The Best Cinnamon Rolls – Recipe

Soft & Gooey Cinnamon Rolls (With Cream Cheese Frosting)

There’s something grounding about working dough with your hands and watching it rise — a quiet little joy of baking from scratch. These cinnamon rolls are soft, buttery, and just the right kind of sweet. The filling is rich with dark brown sugar and cinnamon, and the cream cheese frosting! It’s the kind that melts right into the warm rolls. Here’s how to make them from start to finish — no shortcuts, but no stress either.

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Ingredients

Dough:

• 180g semi skimmed milk
• 2tsp active dry yeast
• 50g granulated sugar
• 60g salted butter
• 1 large egg & 1 egg yolk
• 360 g bread flour 
• ¾ tsp salt
• Olive oil, for greasing the bowl

Filling:

• 60g salted butter
• 150g dark brown sugar
• 1½ tbsp ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 120g  cream cheese
• 100g powdered sugar
• 60g softened salted butter
• ½ tsp vanilla extract

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Method

1. Warm the milk & bloom the yeast: Heat the milk in the microwave until it’s warm to the touch. Pour it into the bowl of your stand mixer.  Add the yeast and sugar, cover and leave for around 5 minutes to go foamy. 
2. Mix the dough: Add in the melted butter, egg, and yolk. Mix until smooth. Stir in flour and salt. 
3. Knead it: Using either a mixer or by hand, knead for 8–10 minutes until the dough is soft and just slightly tacky. If still sticky add a little extra flour. 
4. First rise: Grease a large bowl with a little olive oil. Tuck your dough inside, cover with cling film and a clean tea towel. Let it rise for around 2 hours. 
5. Roll & fill: Dust your counter with flour and roll the dough. Spread the softened butter on your dough and press the cinnamon and brown sugar mix into the melted butter.
6. Roll it up: Roll up and make sure the seam is facing down. Push the ends in slightly to compact the roll. This gives for a tighter swirl. 
7. Slice & second rise: Cut into slices and place in a greased or pre-lined baking tin. Cover again and let rise for an 1 hour, until puffed and touching.
8. Bake: Preheat oven to 180°C. Bake the rolls uncovered for 20 minutes. 25 if you like them browned and slightly crispier.  Let them cool while you make the frosting. 
9. Frost & enjoy: Whip together cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla until smooth and fluffy (stand mixer or a good whisk will do). Spread the frosting over the warm rolls — let it melt into the swirls — and serve while still cozy and soft.

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Notes

• These rolls are best fresh, but you can make them ahead: prep the rolls and do the second rise overnight in the fridge. Let them come to room temp before baking the next morning.

• You can also freeze baked, unfrosted rolls — just reheat and frost when you’re ready to serve.