Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls

My favorite type of cinnamon roll is pillowy soft, sweet but not cloyingly so, and easy to make. This version combines a few elements from my favorite baker’s recipes to check all my boxes.

Why This Recipe Works

Bread flour has a higher protein content compared to all purpose flour, producing a chewier cinnamon roll with a nice, fluffy rise. The buttermilk in this recipe supports a light and tender finish with the slightest tart tase, pairing perfectly with the tang of a cream cheese frosting.

I promise, you won’t need any other recipe for cinnamon rolls. Try them out!

Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls

·
Beginner

Recipe by

Ingredients

  • Dough
    • 4 0z buttermilk, warmed
    • 4 oz whole milk, warmed
    • 2 large eggs at room temperature
    • 100 g granulated sugar
    • 2.67 oz salted butter, softened
    • 1 tsp salt
    • 520 g bread flour
    • Optional: 4 oz heavy cream at room temperature
  • Filling
    • 113 g salted butter (1 stick), softened
    • 210 g brown sugar
    • 2.5 tbsp cinnamon
    • 1/8 tsp of nutmeg or allspice (optional)

Directions

  1. Activate the yeast: Combine buttermilk and whole milk and warm to around 110ºF. Add to stand mixer or large bowl and sprinkle in 1 packet of instant dry yeast.
  2. Combine ingredients:
    • Add eggs, granulated sugar, and salted butter to the bowl. Mix until just combined.
    • Add salt and bread flour
  3. Knead the dough: Attach dough hook attachment and knead until the dough is smooth, elastic, pulls away from the bowl, and passes the windowpane test (about 5-8 min)
  4. First rise: Shape the dough into a ball and add to a large, lightly greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap or a clean towel and let sit in a warm spot to rise (30-60 min)
  5. Make the filling: Combine salted butter, cinnamon, brown sugar, and nutmeg/allspice if using to a medium bowl and stirl
  6. Shape rolls:
    • Lightly flour a flat, clean work surface and use a floured rolling pin to roll the dough into a large rectangle (about 24″ x 12″)
    • Spread cinnamon sugar filling over the surface of the dough and shape into 9-12 rolls by rolling into a tight log and cutting or cuting into long strips and rolling each roll individually
  7. Preheat the oven to 375ºF
  8. Second rise: Add shaped rolls into a lightly greased 8 x 8 or 9 x 13 metal pan, cover lightly with a towel and let rise for about 30 min while the oven preheats.
  9. Bake: Drizzle rolls with heavy cream right before adding to oven and bake for 20-25 min. The rolls should be lightly golden brown and cooked to about 190ºF in the center of the rolls.
  10. Frost: Top the baked rolls with the cream cheese frosting of your chose while they are warm.

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