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The Best Cinnamon Rolls

These fluffy cinnamon rolls are swirled with cinnamon and brown sugar, topped with a sweet vanilla glaze—perfect for any occasion!
Prep Time 1 hour
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 30 minutes
Servings: 12 pieces
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: American
Calories: 270

Ingredients
  

Dough Ingredients
  • 4 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 packet active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons) Ensure it's fresh
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup whole milk Warm to about 110°F
  • 1/2 cup butter, melted
  • 2 large eggs
Filling Ingredients
  • 1 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 cup butter, softened For spreading
Frosting Ingredients
  • 1 cup powdered sugar For frosting
  • 2 tablespoons milk For frosting
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract For frosting

Method
 

Preparation of Dough
  1. In a large bowl, combine 2 cups of flour, granulated sugar, yeast, and salt.
  2. In a separate bowl, warm the milk slightly (to about 110°F) and mix it with the melted butter.
  3. Add the milk mixture to the flour mixture, then add eggs.
  4. Gradually add the remaining flour, kneading until the dough is smooth and elastic—about 5-7 minutes.
First Rise
  1. Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and set it in a warm area to rise until doubled in size, approximately 1 hour.
Rolling Out Dough
  1. After the dough has risen, punch it down and roll it out on a floured surface into a rectangle about 15 x 20 inches.
Adding Filling
  1. Spread the softened butter evenly over the rolled-out dough.
  2. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and cinnamon together, then sprinkle this mixture over the buttered dough.
Forming Rolls
  1. Starting from the long side, roll the dough tightly into a log.
  2. Slice this log into 12 equal pieces and arrange them in a greased baking dish.
Second Rise
  1. Cover the dish with a damp cloth and let the rolls rise for about 30 minutes, until puffed.
Baking
  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F.
  2. Bake the cinnamon rolls for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.
Making Frosting
  1. While the rolls cool, whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth.
Glazing
  1. Once cooled slightly, drizzle the frosting over the warm cinnamon rolls.
Serving
  1. Serve warm and enjoy the compliments!

Notes

Use fresh yeast for best results. Don’t over-knead the dough for fluffy rolls. You can customize the filling with nuts or raisins. Store in an airtight container for up to 3 days or freeze for up to 2 months. Reheat in the microwave or oven.