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    Home » Desserts

    Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

    December 14, 2020 by Emily Ackerman Leave a Comment

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    This recipe for the BEST cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting has no comparison! The cinnamon filling is rich and gooey and the cream cheese icing is the perfect sweet compliment to this breakfast sweet roll. They are even better than Cinnabon!

    Jump to Recipe
    gooey and flaky sticky buns

    Gooey cinnamon rolls are a weakness of mine. Every Christmas morning I make a delicious sweet for the kids (and myself), and this recipe for cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting did not disappoint!

    This post contains affiliate links. The author may receive commission on any purchases made through these links at no cost to you.

    Jump to:
    • 💭 Top tip
    • 🔪 Instructions
    • ⏲️ Baking time
    • 🍽 Equipment
    • 📖 Recipe

    How to make the BEST cinnamon rolls:

    I have tried many different cinnamon roll recipes in my life. Some of these recipes have absolutely flopped, while others were great. Having said this, one of the best recipes out there is the Pioneer Woman's Homemade Cinnamon Rolls, however it makes a TON and it takes a really long time.

    What I like about this recipe is I have found it to be great for these reasons...

    • It's foolproof (no flat, dense cinnamon rolls)
    • It makes just the right amount
    • It has the best frosting!

    If you don't have the time, I highly recommend checking out my recipe for Cinnamon Streusel Bread!

    💭 Top tip

    What makes cinnamon rolls extra good?

    I am telling you right now, the KEY to THE BEST cinnamon rolls is using great quality cinnamon. If you don't use a good quality cinnamon, you won't get good quality results! I HIGHLY recommend using pure Vietnamese Saigon cinnamon from The Spice House.

    Do yourself a favor and get some. You will be absolutely astounded at the difference, even from the first time you smell it! Check out the link here

    Saigon cinnamon

    🔪 Instructions

    How to make cinnamon roll dough:

    Firsts we will begin by scalding the milk. Scald the milk by heating it in the pan until it begins to bubble on the sides. DO NOT BOIL! This is an important step to this recipes to ensure that the yeast gets activated so that it rises.

    Pour the milk into your mixing bowl and add ½ cup of butter. Let the butter melt in it and bring the temperature of the milk down some before adding the yeast.

    After the butter is melted, add the sugar. If the temperature is warm, but not too hot, add the yeast. If the temperature seems to hot for your fingers, add about ¼ cup of the flour to cool it down before adding the yeast.

    It's important that the liquid is warm but not too hot (just above room temperature is ideal), or else it will kill the yeast.

    Let the yeast get bubbly for about 10 minutes.

    With a KitchenAid stand mixer, use the dough hook attachment, begin mixing on low. Add the eggs, salt and remaining flour and allow to the mixer to combine the dough together.

    KitichenAid Stand Mixeerr

    Let it knead the dough on low for up to 10 minutes. This will get the gluten working and the dough should be very stretchy and pliable.

    Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and let it rise for 1 ½- 2 hours.

    After the dough has doubled in size, on a well floured surface roll out the dough into a large rectangle (about 16" x 20").

    How to prepare the cinnamon roll filling:

    Mix the room temperature butter, brown sugar and cinnamon together until smooth. It will almost look like a type of frosting.

    With a large icing spatula, spread the cinnamon filling evenly over dough, leaving 1 ½" of one of long ends without the filling.

    icing spatula
    spreading the brown sugar cinnamon
    I didn't quite get it all the way to the edge, but you can

    Starting at the length of the dough that has cinnamon, carefully roll the dough into a long log.

    cinnamon rolls log

    With a very sharp serrated knife, cut into 12 evenly sized rolls.

    using a knife to cut the rolls

    Check out my favorite serrated knife here, and also check out my article on my favorite knife set that I've had for 12 years (and I LOVE THEM).

    Place the cinnamon rolls in a 9 x 12 pan. At this point you can either cover and let them rise again, OR you can cover them and put them in the fridge overnight and bake them in the morning. That is what I do! This leads me to another question...

    Can I freeze unbaked cinnamon rolls?

    YES!!! You can freeze them once they are prepared, just thaw them in the fridge the night before you want to make them and let them rise for an hour before putting them in the oven.

    ⏲️ Baking time

    Baking the cinnamon rolls:

    Cover and allow the rolls to rise for about 30 minutes and preheat the oven to 350 ℉.

    cinnamon rolls before they have risen
    cinnamon rolls after they have risen
    On the left is before they have risen, on the right is after

    Put the pan in the oven and bake them for about 15 minutes. The rolls should begin to brown on the top and the edges. Do not overbake!

    For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

    Cinnamon rolls with cream cheese frosting are not complete without the homemade frosting right?!

    Take the softened, room temperature cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar and vanilla and add it to a mixing bowl. With an electric hand mixer, mix it together until smooth. Spread the frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls and serve with coffee! Enjoy!

    breakfast sweet rolls
    Cinnamon Rolls with cream cheese frosting
    Look at those deliciously perfect cinnamon rolls!

    Check out these other popular recipes from A Pinch Of Adventure!

