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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

prep time: 1 hr 45 min | bake time: 30 min | total time: 2.5 hr

These Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are a dream come true; they're soft, fluffy, and loaded with warm cinnamon sugar swirls! Perfectly finished with a rich cream cheese icing, these rolls are eggless, vegan-friendly, and incredibly easy to make. Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch or treating yourself on a cozy weekend morning, this cinnamon roll recipe will become your new favorite.

The Best Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat

Who needs store-bought when you can whip up these Homemade Cinnamon Rolls right in your own kitchen? Made with simple, everyday ingredients, these rolls are the perfect combination of soft, pillowy dough and gooey cinnamon sugar filling. These rolls are eggless, vegan, and 100% irresistible—your secret’s safe with us, no one will ever guess! Made with simple, everyday ingredients and so easy to throw together, these rolls are perfect for lazy mornings or surprise guests (or, you know, just because you deserve them). 

No eggs? No dairy? No problem! If you’ve ever been walking past a bakery and seen some fluffy gooey cinnamon rolls and told yourself no – this is the day to say yes! These homemade beauties are just as gooey, warm, and comforting as the ones you dream about but without the fuss. The best part? Your house is going to smell so delicious, you might even get a few knocks at the door! 

Tools You’ll Need to Make Cinnamon Rolls From Scratch

Ingredients for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Dough Ingredients

  • Warm Milk: Activates the yeast and creates a soft, pliable dough. Substitute with almond, oat, or soy milk for a dairy-free version.
  • Cane Sugar: Sweetens the dough and feeds the yeast. 
  • Active Dry Yeast: Creates the fluffy rise in the dough. Instant yeast works too for a quicker process.
  • Butter: Adds richness to the dough. Use dairy-free butter for a vegan-friendly recipe.
  • All-Purpose Flour or Bread Flour: Provides structure and a soft, chewy texture. Bread flour creates slightly sturdier rolls.
  • Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavor.

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

  • Butter: Creates a rich base for the filling. Opt for dairy-free butter if needed.
  • Light Brown Sugar: Adds a deep caramel flavor and melts into the gooey filling.
  • Cinnamon Powder: The star of the filling, providing warmth and spice.

Cream Cheese Icing

  • Cream Cheese: The base of the icing, adding tang and creaminess. Use dairy-free cream cheese for a vegan option.
  • Powdered Sugar: Sweetens and thickens the icing to the perfect consistency.
  • Milk or Cream: Thins out the icing to make it spreadable. Dairy-free options like almond or soy milk work perfectly.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances the icing’s flavor with a touch of warmth.

How to Make the Best Cinnamon Rolls

Make the Cinnamon Roll Dough

Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a stand mixer, combine warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy. 

Add flour, sugar, and salt. Knead with the dough hook attachment for 10–15 minutes. Mix in butter and knead for another 5–7 minutes until a soft, slightly tacky dough forms. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Form the Rolls

Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 20×12-inch rectangle. Spread the cinnamon sugar filling evenly over the dough. Roll the dough tightly into a log and cut into 12 equal pieces.

How to Roll Cinnamon Rolls

Spread the cinnamon sugar filling all the way to the edges for even flavor. Roll tightly from one long edge to the other to create a neat log.

Pro Tip for Cutting Cinnamon Rolls

Use unflavored dental floss or a serrated knife to cut the log into even pieces. Dental floss works especially well for clean cuts without squishing the dough, ensuring uniform rolls.

Allow Rolls to Rise

Place the rolls in a greased baking pan, leaving a little space between them. Cover and let them proof for 45 minutes until they puff up.

Bake the Rolls

Pour whipping cream over the rolls for added richness and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown.

When to Ice the Cinnamon Rolls

Spread the cream cheese icing over the rolls while they’re still warm to create a gooey, melty topping, or wait until they cool for a thicker layer.

How to Store Cinnamon Rolls

To keep your cinnamon rolls fresh and delicious, store them tightly covered at room temperature for up to 2 days. For longer storage, place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, where they’ll stay good for up to 5 days. They are quite delicious if you reheat them before serving so you can enjoy their soft, gooey texture. If you’re planning ahead, freeze unfrosted rolls for up to 3 months. Simply defrost overnight and warm them up before adding the icing for a freshly baked taste.

