Description
The ultimate recipe for soft, fluffy, and gooey cinnamon rolls. Perfect for your holiday baking, this make-ahead recipe is the secret to a stress-free and impressive Christmas or Thanksgiving morning breakfast.
Ingredients
For the Dough:
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- 10 g (1 tbsp) active dry yeast
- 130 g (½ cup) warm milk
- 300 g ( 2 ½ cups) all-purpose flour
- 50 g (¼ cup) butter
- 60 g (¼ cup) granulated sugar
- 1 pinch of salt
- 1 large egg yolk
For the Filling:
- 120 g (½ cup) butter
- 140 g (⅔ cup) brown sugar
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
For the Frosting:
- 90 g (6 tbsp) butter
- 40 g (3 tbsp) cream cheese
- 70 g (⅔ cup) powdered sugar (icing sugar)
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine the warm milk, sugar, and yeast. Let it sit for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes frothy.
- To the same bowl, add the all-purpose flour, salt, granulated sugar, and egg yolk.
- Knead for 10-15 minutes, then add the soft butter and knead for 10 more minutes. It will be slightly wet, but it will become less sticky as you knead.
- Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let it proof in a warm place (ideally 27-29°C / 80-85°F) for 2 hours, until puffy.
- Punch down the dough and turn it out onto a lightly floured surface.
- Roll the dough into a rectangle about 43 cm x 25 cm (17″ x 10″) and 0.5 cm (¼”) thick.
- In a mixing bowl, combine soft butter, cinnamon, and brown sugar, and spread it all over the rolled-out dough.
- Measure and cut the rectangle into 6 long strips, each about 4 cm (1.6″) wide. Roll each strip up tightly into an individual roll.
- Place the rolls in a parchment-lined baking pan. Cover and let them proof again for 30-45 minutes, until they look full and puffy.
- Preheat your oven to 180°C (350°F).
- Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden brown on top. Let them cool for 5 minutes before frosting.
- While the rolls are baking, make the frosting. In a stand mixer with a paddle attachment, beat the room-temperature butter on medium speed until it becomes pale and fluffy. Scrape down the bowl.
- Add the vanilla extract and mix to combine.
- Gradually add the sifted powdered sugar with the mixer on low, then beat until smooth.
- Add the room-temperature cream cheese and mix just until fully incorporated and smooth. Do not overmix.
- Spread the frosting over the warm rolls and serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cinnamon roll with frosting
- Calories: 710 kcal
- Sugar: 53 g
- Sodium: 280 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 92 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 7 g
- Cholesterol: 115 mg