Homemade Cinnamon  Rolls

The best homemade cinnamon rolls ever! If you love gooey cinnamon buns, here’s the secret ingredient. 

Everyone raves about these homemade yeast rolls.

Ingredients

For the Dough:

1 cup warm milk (about 115 degrees F)
2 1/2 teaspoons instant dry yeast* (I like Red Star Platinum Baking Yeast)
2 large eggs at room temperature
1/3 cup salted butter** (Melted, but make sure it isn’t over 110º Fahrenheit. Just softened is fine.)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon salt
4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (divided)

For the Filling:

1/2 cup salted butter (almost melted)
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup heavy cream*** (for pouring over the risen rolls)

For the Frosting:

6 ounces cream cheese (softened)
1/3 cup salted butter (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar1

1/2 tablespoon maple extract (or vanilla)

Instructions

Pour the warm milk in the bowl of a stand mixer and sprinkle the yeast overtop.

Add the eggs, butter and sugar. Mix until combined.

Add in salt and 4 cups (save the other 1/2 cup and add only if you need it) of flour and mix using the beater blade just until the ingredients are barely combined. Allow the mixture to rest for 5 minutes so the flour has time to soak up the liquids.

Scrape the dough off the beater blade and remove it. Attach the dough hook.

Beat the dough on medium speed, adding in up to 1/2 cup more flour if needed to form a dough. Knead for 5-7 minutes or until the dough is elastic and smooth. **The dough should be tacky and will still be sticking to the sides of the bowl. That’s ok! Don’t be tempted to add more flour at this point. We generally add about 4 1/2 cups, but start with 4 cups.

Spray a large bowl with cooking spray.

Use a rubber spatula to remove the dough from the mixer bowl and place it in the greased large bowl.

Cover the bowl with a towel or wax paper.

Set the bowl in a warm place and allow the dough to rise until double. I like to turn on the oven to the lowest setting for 1-2 minutes. Then turn off the oven and place the dough to rise in there. It normally takes about 30 minutes for the dough to rise. Do not allow the dough to rise too much or your cinnamon rolls will be airy.

While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon filling. In a medium bowl, combine the soft butter, brown sugar and cinnamon, mixing until well combined. Set aside.

Sprinkle a pastry mat generously with flour. Turn out the dough onto the pastry mat and sprinkle the top of the dough with additional flour.

Flour a rolling pin and roll the dough to about a 24×15″ rectangle. (the size of the rectangle can vary…it does not have to be exact!)

Use a rubber spatula to smooth the cinnamon filling over the whole dough rectangle.

Starting on the long end, roll the dough up tightly jelly roll style.

Cut into 12 slices and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan.****

Cover the pan and allow the rolls to rise for 20 minutes or until nearly double.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Warm the heavy cream until the chill is off. Don’t make it hot…you just don’t want it cold. It should be warm to the touch.

Once the rolls have risen, pour the heavy cream over the top of the rolls, allowing it to soak down in and around the rolls.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20-22 minutes, until the rolls are lightly golden brown and the center rolls are cooked through. Note…the time will vary based on how big the rolls are, what type of pan, how close the rolls are packed, etc. They could take up to 25-27 minutes. Check the rolls at 20 minutes. If they are getting too browned, cover loosely with foil for the remaining baking time.

While the rolls are cooling, prepare the cream cheese frosting.