Few things make a home feel warmer than the smell of freshly baked cinnamon rolls wafting through the kitchen. Whether it’s a cozy weekend morning or a special holiday brunch, these soft and fluffy cinnamon rolls bring comfort and nostalgia in every bite.
The dough is rich and tender, made with basic ingredients like flour, yeast, milk, and butter. After rising until pillowy and light, it gets rolled out and generously spread with softened butter, brown sugar, and a hefty sprinkle of cinnamon. Rolled up tightly and sliced into thick spirals, the rolls are arranged in a baking dish where they rise once more until puffy and ready for the oven.
As they bake, the sugar melts into the dough, creating those irresistible, caramelized edges while the centers stay perfectly gooey. The magic finishes with a smooth, sweet glaze, either classic vanilla or cream cheese, depending on your mood, that melts over the warm rolls and seeps into every swirl.
Homemade cinnamon rolls do take a little time, but they’re not difficult. The steps are simple, and the reward is a batch of bakery-worthy rolls that taste far better than anything from a can. For ease, you can make the dough the night before, refrigerate it overnight, and bake fresh in the morning.
What makes this recipe extra special is the texture: soft and tender, not dry or overly dense, with a buttery richness that pairs perfectly with the sweet filling. These are the kind of rolls that get people out of bed early.
Serve them warm with coffee, tea, or a glass of cold milk. They also freeze well, so you can reheat one anytime you need a cinnamon-sugar pick-me-up.
Whether you’re baking them for a lazy Sunday or a festive gathering, these cinnamon rolls are the kind of comfort food that brings people together. One bite and you’ll understand why they’ve earned a permanent place in kitchens everywhere.

Ingredients
- For the dough:
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 1/4 tsp instant yeast
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 2 eggs large,
- For the Filling: Filling
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter melted
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp ground cinnamon
- For the icing:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 2 tbsp milk
Instructions
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, salt, and instant yeast.
- In a small saucepan, heat the milk and butter until warm (about 110°F). Pour the milk mixture into the flour mixture and add the eggs. Stir until well combined.
- Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for about 5 minutes, until smooth and elastic. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour.
- Punch down the dough and roll it out into a 12x16 inch rectangle.
- Spread the melted butter over the dough, then sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log. Cut the log into 12 equal pieces.
- Place the rolls in a greased baking dish. Cover and let them rise for another 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Bake the cinnamon rolls for 20 minutes, or until golden brown.
- While the rolls are baking, prepare the icing by whisking the powdered sugar and milk together.
- Once the rolls are out of the oven, drizzle them with the icing. Serve warm and enjoy!
Wheres the cream cheese frosting? This icing isn’t it for me.
feb 2024
Omg! Best recipe eva!!! Just made them for my kids and they devoured them!
I think it needed more cinnamon. Next time i’ll add extra. But still good!
I think I did something wrong – they came out flat as pancakes 🤦♀️. Need better instructions!
Can u make these with whole wheat flour instead? I’m tryna be healthy here, just curious.
These cinnamon rolls are amazing! I made them for brunch and everyone loved them!
These are the best cinnamon rolls ever!!! I can’t believe how easy they were to make. Thanks for sharing!
Cinnamon rolls are the best thing ever, but like, I added nutmeg instead of cinnamon? Was that a mistake?
These cinnamon rolls are amazing! Tasted just like mom’s. Definitely making again!
Too much sugar! My dentist is gonna love me! 😂
Why put brown sugar when you can just use white🧐? Seems unnecessary.
Brown sugar adds a deeper flavor and moisture that white sugar just can’t match! Trust the recipe! 🤗
Super simple to follow. My kids loved helping out! Gonna make it again next weekend.
So easy to make! I feel like a baking pro now. Thanks for the recipe!
I burnt mine 😭 going to try again. Anyone have tips??
These cinnamon rolls are just divine! Made them for brunch and my family loved them. Definitely will make again!
Delicious! But I think I’m addicted now. Yummy! Great recipe!
I’m not sure about the rising times. Mine didn’t rise much. Maybe yeast was old? 🥴
Yeah, old yeast can really mess things up! Make sure to check the expiration date next time. I hope they turn out better on your next try! 😊
Lol, maybe you didn’t knead enough? Or maybe the warm place wasn’t warm enough? Could o’ been a few things, ya know?
Can you use almond milk instead of regular milk? I’m lactose intolerant.
Yes! Almond milk works great in recipes. Just make sure to use unsweetened, it’ll be delish!
I dunno, I tried it once and they didn’t taste the same. Maybe stick to regular milk?
The dough didn’t rise for me, maybe I did something wrong. Disappointed.
Sorry to hear that! It might’ve been the yeast. Make sure it’s fresh next time. Don’t be too hard on yourself! Keep trying! 😊
Cinnamon and sugar is a winning combo but these took forever to rise! Give me a break.
This is a recipe for winners! 🍽️ I added some walnuts and it turned out amazingly well. Thank you for sharing!
Super easy to follow! Loved this recipe! Used to buy them but now I’m making my own! 😍
I tried making these but they didn’t rise at all. My yeast must have been old? Not sure what went wrong.
Delicious rolls!! 10/10 would bake again!!! 👏🍴
Cinnamon rolls? yawn. What’s all the fuss about? Super basic in my opinion.
I think you’re missing out! Cinnamon rolls are a classic for a reason. They’re soft, warm, and drizzled with icing… what’s not to love? 😍
Yeah, they’re just rolls with cinnamon, who cares? There are way better desserts out there, like brownies or cheesecake. Just saying.
Excellent recipe! One of my favorite breakfast ideas! Can’t do without these in my life!
Super easy to follow! My kids loved helping out. Littles love the icing! 💕
OMG the icing is just perfect! So sweet and creamy. I’m not even a big fan of cinnamon rolls but this one has changed me!
I just want doughnuts, why are people okay with rolls? 🤷♂️
Cinnamon rolls are like doughnuts but more fluffy! Give them a try!
Yummy! Just like my grandma makes. I added a little nutmeg to the filling, so good!
That sounds delicious! I love the idea of adding nutmeg; it must give it a nice twist! I’ll have to try that next time!
Hmm, I wouldn’t add nutmeg, it’s too strong for rolls like these. Just good ol’ cinnamon is best, I think. What if you ruin the taste?
Not sure how you call these cinnamon rolls…looked more like cinnamon lumps. 🤷♂️
Followed exactly but they tasted kinda bland? Maybe more cinnamon next time? 🤔
Tried these for the first time but they didn’t rise much… I think I might’ve used cold milk. Any tips?