These straightforward cinnamon rolls from scratch are good for yeast novices as a result of they solely require 1 rise. Every cinnamon roll is further comfortable with probably the most scrumptious cinnamon swirl! The rolls freeze fantastically, so it is a nice make-ahead recipe, particularly for planning forward for holidays or the following time you want a particular breakfast. Select from a couple of straightforward icing flavors to prime the nice and cozy & gooey rolls.
This recipe is delivered to you in partnership with Purple Star Yeast.

This straightforward cinnamon roll recipe is likely one of the hottest recipes on my web site, for good cause.
These are traditional, homestyle cinnamon rolls. It took me a number of recipe testing trial-and-error to develop fast cinnamon rolls that preserve all the flavour and texture of conventional in a single day cinnamon rolls. However THIS. IS. IT. And I promise, making these straightforward cinnamon rolls is 100x extra satisfying than that feeling you get from popping open a store-bought can of ready-to-bake rolls.
Right here’s Why You’ll Love These Simple Cinnamon Rolls
- All of the deliciousness of conventional home made cinnamon rolls, however in half the time
- Mushy and fluffy
- Gooey cinnamon sugar swirl
- Just one rise time
- Simple sufficient for yeast novices
- Nice make-ahead, freezer-friendly recipe
Recently, I’ve had much more success with the dough once I let the yeast dissolve within the heat milk/butter combination, as a substitute of whisking it into the dry components. The rolls end up even fluffier and softer, and I do know you’ll admire that, too! The recipe under contains this small change.
Right here’s what some readers are saying about this recipe:
Reader Kristine says: “This recipe is ideal in each approach. It’s easy to execute and requires a really cheap period of time. … The most effective half for me, nonetheless, is that they tasted similar to my grandmother’s cinnamon rolls. I’ve her recipe but it surely requires hours and hours and I not often have that sort of time. Tasting these heat from the oven introduced again a flood of joyful reminiscences and made me really feel like I used to be proper again in her kitchen.★★★★★“
Reader Lana says: “I admit, I used to be very skeptical about my cinnamon rolls rising in 90 minutes. And I used to be nervous about making cinnamon rolls as a result of I didn’t suppose that I may make something near what my grandma used to make. However I’ve made different recipes out of your web site and have been profitable so I gave it a attempt. Let me say, the cinnamon rolls are wonderful! And straightforward!★★★★★“
Identical to grandma used to make! Is there a greater praise than that? I doubt it.

Yeast Novices Rejoice: Just one Rise!
Do you’re keen on home made cinnamon rolls, however are nervous to bake with yeast? You’re not alone! However for those who’re interested in studying easy methods to bake with yeast, this recipe is an ideal one to begin with. No yeast cinnamon rolls are fast and engaging, however the Fluffiness Issue (I ought to trademark that) is just unparalleled relating to yeast rolls vs. no-yeast rolls.
Not like these home made in a single day cinnamon rolls that require hours of rise time, plus a 2nd rise after the rolls are formed, this straightforward cinnamon rolls recipe requires only one rise, for simply 60–90 minutes. And, actually, they’re each bit as scrumptious. Bakery-style perfection for novices!
Are You a Yeast Newbie?
This Baking with Yeast Information is a superb start line for yeast novices. I reply many frequent yeast FAQs in easy-to-understand explanations, so you’ll be able to study in regards to the fundamentals earlier than starting.
Key Elements to Use for the Dough
Right here’s my #1 tip: I like to recommend utilizing a powerful and reliable yeast. Platinum Yeast from Purple Star is a premium instantaneous yeast, which cuts down on rise time. Its cautious system accommodates pure dough strengtheners and makes working with yeast easy. And easy is at all times good, proper? See recipe Word if utilizing energetic dry yeast as a substitute.
Right here’s the remainder of the lineup of components for this wealthy dough:
- Flour: Flour gives the dough construction. All-purpose flour is greatest for these cinnamon rolls. You can additionally use bread flour—the rolls will probably be chewier.
- Sugar: You want white granulated sugar within the dough, each for taste and to feed the yeast.
- Salt: Taste.
- Entire milk: Entire milk is good for the richest-tasting cinnamon rolls. Buttermilk works simply as nicely with none adjustments to the recipe. Many readers have efficiently substituted nondairy milks. In a pinch, you should utilize low-fat milk, however keep away from utilizing nonfat milk.
- Butter: This can be a wealthy dough, that means it has fats to assist assure softness.
- Egg: Like butter, egg guarantees a softer, richer dough.

These Step-by-Step Pictures Will Assist
Step one is to combine your dry components collectively in a giant bowl and this contains the flour, sugar, and salt. After that, heat the milk and butter collectively, after which whisk within the yeast till it has dissolved. Then you already know it will probably begin working its magic in your dough!

