Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Happy Friday, friends! Emmett & I are headed home from our vacation today and are so excited to celebrate the holidays at home this year. I’m thankful I decorated in advance. We’re actually hosting, so I’ve got big plans to clean our house once we land, start planning the Christmas menu, and one thing that is definitely going on the must-make list are these delectable cinnamon rolls! Nothing says holiday breakfast or brunch quite like an oversized cinnamon roll paired with a hot cup of coffee. Jordan made these a few weeks ago (bless her for holiday recipe testing), and they’re divine. Click through for the easy recipe, or pin it for later!
Most recently, you’ve seen Jordan’s dark green home office, but today she’s bringing you into her kitchen. Jordan is really good at breads & pastries (she’s always in charge of yeast rolls for her family’s Thanksgiving), but she promised me this recipe is as easy as it gets!
Holiday Breakfast Tradition
I’m planning to make these cinnamon rolls for Christmas Eve breakfast, because we’re hosting our friends this year. Laurie Anne and her husband are spending Christmas with us once again and we’re excited to partake in all the festive traditions.
Nothing says holidays quite like a sweet cinnamon roll breakfast. These can also be prepped in advance, and they make a great gift! Click here for DIY food gifts & packaging ideas. They’d be perfect boxed up and tied with a bow for neighbors.
Cinnamon Roll Recipe
Recipe from A Common Table by Cynthia Chen McTernan
Easy Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
Sweet Dough
- 1/4 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1 tsp dry active yeast
- 2 1/4 cups flour
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 large egg
- 1/4 cup full-fat greek yogurt
- 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Filling
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 tbsp cinnamon
Frosting
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter softened
- 1/4 cup cream cheese room temp
- 1 cup confectioners sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- 1-2 tbsp milk
Instructions
Sweet Dough
- The night before, or at least 2 hours before baking- heat the milk in a small microwave-safe bowl, for about 1 minute. Add the butter and stir until melted. Let the mixture cool slightly until warm to the touch, but not hot. Sprinkle the yeast on top and let it sit until foamy, 5-10 minutes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, and salt.
- When the yeast is foamy, add the eggs and egg yolk, yogurt, and vanilla to the yeast/milk mixture and whisk to combine.
- Mix the wet ingredients into the dry, until all the flour is incorporated and a wet, sticky dough forms.
- Knead in the bowl until the dough is smooth and elastic, 8-10 minutes. Cover with plastic wrap or a damp dish towel. Place in the fridge to rise overnight, or at room temperature for about 2 hours- until doubled.
Cinnamon Rolls
- When the sweet dough has completed its first rise, place it on a generously floured surface. Gently roll it out to a 12 x 14 inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Spread the softened butter across the dough, then sprinkle the brown sugar evenly across the surface. Next, sprinkle the cinnamon on top of that.
- Roll the rectangle snugly into a log. Pinch the seam shut and place the log seam-side down on a flat surface.
- Using unflavored dental floss or a serrated knife, gently slice the log into 8 to 10 rolls, a little more than an inch wide.
- Place the rolls cut-side down into a 9-inch pie dish that has been lightly buttered. Leave an inch or so between rolls for them to expand. Cover loosely with plastic wrap or a damp dish towel and let rise until the rolls are puffy and fill the pan- about 1 hour.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. When the rolls have finished rising, bake them for 20 to 22 minutes, until lightly golden on top.
- While the rolls cool, make the frosting. Beat the butter and cream cheese together until smooth. Add the confectioners sugar in batches, beating vigorously after each addition until smooth. Finally, add the vanilla. If you'd like more of a glaze, add milk 1 tablespoon at a time until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Spread the glaze over the rolls while still slightly warm to let the frosting melt into the cracks. Enjoy immediately!
Is there anything better than cream cheese frosting or glaze? It’s one of my preferred pastry toppings, and nothing beats homemade yeast rolls- especially of the cinnamon variety.
These are best served warm and they reheat nicely. Jordan convinced me this is her new go-to cinnamon roll recipe that I should make this season, and I’m taking her word for it. I can’t wait to enjoy these in a week or two once our company arrives! Here’s to hoping mine look as beautiful as hers.
FAQ
In an airtight, food-safe container for up to 5 days. They’re best reheated before eating!
Of course! This recipe is from A Common Table by Cynthia Chen McTernan… available in the Tuesday Made shop. It’s one of my favorites!
The first rise is 2 hours at room temp (or overnight in the fridge), and the second rise is 1 hour, in the pan!
Other Seasonal Recipes to Try
If you’re looking for more festive recipes and sweet treats to try this holiday season or winter, check out the following:
- Classic Butter Sugar Cookies
- Easy Brown Sugar Shortbread
- Dark Chocolate Layer Cake with Marshmallow Frosting
- Classic Gingerbread Cookies
- Liège Waffles
- My Favorite Blueberry Muffins
I hope you liked this one! Big thanks to Jordan for the incredible recipe, beautiful photos, and for sharing her kitchen with us. I’m super excited to get back home, snuggle the dogs, and get back into the Christmas spirit after having been in tropical mode these past couple weeks. Bring on all the festive food, holiday fun, and snowy scenery!