy for details.

    Jump to Recipe
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    If you find yourself (1) with a cinnamon rolls craving, (2) looking to mix up your weekend breakfast menu, and/or (3) wanting an easier cinnamon roll recipe that's homemade (though no shame in grabbing Pillsbury for 100% ease)— I have just the recipe.

    Meet your new weekend breakfast tradition!

    These Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Are:

    • Larger than most— big and giant!
    • Soft, tender and buttery
    • Filled with a cinnamon sugar swirl
    • Made completely from scratch
    • Perfect for weekend breakfast and/or brunch
    • Topped with a generous amount of frosting

    This Is My Favorite Cinnamon Roll Dough

    Making homemade cinnamon rolls can be intimidating— between using yeast and the process. But I promise, this cinnamon roll dough is not complicated to pull together. It's also a rich, tender dough from the butter and eggs. These cinnamon rolls melt in your mouth.

    • Butter: Not only does butter provide incredible flavor, it also creates a tender and rich dough.
    • Eggs: Adding egg into the dough helps create a tender dough that will melt in your mouth.
    • Milk: Rather than using water, this recipe requires whole milk. It provides additional richness to the dough, something that you can't get from water.
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    How To Make My Favorite Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

    1. Make the Dough: The dough comes together quickly. The ingredients are standard: flour, sugar, yeast, milk, butter, and egg. You heat the milk together, then add the ingredients to the warm milk (follow the specific order in the recipe.)
    2. Knead the Dough: If you have a mixer, use it. Otherwise, knead using your hands. When you're finished kneading, cover the dough and let it rest and rise for about 45 minutes.
    3. First Rise: Let the dough sit for about 1 covered.
    4. Make the Filling: Combine the cinnamon and sugar together in a small bowl. Set aside the room temperature butter.
    5. Shape the Rolls: Roll the dough out into a larger rectangle. Spread with the room temperature butter, then a heavy sprinkle of sugar and cinnamon. Roll it up tightly and cut into 10-12 rolls.
    6. Rise 2: Let the cinnamon rolls sit for about 15 minutes to poof up.
    7. Bake: Bake for 25-30 minutes until slightly golden brown.

    You Have Options

    • Frosting: What side are you on— cream cheese frosting or classic frosting? I 10000% recommend cream cheese frosting for all cinnamon rolls. The combination of the tangy cream cheese with the buttery, cinnamon sugar filling is iconic. Though, if cream cheese frosting isn't your thing, look at the recipe notes for another option.
    • Make-Ahead: After shaping and cutting the rolls, place them into the prepared baking pan. Cover them tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap— you don't want the dough exposed to the air. Skip that second rise and place in the refrigerator overnight. The next morning, remove from the refrigerator and allow the rolls to rise in a warm environment for about 30 minutes. Then, follow the bake time listed in the recipe.
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    After you bake a batch of these cinnamon rolls, you will wish that you had this recipe all along. Whether it's for holidays, just to have, breakfast traditions, or dessert. They're soft, buttery, not too sweet, cinnamon-spiced, and smothered in cream cheese frosting. Your kitchen will smell amazing while they bake and you will fall in love at first bite.

    It's true when they say that scratch recipes always wins.

    More Breakfast Recipes To Try

    • Homemade Fluffy Pancakes
    • Easy Baked Glazed Donuts
    • Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits
    • Unbelievable French Toast
    • Strawberry Sweet Rolls
    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

    Prep Time: 45 minutes
    Cook Time: 25 minutes
    Rise: 1 hour
    Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
    Yield: 12 rolls
    Print Pin

    Rate the Recipe:


    Description

    These homemade cinnamon rolls are soft and fluffy, filled with the most delicious cinnamon sugar swirl, have warm and gooey centers, slightly golden brown edges, and smothered in a generous amount of cream cheese frosting. Nothing beats this classic recipe!

    Ingredients

    Cinnamon Rolls

    • 1 cup whole milk
    • 1 and 1/2 Tablespoons instant dry yeast (2 standard packets)
    • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature, cut into pieces
    • 2 large eggs, room temperature
    • 1 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1/4 teaspoon salt
    • 5 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting/rolling

    Cinnamon Sugar Filling

    • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • 3/4 cup granulated sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons ground cinnamon

    Cream Cheese Frosting

    • 4 ounces full-fat block cream cheese, softened to room temperature
    • 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
    • 2 cups powdered sugar
    • 2 Tablespoons heavy cream
    • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

    Instructions

    • Make the Dough: In a small saucepan, over low heat, warm the milk until lukewarm— you should be able to dip your finger in it. Pour the warm milk into the bowl of a stand electric mixer fitted with the dough hook attachment. Whisk in the yeast and sugar. Cover with a towel and let it sit until the mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes. On low speed, beat in the softened butter until it's slightly broken apart— the butter won't be mixing in just yet so don't worry. Next add the eggs. Gradually add the flour, then salt. Once it is all added, beat on medium until a soft dough forms. Increase to medium-high speed and beat until the dough becomes soft, about 4-6 minutes.
    • Transfer the dough to a lightly floured surface and knead it with your hands for about 1 minute. Form the dough into a ball and transfer it to a lightly greased bowl. Loosely cover the dough and let it rise in a slightly warm environment for about 30 miuntes to 1 hour or until it doubles in size. (Tip: Heat your oven to 150°F, turn the oven off, and place the dough inside with the door slightly ajar.)
    • Grease with butter or nonstick spray the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish or line with parchment paper, if desired. Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured work surface and, using a rolling pin, roll into a 10×16 inch rectangle. Make sure the dough is smooth and evenly thick, even at the corners.
    • The Filling: Spread the softened butter over the dough. In a small bow, combine the cinnamon and sugar together until combined, then sprinkle it evenly over the tough. Tightly roll up the dough to form a log. Some filling may spill out, that's OK. Cut into 10-12 even rolls. Arrange them in the baking dish. Cover the rolls tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap— you don't want the rolls exposed, and allow them to rise for 15 minutes.
    • After the rolls rise, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake for 25 minutes until slightly golden brown. About halfway through, cover the rolls loosely with aluminum foil so the tops down brown too much. Remove pan from the oven and allow to cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes as you make the frosting.
    • Make the Frosting: In a medium bowl using a handheld mixer, beat the cream cheese and butter together on high speed until smooth and creamy. There should be no lumps. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and heavy cream. Beat on low until combined, then increase to high speed for 2 minutes.
    • Frost the Rolls: Using a knife or ofset spatula, spread the frosting over the warm rolls and serve immediately. Cover the leftover cinnamon rolls tightly and store at room temperature for up to 3 days.

