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The BEST Soft And Easy Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 52 reviews

This recipe delivers the best soft and easy cinnamon rolls with a tender, fluffy dough and a rich cinnamon-sugar filling. Made from scratch with simple ingredients, these rolls are baked to a golden perfection and topped with a luscious cream cheese icing, perfect for breakfast or dessert.

Ingredients

Scale

Dough Ingredients

  • 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 Ingredients

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

Baking & Topping Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream (120g), room temperature
  • 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 to touch (about 100-110°F). Add yeast, whisk gently, and rest for 10 minutes until foamy.
  2. Prepare Dough Mixture: Add sugar, all-purpose flour, eggs, salt, and room temperature butter to the yeast-milk mixture in the same bowl.
  3. Kneading by Hand: Use a large wooden spoon to mix into a shaggy dough. Turn onto a clean surface and knead by hand for 15 minutes using a push-pull motion. The dough will start sticky but become soft, smooth, and stretchy. Add only 1-2 tbsp flour if still sticky after 5 minutes. Stop when the dough passes the window-pane test.
  4. Kneading with Stand Mixer: Alternatively, knead the dough in a stand mixer with a dough hook on medium-high speed for 7-10 minutes until smooth, pulls away from bowl edges, and passes the window-pane test.
  5. First Rise: Oil a clean bowl, transfer dough, 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, cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt until spreadable. Warm briefly if needed to soften.
  7. Shape Rolls: Line a 9×13″ baking pan with parchment. Punch down risen dough onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 12×18″ rectangle gently. Spread filling evenly over dough.
  8. Cut and Roll: Using a ruler and pizza cutter, cut into 12 strips (1″ wide, 18″ long). Roll each strip tightly into cinnamon rolls and arrange in a 4×3 pattern in the pan.
  9. Second Rise: Let rolls rest in a warm spot for 30-45 minutes until puffed and partially springy when poked.
  10. Preheat Oven and Prepare for Baking: Preheat oven to 350°F (conventional, no fan). Just before baking, carefully pour 1/2 cup heavy cream over the rolls to soak in.
  11. Bake: Bake for 22-25 minutes until rolls are light golden and firm to touch. Slight underbaking is preferable for a gooey texture.
  12. Rest: Remove from oven and allow rolls to rest 10 minutes.
  13. Make Cream Cheese Icing: Whisk together cream cheese, 1/4 cup butter, 1/4 cup heavy cream, and icing sugar until creamy.
  14. Ice and Serve: Spread the cream cheese icing generously over the warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy.

Notes

  • Make sure your milk is warm but not hot to properly activate the yeast without killing it.
  • The dough should feel sticky initially; avoid adding too much flour to keep rolls soft.
  • Use the window-pane test to check dough elasticity: stretch a small piece to see if it becomes translucent without tearing.
  • Pouring heavy cream over the rolls before baking adds moisture and richness.
  • Allowing the second rise ensures fluffy, well-risen rolls.
  • If you do not have a stand mixer, kneading by hand is effective though more time consuming.
  • Store leftover rolls covered in the fridge; reheat gently to retain softness.

Keywords: cinnamon rolls, soft cinnamon rolls, easy cinnamon rolls, cream cheese icing, breakfast recipe, sweet rolls

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