Description

These soft, fluffy Cream Cheese Cinnamon Rolls are the perfect comfort food. They’re filled with a sweet cinnamon-sugar mixture and topped with rich, creamy frosting. Whether for a weekend brunch or a holiday breakfast, they deliver indulgent flavor in every bite. This ultimate guide walks you through each step to achieve bakery-style rolls at home!

Ingredients

Scale

Dough

4 cups all-purpose flour
2 ¼ tsp active dry yeast
1 cup warm whole milk (110°F)
⅓ cup granulated sugar
⅓ cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 tsp salt

Filling

½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup brown sugar (light or dark)
2 ½ tbsp ground cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz cream cheese, softened
¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

Instructions

Make the Dough

In a small bowl, combine warm milk and sugar. Stir in yeast and let sit for 5–10 minutes until foamy.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs and melted butter. Add the yeast mixture.
Gradually add flour and salt until a dough forms.
Knead for 8–10 minutes until smooth and elastic.
Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise for 1–1.5 hours or until doubled in size.

Prepare the Filling

Roll out dough to a 16×12-inch rectangle.
Spread softened butter over the dough evenly.
Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle over buttered dough.
Roll the dough tightly into a log and cut into 12 rolls.

Second Rise & Bake

Place rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
Cover and let rise for 30–45 minutes until puffy.
Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, until golden brown.

Make the Frosting

Beat cream cheese and butter until smooth.
Gradually add powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Spread frosting over warm rolls for a glaze or cooled rolls for a thicker layer.

Notes

For extra gooey rolls, pour ½ cup of heavy cream over the rolls before baking (see Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream).
Store unfrosted rolls at room temperature for 2 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.

Try making Cinnamon Roll Breakfast Casserole for a fun twist!

Prep Time: 20 minutes (plus 1.5 hours rising time)
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Dessert
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll, Cinnamon Rolls, Breakfast Recipes, Brunch Ideas, Easy Baking, Homemade Cinnamon Rolls