    Notes

    1. Make Ahead & Freezing Instructions: The baked (not frosted) rolls can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm up in the microwave or oven. Then, add frosting. You can make the cinnamon rolls the night before and here's how: follow the steps through step 4 (skip letting them rise for 15 minutes.) Then, cover tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap— you don't want the rolls exposed otherwise the dough will dry out. The next morning, take the rolls out of the refrigerator and let them sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. Then continue with step 5.
    2. Yeast: The times listed in this recipe are based off of instant dry yeast, not active dry yeast. If using active dry yeast, the rise times will be longer.
    3. Milk: For best results use whole milk.
     
    Did you make this recipe?Mention @runlifteatrepeatblog or tag #runliftandeat!
    Tagged in: cinnamon roll, cinnamon rolls, homemade cinnamon rolls

    More Cinnamon & Sweet Rolls

    You Might Also Like...

    These slow cooker buffalo chicken sliders are an instant crowd-pleaser. Toss the ingredients together in a slow cooker and let it do 99% of the work for you! Your guests will be coming back for more— perfect for game days!

    Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders

    The best smash burger recipe— zero exaggeration! These burgers are incredibly juicy, perfectly crispy, smothered in cheese, and topped with a hefty amount of secret sauce. Serve between a toasted brioche bun and this is truly the ultimate smash burger recipe.

    The Best Smash Burger Recipe

    Add this cheesy rotini pasta with roasted vegetables to your dinner menu! Combined together in a pot— rotini pasta, melted cheese, rich marinara sauce, and roasted vegetables. It adds a twist to a classic pasta dish that the entire family will love!

    Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Roasted Vegetables

    Easy Peanut Butter Granola

    Reader Interactions

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this recipe




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Christina! I’m a cook, baker, photographer, and fitness enthusiast. I started this space to share the truth, the fails, the struggles, and the triumphs about my weight loss journey. It later turned into a way to also share healthier recipes.

    More About Christina →

    Trending Right Now

    • These easy to make cookie dough protein bites are made from just 6 basic ingredients and taste just like cookie dough. Perfect on-the-go or pre-workout snack!
      Cookie Dough Protein Bites
    • This creamy mushroom pasta recipe is an easy weeknight meal that's ready in just 30 minutes! The mushroom sauce is heavenly — it's bright, flavorful, tons of garlic and incredibly creamy.
      Creamy Mushroom Pasta
    • These gluten-free pancakes are light and fluffy, just like all pancakes should be. Load them with the add-ins of your choice!
      Gluten-Free Pancakes
    • This avocado egg toast is a simple breakfast that takes just 10 minutes. With just 5 ingredients, this breakfast will keep you full for hours!
      10-Minute Avocado Egg Toast
    • These big fat soft-baked chocolate chip cookies are thick and slightly crispy around the edges. The secret for the chewiest chocolate chip cookie texture is more brown sugar than granulated sugar, an extra egg yolk, plus a little cornstarch! No chilling required!
      Soft-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • This banana pudding pie recipe combines a crunchy cookie crust, soft and sweet vanilla pudding, thick slices of bananas, layers of Nilla Wafers, and a mountain of homemade whipped cream. Everyone who tried a slice instantly loved it.
      The Easiest Banana Pudding Pie
    • These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies have that classic homemade flavor—made with no refined sugar, hearty oats, and whole wheat flour. Your family will fall in love with this recipe.
      Healthier Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
    • When you're craving donuts but want to make them at home without all the work— these glazed donuts save the day! This glazed donut recipe is incredibly simple, 35 minutes start to finish, and are baked, not fried. Perfect for the weekend or even during the week!
      Easy Baked Glazed Donuts

    Recent Recipes

    • These buffalo chicken sliders are an instant crowd-pleaser. Toss the ingredients together in a slow cooker and let it do 99% of the work for you! Your guests will be coming back for more— perfect for game days!
      Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
    • The best smash burger recipe— zero exaggeration! These burgers are incredibly juicy, perfectly crispy, smothered in cheese, and topped with a hefty amount of secret sauce. Serve between a toasted brioche bun and this is truly the ultimate smash burger recipe.
      The Best Smash Burger Recipe
    • Add this cheesy rotini pasta with roasted vegetables to your dinner menu! Combined together in a pot— rotini pasta, melted cheese, rich marinara sauce, and roasted vegetables. It adds a twist to a classic pasta dish that the entire family will love!
      Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
    • This homemade peanut butter granola is satisfying and delicious. Made with basic pantry ingredients— oats, cinnamon, coconut oil, honey, and maple syrup. With tons of flavor in each bite, you'll keep coming back for more!
      Easy Peanut Butter Granola

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Meet Christina
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! to get recipes to your inbox for FREE!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    This website earns from qualifying purchases from affiliate links and generates income via ads.

    Copyright © 2023 Run Lift Eat Repeat on the Foodie Pro Theme