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Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with a Gooey Center and Fluffy Layers

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.
Prep Time1 hour 30 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Total Time1 hour 55 minutes
Cuisine: American
Keywords: easy baking recipes, easy breakfast recipes, easy cake recipes, easy dessert recipes, easy food recipes, easy sweet recipes, homemade cinnamon rolls
Servings: 12
Author: Elena

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)

Instructions

  1. In a large bowl, mix flour, yeast, sugar, and salt. Stir in warm milk, water, melted butter, and egg. Mix until dough forms.
  2. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 10 minutes until smooth. Let it rest in a greased bowl, covered, for an hour or until doubled in size.
  3. Roll the dough into a rectangle. Spread softened butter across the surface. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle over the butter.
  4. Roll it up tightly, slice into 12 rolls, and place them in a greased baking dish. Cover and let them rise for 30 minutes.
  5. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake rolls for 20–25 minutes until golden.
  6. Beat cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth. Spread frosting over warm rolls and enjoy.

Notes

If your kitchen is chilly, pop the dough into the oven with the light on for a cozy rise. Don’t skip the second rise—it gives the rolls that bakery-style puff.