Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

from chelseasmessyapron.com
48 min

Gooey, Homemade Cinnamon Rolls made easy with step-by-step photos and foolproof tips for perfect rolls every time!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole milk (I wouldn’t recommend a lower fat)
  • 2-1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast (not instant or rapid rise)
  • 1/3 cup + 1/2 teaspoon granulated sugar
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (melted and cooled to room temperature)
  • 1/2 tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 1 large egg yolk
  • 2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour (plus some additional flour as needed)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 8 tablespoons butter (1/2 cup, softened)
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar (I like dark, but light works great too; firmly packed)
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup heavy cream (slightly warmed)
  • 4 ounces cream cheese (full-fat, at room temperature)
  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla bean paste (or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract)
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

Directions

  1. 1

    Preheat oven to 170°F. Heat the milk in a medium pot over low heat until it reaches 100°F. Remove the pot from heat and add the yeast and 1/2 teaspoon sugar. Do not stir. Let sit until foamy, about 5–10 minutes. (If the mixture doesn’t foam, you may need new yeast, or the milk could have killed the yeast if it was too hot. Start over or your rolls won’t rise.)

  2. 2

    In a large bowl, combine the softened butter with brown sugar and cinnamon. Beat until you have a thick mixture.

  3. 3

    While the rolls are cooling, prepare the frosting/glaze. Combine room-temperature cream cheese and butter in a large bowl and beat until smooth and creamy, about 2–3 minutes. Add in powdered sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Beat until smooth.