Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Not much compares to the comforts of homemade cinnamon rolls with coffee from your favorite mug. And while savory options, such as biscuits and gravy or breakfast tacos, are delicious favorites, adding something sweet to a breakfast spread is always sure to please. Gooey, buttery, flavorful cinnamon rolls are the perfect fit.

Cinnamon rolls are a timeless breakfast treat, made with a yeast dough and sticky-sweet glaze. The rolls have been made in home kitchens for centuries, and they all come in different shapes and sizes with a variety of fillings and toppings.

The dough for these homemade cinnamon rolls is rolled out and spread with plenty of butter, cinnamon, and sugar to create a gooey, tasty filling. Once rolled up and baked, you'll have soft, moist breakfast rolls topped with a luscious vanilla glaze that are just begging for you to dig in with a fork.

Learn how to make homemade cinnamon rolls, and try them for your next holiday brunch or weekend breakfast. Craving cinnamon rolls but don't have time for a yeast dough? Try these Southern Butter Rolls.

Ingredients for Homemade Yeast Cinnamon Rolls

The ingredients for these homemade cinnamon rolls are simple and easy to find at your favorite grocery store.

For the cinnamon roll dough, this recipe calls for:

• Warm milk and sugar: The yeast thrives (and wakes up) in a bath of warm milk. The sugar feeds the yeast to make it active once again.
• Active dry yeast: The perfect leavening agent for these rolls, giving them their rise and bounce.
• Softened butter: This will go in the dough, enriching it for a more tender crumb.
• One egg: Adds richness to the dough, making it softer and more luxurious.
• Salt: A bit of salt balances the sweetness of the dough.
• All-purpose flour: The perfect flour for a tender, dense, but fluffy crumb.

To make the filling for these cinnamon rolls, you'll need:

• More softened butter: You'll spread this on the cinnamon rolls dough once it's rolled out. It'll adhere to the rolls filling.
• Sugar and cinnamon: This is the classic homemade cinnamon rolls combo. You could add other spices. (More on that later.)

Lastly, the simple glaze used to top these cinnamon rolls is made by combining:

• Powdered sugar: Adds the sweetness, but also makes it thick and spreadable.
• Milk: Turns the dry powdered sugar into a pourable glaze.
• Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor of the glaze, adding some vanilla depth and toasty notes.

How To Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls From Scratch

While it may seem daunting, the dough for these cinnamon rolls comes together in a few simple steps. The process is made even easier with the help of a stand mixer and dough hook.

The full recipe is below, but here's a brief recap:

• Step 1. Make the dough: Combine the warm milk and sugar, and sprinkle the yeast over top. Add flour with the softened butter, egg, and salt. Mix in remaining flour before turning the speed on the mixer up to medium-high. Leave the dough in the mixer for five minutes to knead it.
• Step 2. Let dough rise: Transfer the dough to a bowl sprayed with cooking spray. Set the dough aside to rise for one hour.
• Step 3. Make rolls: Flour a flat surface and, using a rolling pin, roll dough out to form a rectangle. Spread the softened butter over the dough. Mix together the sugar and cinnamon, and spread it on top of the butter. Roll the dough up to form a log and cut it into even pieces.
• Step 4. Bake cinnamon rolls: Place the cinnamon rolls in a greased baking dish and allow them to rise for another 15 minutes before baking at 350°F for 22 minutes.
• Step 5. Add glaze: Once the cinnamon rolls are baked, remove them from the oven, and allow them to cool slightly for 15 minutes before topping them with vanilla glaze.

Tips for Making the Best Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

If this is your first time making homemade cinnamon rolls, a few tips from experienced bakers will help guide you through the process:

• Wait for the bubbles. Allow your yeast to activate for 5 minutes to be sure it begins creating foam and bubbles before continuing the steps of making the cinnamon roll dough. If the yeast doesn't activate, toss the mixture, and start over with new yeast for best results.
• Don't rush the rise. The key to making moist, fluffy cinnamon rolls is allowing them to rise. Rushing it will result in dense, chewy rolls.
• Use fresh yeast. The yeast in the cinnamon rolls is what helps to create that beautiful, soft texture, and using yeast that is alive once activated is crucial to the process.

What's the Best Frosting for Cinnamon Rolls?

These homemade cinnamon rolls are topped with a simple vanilla glaze for a touch of sweetness that comes together at home in just minutes. However, the topping you choose to use for cinnamon rolls is entirely up to you. For many, a classic batch of cream cheese frosting is the perfect pairing, adding a sweet tanginess to the mix.

The glaze can also be altered to switch up the flavor. Consider using almond extract instead of vanilla extract, or even mixing additional cinnamon into the glaze for an extra kick of spice.

How To Store Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

It's best to enjoy cinnamon rolls right after they come out of the oven. That's when the texture of these rolls is at its best.

However, if you have leftovers, there's no need to throw them away. Store leftover cinnamon rolls in an airtight container or individually wrap them in plastic wrap. Leave them out at room temperature for two days, or in the fridge for four days.

Once you're ready for a treat, warm a cinnamon roll for 15 to 30 seconds in the microwave.