Cinnamon Rolls
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Cinnamon Rolls
Description
This Cinnamon Rolls recipe features a dough made from flour and cornstarch blended with sugar, yeast, salt, milk, and eggs, with softened butter mixed gradually to achieve a soft, sticky dough. The dough is kneaded until smooth but still slightly tacky, then allowed to rise until doubled. After shaping and filling with a cinnamon-sugar-butter mixture, the rolls can be frozen before the second rise for storage and convenience.
The cream cheese frosting complements the sweet cinnamon filling, adding richness. Reheating instructions suggest warming rolls briefly in the microwave or oven to restore softness. This recipe balances tender dough with a spiced filling for a classic cinnamon roll enjoyed warm.
Freezing before or after baking extends the shelf life, and thawing followed by a brief rise or warming ensures freshly baked texture and flavor. These steps provide flexibility in preparation and serving.
Ingredients
For the Dough
- 4⅔ cups all-purpose flour spooned into measuring cup and leveled off, plus more for rolling
- ½ cup cornstarch
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon instant yeast or rapid-rise yeast; note this is more than 1 packet
- 1½ teaspoons salt
- 1 cup + 2 tablespoons whole milk lukewarm (about 110°F/43°C
- 2 egg large, at room temperature
- 1 egg large, yolk, at room temperature
- ½ cup unsalted butter 1 stick), sliced into 8 pieces, softened
For the Filling
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1½ tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 5 tablespoons butter unsalted, softened
For the Frosting
- 4 oz cream cheese softened
- 4 tablespoons butter unsalted, softened
- 1 cup confectioners' sugar
- 2 tablespoons milk plus more if necessary
Instructions
For the Dough
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the dough hook, add the flour, cornstarch, granulated sugar, yeast, and salt. Stir with a rubber spatula or large spoon to combine. With the mixer running on low speed (2), slowly add the milk, whole eggs, and egg yolk, mixing until the dough starts to come together in a shaggy texture. Gradually add the butter, one tablespoon at a time, mixing until fully incorporated. The dough will be very soft and sticky at this stage—don’t worry, that’s exactly how it should be. Continue kneading for about 10 minutes, until the dough is smooth and pulls away from the sides of the bowl but still sticks to the bottom. Again, if the dough feels soft and tacky, that’s perfectly normal.
- Lightly flour your hands and a clean work surface, then turn the dough out and shape it into a smooth ball. Grease a large bowl with nonstick cooking spray, place the dough inside, and cover with plastic wrap. Let it rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
For the Filling
- Line a 9x13-inch baking pan with heavy-duty aluminum foil, leaving a slight overhang on all sides. Grease with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a small bowl, mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Gently pat it into a rough rectangle, sprinkling lightly with flour as needed. Roll it out into a 12-inch-tall by 22-inch-wide rectangle, adding more flour as necessary to prevent sticking. Spread the softened butter evenly over the entire surface, right up to the edges. Sprinkle the brown sugar-cinnamon filling evenly over the top, leaving a ½-inch border.
- Starting with the 22-inch wide edge closest to you, roll the dough into a tight cylinder, pinching the seam to seal. Gently shape the cylinder with your hands to even it out and press in the sides so it’s uniform in width. Using a sharp knife, cut the cylinder in half, then cut each piece in half again, and finally, cut each section into thirds to create 12 rolls. Transfer the rolls, cut-side up, to the prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in size, about 1 hour. (Alternatively, if you plan to bake the rolls the next day, put them in the fridge. When ready to serve, let them sit at room temperature for 1 hour before baking.)
To Bake and Frost
- Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position. Bake the rolls until golden, 30 to 35 minutes. (If you have an instant-read thermometer, you can check them for doneness; the internal temperature should be 190°F to 200°F). Let cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, make the icing: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add the confectioners’ sugar and milk, and whisk until fully combined and creamy. Add a touch more milk if the icing seems too thick.
- After the rolls have cooled slightly, spoon the frosting over them directly in the pan, or transfer the rolls to a platter and then frost. Serve warm.
Notes
- Freeze unbaked rolls after shaping and cover tightly; thaw overnight in the fridge before baking.
- Baked rolls (without frosting) can be frozen in an airtight container and reheated in a 350°F oven.
- Reheat iced rolls in the microwave for 10-20 seconds or warm them uncovered in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12rolls
Amount Per Serving
Calories 522 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1 roll | |
| Calories | 522kcal | 26% |
| Carbohydrates | 75g | 25% |
| Protein | 8g | 16% |
| Fat | 22g | 34% |
| Saturated Fat | 13g | 65% |
| Cholesterol | 93mg | 31% |
| Sodium | 330mg | 14% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 31g | 62% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.