Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Enjoy these soft, gooey, and rich cinnamon rolls topped with a luscious cream cheese icing, perfect for brunch or a holiday breakfast.
Ingredients
Dough Ingredients
- 4-5 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled Adjust based on dough consistency.
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 2 ¼ teaspoons instant yeast One package of yeast.
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¾ cup water Warm, not hot.
- ½ cup whole milk Warm, not hot.
- ¼ cup unsalted butter Cut into 4 slices.
- 1 large egg At room temperature.
Filling Ingredients
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter Very soft.
- ¾ cup packed brown sugar Light or dark.
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
Icing Ingredients
- 4 oz full fat block cream cheese At room temperature.
- 5 tablespoons unsalted butter At room temperature.
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Dough Preparation
- In a large bowl, combine 3 cups of flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Whisk to combine and set aside.
- In a medium microwave-safe bowl, combine water, milk, and sliced butter. Microwave in 10-second bursts until the butter just melts and the mixture feels warm but not hot.
- Whisk the egg into the warm liquid mixture.
- Pour the wet ingredients over the flour mixture and mix until you have a thick and sticky dough.
- Add another cup of flour and mix until it starts coming together into a ball.
- Knead the dough, adding flour as necessary to prevent sticking, until smooth and elastic.
- Cover the dough and let it rest for about 20 minutes.
Filling and Shaping
- Turn the rested dough onto a lightly floured surface and roll it into a 14x10 inch rectangle.
- Spread softened butter over the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border.
- Sprinkle sugar and then cinnamon evenly over the buttered dough.
- Roll the dough tightly from the longer side into a log.
- Trim 1/2 inch from each end of the log.
- Cut the log into 12 even rolls.
- Place the rolls cut side up in a greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Cover and let the rolls proof in a warm place for about 45 minutes.
Baking
- Preheat your oven and bake the rolls for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.
- While baking, prepare the icing by mixing the icing ingredients until smooth.
- Spread the icing over the warm rolls once they are out of the oven.
Notes
Serve warm for best texture and flavor. Store cooled rolls in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 days or freeze for longer storage.