Pour this combination over the dry components, add the egg after which combine every little thing collectively. You do not want a stand mixer for this recipe, although you would definitely use one if desired.

Switch dough to your work floor (under, left), after which knead by hand for 3 minutes till a comfortable dough kinds (under, proper).

Let the dough relaxation for 10 minutes as you put together the filling—this provides the dough’s gluten an opportunity to settle and chill out, which is able to make rolling out a lot simpler.
3 Ingredient Filling
- Butter: Use super-soft butter for the filling—not too exhausting, not too melty. If the butter is simply too exhausting, it received’t be straightforward to unfold it evenly over the comfortable dough. If it’s too melty, it can seep into the dough, and we don’t need that both. Butter that’s had time to melt to room temperature must be good. Should you forgot to get it out of the fridge earlier, right here’s my trick for easy methods to rapidly soften butter.
- Brown Sugar: Utilizing brown sugar within the filling offers these cinnamon rolls an extra-delicious depth of taste.
- Cinnamon: You possibly can’t have cinnamon rolls with out it!
Roll out the dough after which prime with softened butter and the brown sugar & cinnamon combination.


Roll up the dough after which use your sharpest knife to chop into 10-12 rolls.

Why Are My Cinnamon Rolls Not Fluffy?
There are lots of variables that go into the consistency of dough, even right down to the climate and humidity. However the most typical cause cinnamon rolls don’t end up fluffy is as a result of the dough didn’t have sufficient time to rise. On this explicit recipe, with only one rise, it’s crucial the formed rolls double in dimension in step 5 under. See the following photograph? You need a pan of puffy-looking rolls even earlier than baking.
Moreover, make sure to add solely as a lot flour as it’s essential make a workable dough. This can be a comfortable and cheesy dough and it’s not imagined to be robust and exhausting. An excessive amount of flour offers you stiff, dense, dry cinnamon rolls.
Prepare your rolls in a flippantly greased 9-inch or 10-inch pan. I admire that this recipe makes a barely smaller batch than most different cinnamon roll recipes.
Listed here are the rolls earlier than and after rising. That is the one rise! They’re able to bake after they’ve practically doubled in dimension.



Why Do My Cinnamon Rolls Rise Inconsistently When Baking?
Generally the facilities of the cinnamon rolls can pop up whack-a-mole-style whereas baking. That is brought on by both rolling them too tight, or if the pan is simply too small/crowded. It’s occurred to me many occasions earlier than. However that is very easy to repair! Pull the pan out of the oven and use the again of a spoon to softly press the overly risen elements again down.
You Have Choices for the Icing
It takes a pair fast minutes to combine a bowl of cream cheese icing collectively and for that, you want cream cheese, a bit butter, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla extract. For one thing even simpler, attempt a vanilla or espresso icing. Merely whisk confectioners’ sugar, vanilla extract, and a bit milk or robust espresso collectively till easy. The video tutorial within the recipe under reveals each icing choices.
Unfold or drizzle your icing on the nice and cozy rolls earlier than serving—each icings seep proper into each gooey swirl! The completed rolls pictured above have cream cheese icing, and right here is the vanilla icing batch:


