Description
Homemade cinnamon rolls merge classic comfort with sweet spice, creating a breakfast classic that warms hearts. Pillowy dough wrapped around rich cinnamon filling offers delightful indulgence you can savor with coffee or morning tea.
Ingredients
Scale
- 3.5 cups (875 ml) all-purpose flour
- 1 large egg
- 1 egg yolk
- 2.25 teaspoons (1 packet) active dry yeast
- 1 cup (240 ml) warm milk (110°F / 43°C)
- ¼ cup (50 g) granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, melted
- ½ cup (113 g) unsalted butter, softened
- ¾ cup (150 g) brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 4 oz (113 g) cream cheese, softened
- ¼ cup (57 g) unsalted butter, softened
- 1 cup (120 g) powdered sugar
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon milk (if needed for consistency)
Instructions
- Yeast Activation: Combine warm milk, sweetener, and yeast in a large mixing bowl, allowing the mixture to foam and develop for 7-9 minutes.
- Liquid Integration: Whisk eggs and melted butter into the activated yeast, stirring until completely combined.
- Dough Formation: Fold flour and salt into the liquid mixture, kneading on a floured surface until the dough becomes smooth and elastic. Transfer to an oiled bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm spot until doubled in volume, approximately 60-75 minutes.
- Filling Preparation: While dough rises, blend softened butter, caramelized sugar, and ground cinnamon into a uniform spread.
- Dough Shaping: Deflate the risen dough and roll into a rectangular shape on a flour-dusted countertop. Spread the cinnamon-sugar mixture evenly across the entire surface.
- Rolling and Cutting: Tightly roll the dough from the long edge, creating a compact cylinder. Slice into uniform spiraled portions and place in a buttered baking dish, leaving minimal space between rolls.
- Final Proofing: Cover the rolls with a light cloth and allow a secondary rise until puffy and slightly merged.
- Baking and Glazing: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake until golden brown, then immediately top with a cream cheese glaze made by whipping cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and velvety.
Notes
- Warm Milk Precision: Use milk between 100-110°F to activate yeast perfectly without killing microorganisms, ensuring proper dough rising.
- Kneading Technique: Develop gluten by kneading dough for 8-10 minutes until smooth and elastic, preventing dense or tough cinnamon rolls.
- Rising Environment: Place dough in draft-free, warm area around 80-85°F, like near a preheated oven, to promote optimal yeast fermentation and volume.
- Filling Distribution: Soften butter completely and spread evenly across dough, leaving small margin at edges to prevent leakage during rolling and baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 13
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 49 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 4 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg