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!
had to watch a video to understand how to roll them. But turned out okay! 3 outta 5.
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!
I tried this recipe but forgot to add eggs. They were a bit dry, but still edible. Next time will remember!
Question: Can I freeze the rolls before baking them? How do I do that?
Can u make these with whole wheat flour instead? I’m tryna be healthy here, just curious.
YUM! Best homemade cinnamon rolls I’ve ever made. The icing is super sweet!
Too complicated! Just buy from the store, way easier! 🤦♀️
These cinnamon rolls are amazing! I made them for brunch and everyone loved them!
Can I use whole wheat flour instead of all-purpose? Anyone tried it?
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!
Yum! I added some nuts in the filling for extra crunch. So good!
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?
These cinnamon rolls are a hit! So fluffy and delicious, my family devoured them. Definitely 5 stars!
I don’t know, man. They look good but I messed up the dough and it was a disaster. Maybe I’m just bad at baking? 🤷♂️
I’ve tried this too! It was super easy and my kids loved them! Totally agreee with 5 stars! 😊
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?
These turned out AMAZING! Best cinnamon rolls I’ve ever made. Thank you!
Best ever? Really? I tried this recipe and they were just okay. Not sure what I did wrong.
So glad to hear that! These rolls are legit my favorite too! Great job!
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! 😍
Good rolls, but the icing was too sweet for me. Maybe cut the sugar in half?
I tried making these but they didn’t rise at all. My yeast must have been old? Not sure what went wrong.
Can you use regular yeast instead of instant? I’m confused.
How can you even call these cinnamon rolls? I’ve had better from a can. Disappointed.
I’m sorry you were disappointed! These do take some effort, but they’re not supposed to taste like canned ones. Maybe give it another try? They can be better with practice!
Lol, what’s wrong with can cinnamon rolls? They taste good to me!!
i love cinnamon rolls. they make me happy 😍
I totally agree! Cinnamon rolls are the best. I love how warm and gooey they are. 😍 Have you tried adding some nuts?
Cinnamon rolls? I mean, they’re okay, but there’s better desserts out there. Like chocolate cake or something. Why not just go for that?
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!
Not sure what went wrong, but mine turned out flat. Maybe I didn’t knead them enough? 🤔
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!
These rolls are great but way too sweet for my taste. Might reduce the sugar next time.
I just want doughnuts, why are people okay with rolls? 🤷♂️
Cinnamon rolls are like doughnuts but more fluffy! Give them a try!
Okay but I gotta ask, can I make these with almond milk instead of regular? Trying to be healthier here!
Yes, you can use almond milk! Just make sure it’s unsweetened, or it might change the taste a bit.
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?
Yummy! My whole house smelled like a bakery. I added walnuts too. Mmm!
I dunno, I tried it and they were just ok. Smelled good but too sweet for me.
Sounds amazing! I love the smell of fresh baked goods. Walnuts must have been a great addition!
They were okay but my mom makes better ones. Sorry not sorry.
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? 🤔
I made these for my kids and they devoured them in minutes! So easy to make!
That’s awesome! My kids love these too! So happy they enjoyed it!
Really? My kids didn’t like them at all. Too sweet maybe?
Perfect! I added extra cinnamon because I love it! Great recipe.
Eh, they taste fine but they didn’t rise like they should. Maybe I did something wrong?
I skipped the icing. They were still delicious! Very fluffy.
Tried these for the first time but they didn’t rise much… I think I might’ve used cold milk. Any tips?
I was skeptical about making these from scratch but wow, they turned out great! I added some nuts in the filling for a twist.
I don’t know what I did wrong, but my dough was too sticky and didn’t rise. 🤷♂️
These cinnamon rolls are the best! So fluffy and delicious. I’m never buying store-bought again!