    • Perfect Banana Nut Bread
    • Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans
    • Sea Salt Espresso Dark Chocolate Cookies
    • Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake
    • Nutella Babka
    • Mascarpone Frosting

    🍽 Equipment

    Shop kitchen items used in this recipe

    KitchenAid Mixer Saigon Cinnamon hand mixer The Best Knife set review Icing Spatula

     Like this recipe? Don’t forget to rate it below and follow me on Instagram!

    📖 Recipe

    gooey and flaky sticky buns

    Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

    These gooey, flaky cinnamon rolls with homemade cream cheese frosting are filled with the best cinnamon sugar filling and topped with melty cream cheese frosting. This recipe will satisfy your sweet tooth and these sweet rolls are better than Cinnabon!
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 2 hrs
    Cook Time 20 mins
    Servings 12

    Ingredients
      

    For the Dough

    • 1 cup whole milk scalded
    • ½ cup butter 1 stick
    • ⅓ cup sugar granulated
    • 1 packet dry active yeast or 2 ½ teas
    • 2 eggs
    • 4 cups all-purpose flour more if needed
    • 2 teas salt

    For the Cinnamon Filling

    • 1 ½ cups brown sugar packed
    • ¾ cup butter softened
    • 3 tbs good quality cinnamon

    For the Cream Cheese Frosting

    • ¼ cup cream cheese room temperature
    • ¼ cup butter softened
    • 1 teas vanilla extract
    • 1 cup powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    For the Dough

    • In a saucepan over medium heat, scald the milk by heating it up until it gets bubbly on the sides of the pan. DO NOT BOIL. This is important so that the yeast will activate properly
    • Pour the hot milk into the mixing bowl of a KitchenAid stand mixer and add the butter. The butter will melt all the way and the temperature of the milk will come down as well. After the butter is melted, add the sugar. Touch the milk, if it is too hot to the touch, add about ¼ cup of flour and stir.
    • When the milk is warm and it does not feel hot to the touch, add the yeast and allow it to sit and activate for about 10 minutes. It should get frothy and fragrant
    • With the bread hook attachment, turn the mixer on low and add eggs one at a time, salt and remaining flour. Let it hang out on low for about 10 minutes. The dough should come together off the sides of the bowl and become very stretchy and easy to work with. If the dough seems too sticky add a few tablespoons of flour at a time until it seems right.
    • Cover with plastic and allow to rise for 1- 1½ hours or until it doubles in size

    For the Cinnamon Filling

    • Mix softened butter together with the brown sugar and cinnamon until smooth. Do not refrigerate, Keep it at room temperature until ready to use

    Assembling the cinnamon rolls

    • When the dough has doubled in size, on a well floured surface dump out the dough. Knead it together slightly.
    • With a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle (it doesn't have to be perfect). It should be about 16" x 20"
    • With an icing spreader, evenly spread the filling over the dough stopping 1 ½ inches from one side along the length. Cinnamon filling can be spread all the way to the edge of the other 3 sides
    • Starting on the length that has cinnamon up to the edge, roll the dough completely making a long log. With a sharp serrated knife, cut the log into 12 even cinnamon rolls
    • Preheat the oven to 350° and cover the cinnamon rolls allowing them to rise for another 30 minutes. If desired, once the cinnamon rolls are assembled, they can either be refrigerated overnight and baked the next morning, or they can be frozen and baked another time altogether
    • Baked the cinnamon rolls for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown along the edges and slightly golden on the top. I like mine gooey, don't overbake it!
    • Remove from over and make the cream cheese frosting

    For the Cream Cheese Frosting

    • Beat the room temperature butter, cream cheese and vanilla together. After it is creamed together, add the powdered sugar and beat again. Spread the frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls
    • Serve warm with coffee and enjoy!
    This is the best homemade cinnamon roll recipe with cream cheese frosting. It's even better than Cinnabon and it rivals the Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls recipe. These gooey flaky cinnamon rolls are perfectly fluffy and the cinnamon filling is perfect. Complete it with homemade cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls and it is the perfect Christmas morning cinnamon roll recipes. This brunch recipe is great for special occasions and the perfect breakfast sweet
    This is the best homemade cinnamon roll recipe with cream cheese frosting. It's even better than Cinnabon and it rivals the Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls recipe. These gooey flaky cinnamon rolls are perfectly fluffy and the cinnamon filling is perfect. Complete it with homemade cream cheese frosting for cinnamon rolls and it is the perfect Christmas morning cinnamon roll recipes. This brunch recipe is great for special occasions and the perfect breakfast sweet
    Look no further than these fluffy, gooey homemade cinnamon rolls. This cinnamon roll recipe is the perfect Brunch recipe for any special occasion. These sweet rolls have the perfect cinnamon filling and the homemade cream cheese frosting is the best frosting for cinnamon rolls. Cinnabon cinnamon rolls cower to this one!
    These cinnamon rolls are filled with gooey cinnamon and brown sugar, perfectly fluffy and topped with the best homemade cream cheese frosting! This is truly the best cinnamon roll recipe for Christmas brunch or for any special occasion. These breakfast sweet rolls are perfect with coffee and are better than Cinnabon cinnamon buns. This recipe is easier than the Pioneer Woman's cinnamon rolls and can easily be frozen as well

    More Easy Homemade Dessert Recipes

    • Blueberry Puff
    • Whipped Shortbread Cookies
    • Mascarpone Frosting
    • Lemon Berry Mascarpone Cake

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