This cinnamon roll recipe makes classic, home-style cinnamon rolls. They’re fluffy, soft, and topped with vanilla glaze. It’s taken me some time to develop quick cinnamon rolls that maintain all the flavor of traditional overnight cinnamon rolls. I have the winner for you right here and I baked two batches just to be sure.
Yeast Beginners Rejoice!
Do you love homemade cinnamon rolls, but are nervous to bake with yeast? Join the club. I was too! But this recipe changed everything for me. No yeast cinnamon rolls are delicious, but this recipe is perfect for anyone who wants to learn how to bake with yeast. Unlike these homemade cinnamon rolls that require hours of rise time, plus a 2nd rise time after the rolls are shaped, this easy cinnamon rolls recipe only requires 1 rise.
Here’s my #1 tip: I recommend using a strong and dependable yeast. Platinum Yeast from Red Star is an instant yeast, which cuts down on rise time. Its careful formula strengthens your dough and makes working with yeast simple. And simple is always good, right?
How to Make Easy Cinnamon Rolls from Scratch
Make the dough: The ingredients are pretty standard: flour, sugar, salt, yeast, water, milk, butter, and 1 egg. Heat the butter, milk, and water together. Next, stir the butter mixture into the dry ingredients, then add the egg. At this point, your dough is ready to knead!
Knead the dough: You can use your mixer or hands to knead the dough. If you want to learn more about how to knead, this is a helpful guide. When you’re finished kneading, cover the dough and let it rest for a few minutes so the gluten settles. During this time, get your filling ingredients ready: butter, cinnamon, and sugar.
Shape the cinnamon rolls: Roll the dough out into a 14×8 inch rectangle. Spread the butter on top, then sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. You can use regular white granulated sugar or brown sugar in the filling. Tightly roll up the dough and cut into 11-12 pieces. Place in a greased round pan and get ready to rise.
Rise: Let the shaped rolls rise for 60-90 minutes. Remember, this is the only rise time for the rolls.
Bake: After the cinnamon rolls are nice and puffy, bake until golden brown.