These straightforward cinnamon rolls from scratch are utterly irresistible and so they take half the time. Should you’re searching for that good cinnamon roll recipe that doesn’t require 4+ hours, that is the winner.
Success Ideas for Making the Greatest Cinnamon Rolls
- Don’t add extra flour than you want. You possibly can add a bit extra flour to carry the dough right into a knead-able consistency, however including an excessive amount of offers you dense, dry rolls.
- Don’t kill the yeast. In case your butter/milk combination is simply too sizzling, it can kill the yeast and also you received’t actually discover till you’re far into the recipe… when the rolls received’t rise! Preserve the temperature heat to the contact, round 100–110°F (38–43°C). An instantaneous learn thermometer is a helpful software for this baking recipe and plenty of others.
- Use your sharpest knife to chop the rolls, so that they don’t squish down.
- Use the proper dimension pan. This recipe makes 10–12 rolls, which slot in a 9- or 10-inch pan. If the pan is simply too small, they’ll be overcrowded. You need to use a 9- or 10-inch pie dish, spherical cake pan, or sq. baking pan. If you would like bigger rolls, try this recipe for jumbo cinnamon rolls!
- Let the rolls rise in a heat, draft-free atmosphere. Right here’s my favourite trick: Preheat your oven to 150°F (66°C), then flip it off. Cowl the formed rolls with aluminum foil and place the pan inside the nice and cozy oven. Go away the oven door cracked open for about half-hour, then shut it and allow them to end rising (one other 30–60 minutes) within the oven with the door closed. Simply don’t neglect to take them out of the oven earlier than you preheat it to bake them!
Description
These straightforward cinnamon rolls are good for yeast novices as a result of they solely require 1 rise. You’ve a couple of choices for toppings. The recipe under features a easy cream cheese icing, however we additionally love these with the espresso icing or vanilla icing that’s included within the recipe Notes under.
Dough
Filling
Cream Cheese Icing
- Make the dough: Whisk the flour, sugar, and salt collectively in a big bowl. Put aside.
- Mix the milk and butter collectively in a heatproof bowl. Microwave or use the range and warmth till the butter has melted and the combination is heat to the contact (about 110°F/43°C, no increased). Whisk within the yeast till it has dissolved. Pour combination into the dry components, add the egg, and stir with a sturdy rubber spatula or wood spoon OR use a stand mixer with a paddle attachment on medium velocity. Combine till a comfortable dough kinds.
- Switch dough to a flippantly floured floor. Utilizing floured fingers, knead the dough for 3 minutes. You need to have a easy ball of dough. If the dough is tremendous comfortable or sticky, you’ll be able to add a bit extra flour. Place in a flippantly greased bowl (I exploit non-stick spray), cowl loosely, and let the dough relaxation for about 10 minutes as you get the filling components prepared.
- Fill the rolls: After 10 minutes, roll the dough out in a 14×8-inch (36×20-cm) rectangle. Unfold the softened butter on prime. Combine collectively the cinnamon and brown sugar. Sprinkle it all around the dough. Roll up the dough to make a 14-inch log. Lower into 10–12 even rolls and prepare in a flippantly greased 9- or 10-inch spherical cake pan, pie dish, or sq. baking pan.
- Rise: Cowl the bowl with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a clear kitchen towel. Enable the dough to rise in a comparatively heat atmosphere for 1–2 hours or till double in dimension. (For a tiny discount in rise time, see my reply to The place Ought to Dough Rise? in my Baking with Yeast Information.)
- Bake the rolls: After the rolls have doubled in dimension, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake for twenty-four–27 minutes, or till flippantly browned. Should you discover the tops are getting too brown too rapidly, loosely tent the pan with aluminum foil and proceed baking. If you wish to be exact about their doneness, their inside temperature taken with an instantaneous learn thermometer must be round 195–200°F (91–93°C) when carried out. Take away pan from the oven and place pan on a wire rack as you make the icing. (You can too make the icing because the rolls bake.)
- Make the icing: In a medium bowl utilizing a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a paddle or whisk attachment, beat the cream cheese on excessive velocity till easy and creamy. Add the butter and beat till easy and mixed, then beat within the confectioners’ sugar and vanilla till mixed. Utilizing a knife or icing spatula, unfold the icing over the nice and cozy rolls and serve instantly.
- Cowl leftover frosted or unfrosted rolls tightly and retailer at room temperature for as much as 2 days or within the fridge for as much as 5 days.
Notes
- Make Forward Directions: This dough can be made the night time earlier than by means of step 4. Cowl with plastic wrap and let relaxation within the fridge in a single day. The subsequent morning, take away from the fridge and permit to rise in a heat atmosphere, about 1 hour. Proceed with step 6.
- Freezing Directions: Baked rolls will be frozen as much as 2–3 months. Thaw in a single day within the fridge and heat up earlier than having fun with. You can too freeze the unbaked rolls and right here’s how: bake the rolls in step 6 for under about 10 minutes at 375°F (190°C). Cool utterly, then cowl tightly and freeze. To serve, take the pan of rolls out of the freezer and put into the fridge a couple of hours earlier than serving. Then, end baking them for the remaining 15–18 minutes.
- Yeast: I extremely advocate instantaneous yeast. Should you solely have energetic dry yeast, you should utilize that as a substitute. Lively dry and instantaneous yeast can be utilized interchangeably in recipes (1:1). Lively dry yeast has a reasonable charge of rising and instantaneous dry yeast has a sooner charge of rising; energetic dry yeast will take longer to boost the dough.
- Milk: This recipe used to name for 1/2 cup (120ml) milk and 1/4 cup (60ml) water. The rolls style a lot richer utilizing all milk, and that’s what I like to recommend. Entire milk and even buttermilk are perfect for this dough. If wanted, you’ll be able to substitute 3/4 cup (180ml) lower-fat or nondairy milk.
- Espresso Icing (or Vanilla Icing): Whisk 1 cup (120g) confectioners’ sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract, and a pair of–3 Tablespoons (30–45ml) robust brewed espresso collectively till easy. Or swap milk for espresso for normal vanilla icing. Drizzle over heat rolls.
- Reference my Baking with Yeast Information for solutions to frequent yeast FAQs.
Key phrases: straightforward cinnamon rolls from scratch
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