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Foolproof Homemade Cinnamon Rolls That Fill Your Kitchen With Warmth (140 Min)

Soft, pillowy homemade cinnamon rolls with a thick cinnamon swirl and tangy cream cheese icing, ready in about 140 minutes including rise time.
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Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
1 hour 30 minutes
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 12 rolls, scalable
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 340
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • For the Dough
  • 3/4 | cup | whole milk warmed to 110°F |
  • 2 1/4 | tsp | instant yeast |
  • 1/3 | cup | granulated sugar |
  • 1 | large | egg room temperature |
  • 1/4 | cup | unsalted butter melted |
  • 1/2 | tsp | salt |
  • 3 1/4 | cups | all-purpose flour plus more for dusting |
  • For the Filling
  • 1/3 | cup | unsalted butter softened |
  • 3/4 | cup | packed brown sugar |
  • 2 | tbsp | ground cinnamon |
  • For the Cream Cheese Icing
  • 4 | oz | cream cheese softened |
  • 1/4 | cup | unsalted butter softened |
  • 1 | cup | powdered sugar |
  • 1/2 | tsp | vanilla extract |
  • 1 to 2 | tbsp | milk | as needed for consistency

Method
 

  1. Making the Dough
  2. Proof milk, yeast, and a pinch of sugar 5 to 10 minutes until foamy.
  3. Whisk in remaining sugar, egg, melted butter, and salt.
  4. Add flour gradually until a shaggy dough forms.
  5. Kneading and Rising 4. Knead 8 to 10 minutes until smooth and elastic. 5. Let rise in a greased, covered bowl about 60 minutes until doubled.
  6. Filling and Shaping 6. Roll dough into a 16x12-inch rectangle. 7. Spread softened butter over dough. 8. Sprinkle with cinnamon-sugar mixture. 9. Roll into a log, slice into 12 rolls. 10. Arrange in a greased 9x13-inch dish, cover, rise 30 minutes.
  7. Baking 11. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). 12. Bake 22 to 25 minutes until golden.
  8. Icing and Serving 13. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and milk until smooth. 14. Spread over warm rolls.
  9. Nutrition (per roll, with icing): Calories: 340 | Protein: 5 g | Carbohydrates: 48 g | Fat: 15 g | Fiber: 1 g | Sugar: 26 g | Sodium: 190 mg
    10. For an overnight option, refrigerate the shaped, unbaked rolls after step 10 instead of rising at room temperature, then finish rising while the oven preheats in the morning.

Notes

Contains dairy, egg, and gluten; dairy-free and gluten-free swaps are included in the post. Freezes well, baked or unbaked, for up to 3 months.