Print

The BEST Soft And Easy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Print Recipe

★★★★★

4.9 from 632 reviews

This recipe delivers the best soft and easy cinnamon rolls featuring a rich, fluffy dough enriched with milk, eggs, and butter, filled with a classic cinnamon-sugar mixture, and topped with a luscious cream cheese icing. The rolls are hand or stand mixer kneaded, proofed until doubled in size, baked to a golden perfection, and finished with a creamy sweet glaze that melts delightfully into every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

  • 1 1/3 cup whole milk (320g)
  • 4 teaspoons active dry yeast (or instant yeast)
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar (100g)
  • 5 cups all purpose flour (650g)
  • 2 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (113g)

Filling

  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened (113g)
  • 1 cup light brown sugar, packed (200g)
  • 2 tbsp cinnamon powder
  • 3/4 tsp salt

Baking & Finishing

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (120g), room temp (for pouring over rolls before baking)
  • 4 oz cream cheese, room temperature (113g)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature (56g)
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream (60g)
  • 1 cup icing sugar (100g)

Instructions

  1. Activate Yeast: Microwave the milk for 20-30 seconds until warm (about 100-110°F). Add yeast, whisk, and let it rest for 10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Make Dough: Add sugar, flour, eggs, salt, and room temperature butter to the yeast mixture.
  3. Knead Dough by Hand: Mix dough into a shaggy mass with a wooden spoon, then knead on a clean surface with a push-pull motion for 15 minutes until soft, smooth, stretchy, and passing the window-pane test. Add only 1-2 tbsp flour if still sticky after 5 minutes.
  4. OR Knead with Stand Mixer: Use dough hook on medium-high speed for 7-10 minutes until smooth, stretchy, and pulling away from bowl edges.
  5. First Proof: Transfer dough to an oiled bowl, cover with cling wrap, and let rise in a warm place for 60-90 minutes until doubled in size and slightly springs back when poked.
  6. Prepare Filling: Mix softened butter with cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt until spreadable. Warm briefly if needed.
  7. Prepare Baking Pan: Line a 9×13″ baking pan with parchment paper.
  8. Roll Out Dough: Punch down dough and on a lightly floured surface, roll into a 12×18″ rectangle gently as the dough is soft.
  9. Spread Filling: Evenly spread the cinnamon-sugar butter mixture across the dough rectangle.
  10. Shape Rolls: Cut dough into 12 strips (1″ wide, 18″ long) using a ruler and pizza cutter. Roll each tightly into a spiral and place in the pan in a 4×3 arrangement.
  11. Second Proof: Let rolls rest in a warm spot for 30-45 minutes until puffy and slightly springy when poked.
  12. Preheat Oven: Heat oven to 350°F (conventional, no fan) during the last 20 minutes of the second rise.
  13. Add Cream: Right before baking, carefully pour 1/2 cup heavy cream over the rolls so it soaks in during baking.
  14. Bake Rolls: Bake for 22-25 minutes until rolls turn light golden and feel firm to touch. Slight underbaking is preferred for a gooey texture.
  15. Cooling: Remove rolls from oven and let rest for 10 minutes.
  16. Make Cream Cheese Icing: Whisk together cream cheese, butter, heavy cream, and icing sugar until smooth and creamy.
  17. Ice the Rolls: Generously spread cream cheese icing over warm rolls.
  18. Serve: Enjoy warm, soft, and flavorful cinnamon rolls.

Notes

  • Ensure milk is warm but not hot to preserve yeast viability (~100-110°F).
  • Dough can be kneaded either by hand or using a stand mixer.
  • Adding heavy cream before baking keeps the rolls moist and tender.
  • Do not overbake; underbaking slightly gives a gooey, soft texture.
  • Use room temperature ingredients for best dough consistency.
  • The window-pane test checks dough gluten development.
  • Cream cheese icing should be spread when rolls are warm but not hot to prevent melting off.

Keywords: cinnamon rolls, soft cinnamon rolls, easy cinnamon rolls, homemade cinnamon rolls, cream cheese icing, classic cinnamon rolls

Find it online: https://messykitchenmagic.com/the-best-soft-and-easy-cinnamon-rolls-recipe/