Name: Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with a Gooey Center and Fluffy Layers
Prep time: 90 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 115 min
Ingredients: 4 cups (520g) all-purpose flour; 1 packet (2 1/4 tsp) instant yeast; 1/2 cup (100g) granulated sugar; 1/2 tsp salt; 3/4 cup (180ml) warm milk; 1/4 cup (60ml) water; 1/4 cup (57g) unsalted butter, melted; 1 large egg; 1/2 cup (113g) unsalted butter, softened (for filling); 1 cup (200g) brown sugar (for filling); 2 tbsp cinnamon (for filling); 4 oz (113g) cream cheese (for frosting); 1/4 cup (57g) unsalted butter, softened (for frosting); 1 cup (120g) powdered sugar (for frosting); 1/2 tsp vanilla extract (for frosting)

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There’s just something about homemade cinnamon rolls that makes any morning feel like a special occasion. Maybe it’s the warm, sweet scent that fills the kitchen—or maybe it’s the fact that we get to eat dessert for breakfast and pretend it’s totally normal. This recipe is soft, fluffy, and gooey in all the right places, and I promise it won’t leave you scrubbing dough off your counters for days. These rolls hit that sweet spot (literally) between easy and indulgent. Whether you’re baking them for brunch, a birthday breakfast, or just a rainy Saturday, they deliver the cozy comfort we all need sometimes. Packed with cinnamon-sugar filling, slathered in cream cheese frosting, and made from scratch with simple steps, these are the rolls I turn to again and again. They’re perfect for fans of homemade cinnamon rolls, easy dessert recipes, easy baking recipes, easy sweet recipes, easy breakfast recipes, easy food recipes, and easy cake recipes—because yes, they check every box.

1) Key Takeaways
2) Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe
3) Ingredients for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
4) How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
5) Tips for Making Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
6) Making Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Ahead of Time
7) Storing Leftover Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
8) Try these Homemade Recipes next!
9) Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
10) Nutrition

1) Key Takeaways

Soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls made completely from scratch
Simple ingredients you probably already have at home
No stand mixer required, just a bit of patience and love
Perfect for breakfast, dessert, or a cozy weekend treat

2) Easy Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Homemade cinnamon rolls can feel intimidating, right? But I promise, once you try making them yourself, you’ll be hooked. I know I was. One bite of these soft, warm rolls fresh out of the oven and I knew this recipe was a keeper. This recipe brings together everything I love about baking: comforting smells, cozy textures, and the joy of watching simple ingredients turn into something amazing.

I remember the first time I made these. My kitchen looked like a flour bomb had gone off, but it didn’t matter. The smell of cinnamon and brown sugar baking into golden swirls filled the whole house. That’s when I realized homemade cinnamon rolls aren’t just about the food. They’re about slowing down and enjoying the process.

This one’s for the home bakers, the weekend warriors, or anyone who just really needs a good cinnamon roll. It checks every box: homemade cinnamon rolls, easy dessert recipes, easy baking recipes, easy sweet recipes, easy breakfast recipes, easy food recipes, and easy cake recipes. Let’s get baking.

3) Ingredients for Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

All-purpose flour: This is your base. I like to sift mine first. It helps the dough stay light and airy without going overboard on density.

Instant yeast: One packet gets the job done. You can use active dry if that’s what you’ve got, just give it a little longer to rise.

Granulated sugar: Adds just the right amount of sweetness to the dough and gives the yeast something to munch on.

Salt: Balances out the sweetness and helps boost the flavor of everything else.

Warm milk: Not too hot. You’re aiming for just warm enough that it feels like a cozy bath for your yeast.

Water: Keeps the dough soft. It helps everything come together without being sticky.

Melted butter: Adds richness to the dough. Plus, you’ll need it for the filling and the frosting, so don’t be stingy.

Egg: Just one. It makes the dough tender and helps hold it all together.

Brown sugar: For that classic, rich swirl of flavor. Don’t skip this or you’ll regret it when your rolls are sad and bland.

Cinnamon: The star of the show. Use fresh ground if you can—it makes a difference.

Cream cheese: For that tangy, dreamy frosting. Let it come to room temp so it blends smoothly.

Powdered sugar: Sweetens the frosting without any graininess.

Vanilla extract: Just a splash for warmth and depth in your frosting.

4) How to Make Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Step 1. Mix the dry ingredients. In a big bowl, combine flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir with a wooden spoon—there’s no need for a mixer here.

Step 2. Add the wet ingredients. Warm your milk, water, and butter together. Not hot, just warm. Pour that into the dry mix along with the egg.

Step 3. Knead the dough. Turn it out onto a floured surface and give it a good 8–10 minutes of kneading. It should feel soft, a little springy, but not sticky.

Step 4. Let it rise. Cover the dough and let it hang out somewhere warm for about an hour, or until it doubles in size. I usually pop mine in the oven with just the light on.

Step 5. Roll it out. Shape it into a rectangle, spread softened butter on top, and sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon. Roll it up, slice into 12 rolls, and place in a greased baking dish.

Step 6. Final rise. Let them rest again for 30 minutes. You’re almost there.

Step 7. Bake. Set the oven to 350°F and bake for 20–25 minutes until golden brown.

Step 8. Frost while warm. Mix cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Slather it all over the rolls while they’re still warm and dreamy.

5) Tips for Making Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

If your dough feels dry, add a tiny splash of milk. It should come together like a soft pillow—not a sticky mess, and not a brick either. Don’t stress if it’s not perfect. This is homemade, after all.

Give the dough time. Let it rise fully in a warm place. If it looks sleepy and flat, give it more time. This part makes all the difference between dense buns and soft clouds of cinnamon.

Don’t overbake. Start checking around 20 minutes. They should be golden on top but still soft. Overbaking turns them into hockey pucks, and nobody wants that.

6) Making Homemade Cinnamon Rolls Ahead of Time

I love making these the night before a special breakfast. Just prep them up to the second rise, then cover the pan with foil and tuck it in the fridge overnight. In the morning, pull them out and let them come to room temp for about an hour before baking.

This trick saves time in the morning and lets you wake up to warm, fresh rolls without having to get up at the crack of dawn. You’re welcome.

Another option is to freeze the shaped rolls and thaw overnight in the fridge. Either way, you’ll thank yourself later.

7) Storing Leftover Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temp for up to three days. If you live somewhere warmer, toss them in the fridge just to be safe.

When you’re ready to eat, warm one up in the microwave for about 20 seconds. It brings that gooey texture back like magic.

You can also freeze the rolls—either baked or unbaked—and enjoy them any time you need a cinnamon hug.

8) Try these Homemade Recipes next!

9) Homemade Cinnamon Rolls