How to Freeze Cinnamon Rolls

To freeze unbaked rolls, arrange them on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 3 months. When ready to bake, let the rolls thaw and rise overnight in the fridge before baking as directed. For baked rolls, freeze them unfrosted and warm them up before adding the icing. If you want to freeze baked rolls – skip the frosting and apply that when you’re ready to enjoy them.

Your Cinnamon Roll Questions Answered

Here’s Why You’ll Love These Easy Cinnamon Rolls

These cinnamon rolls are everything you could want in a homemade treat! They’re soft, fluffy, and perfectly textured every time. Eggless and vegan-friendly, they can easily be customized to suit dietary preferences. The gooey cinnamon filling adds a warm, comforting flavor, while the tangy, sweet cream cheese icing takes them to the next level of indulgence.

Tips for the Perfect Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

  • Measure Precisely: Use a kitchen scale for consistent results.
  • Don’t Overproof: Let the rolls rise just until doubled in size to avoid collapse during baking.
  • Cut with Care: Use unflavored dental floss or a serrated knife for clean cuts.
  • Use Fresh Yeast: Old yeast may not activate properly, leading to a poor rise.
  • Add Cream Before Baking: Pouring cream over the rolls before baking keeps them extra moist and rich.

Did You Make These Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls?

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Meet Saloni

I’m a former pastry chef with a love for breads, cakes and everything in between! My recipes are easy to follow, egg free and are designed to be shared with others!

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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

These Homemade Cinnamon Rolls are a dream come true; they're soft, fluffy, and loaded with warm cinnamon sugar swirls! Perfectly finished with a rich cream cheese icing, these rolls are eggless, vegan-friendly, and incredibly easy to make. Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch or treating yourself on a cozy weekend morning, this cinnamon roll recipe will become your new favorite.
Rate
Yield: 12 servings
Prep: 1 hour 45 minutes
Cook: 30 minutes
Total: 8 hours

Ingredients

Dough Ingredients

Cinnamon Sugar Filling

Cream Cheese Icing

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). In a stand mixer, combine warm milk, 45g sugar, and yeast. Let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
  • Add flour, 45g sugar, and salt. Knead with the dough hook attachment for 10–15 minutes. Mix in butter and knead for another 5–7 minutes until a soft, slightly tacky dough forms. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1 hour or until doubled in size.
  • For the filling, combine softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix until it forms a thick paste, then set aside.
  • Roll out the dough on a lightly floured surface into a 20×12-inch (45x30cm) rectangle. Spread the cinnamon sugar filling evenly over the dough.
  • Roll the dough tightly into a log and cut into 12 equal pieces.
  • Spread the cinnamon sugar filling all the way to the edges for even flavor. Roll tightly from one long edge to the other to create a neat log.
  • Use unflavored dental floss or a serrated knife to cut the log into even pieces. Dental floss works especially well for clean cuts without squishing the dough, ensuring uniform rolls.
  • Place the rolls in a greased baking pan 13x9-inch (33x23 cm), leaving a little space between them. Cover and let them proof for 45 minutes until they puff up.
  • Pour whipping cream over the rolls for added richness and bake for 25–30 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • While the rolls are baking, make the cream cheese icing by combining cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk (or cream), and vanilla extract in a bowl. Whisk until smooth.
  • Spread the cream cheese icing over the rolls while they’re still warm to create a gooey, melty topping, or wait until they cool for a thicker layer.
  • Store leftover frosted or unfrosted rolls tightly covered at room temperature for up to 2 days, or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Notes

Cup vs weighing scale: The US customary cup measurement serves as a rough estimate, as it can have uncertainties, so for precise results, it's recommended to weigh your ingredients using a digital scale in grams. 
Before you start to make any recipe, measure and prepare your ingredients so the process will go smoothly and easily.
For teaspoon (tsp) and tablespoon (tbsp) measurements, please use measuring spoons and not the type of spoons you eat with for accuracy.
Milk: You can use any dairy-free unsweetened milk (like almond, soy, oat) or dairy based whole milk.
Butter: You can use Dairy-free salted butter sticks or any salted butter of your choice.
Sugar: Cane sugar can be substituted with granulated sugar or castor sugar. For the vegan version ensure the sugar is vegan-friendly (some sugars are processed with bone char) or use organic cane sugar.
Cream Cheese: You can use dairy-free cream cheese or any plain cream cheese of your choice. Refer to by baking 101 page for ingredient recommendations.
Whipping Cream: Use dairy-free unsweetened whipping cream for vegan & dairy-free version or use any full fat whipping cream of choice.

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