Soft and Gooey Homemade Cinnamon Rolls

Name: Soft and Gooey Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 2 h 40 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 3 tablespoons water; 3 tablespoons whole milk; 2 tablespoons bread flour; 1/2 cup warm whole milk; 2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast; 1/4 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg, room temperature; 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 2 1/2 cups bread flour; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened; 3/4 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened; 1 cup powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

These bakery style cinnamon rolls use a simple starter trick to stay incredibly soft and fluffy for days.

By Enzo81 Kitchen· American· November 1, 2026

enzo81.xyz

Prep

30 minutes

Cook

25 minutes

Total

2 hours 40 minutes

Serves

I have tried so many cinnamon roll recipes over the years, but these are my absolute favorite. The secret is a quick starter called tangzhong that makes the dough stay tender and light long after they come out of the oven.

I love making these for a special weekend breakfast because they make the whole house smell amazing. My biggest tip is to make sure your milk is warm but not hot so that your yeast stays happy and the dough rises perfectly every time.

Ingredients

3 tablespoons water
3 tablespoons whole milk
2 tablespoons bread flour
1/2 cup warm whole milk
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg, room temperature
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 cups bread flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

13Instructions

1
Whisk the water, 3 tablespoons of milk, and 2 tablespoons of flour in a small pan over medium heat until it turns into a thick paste.
2
Remove the paste from the heat and let it cool down while you prep the rest of the ingredients.
3
In a large bowl, mix the warm milk, yeast, and sugar and let it sit for about 5 minutes until it looks foamy.
4
Stir the cooled flour paste, the egg, and the melted butter into the yeast mixture.
5
Add the bread flour and salt, then stir until a soft dough forms.
6
Knead the dough on a floured surface for about 7 minutes until it is smooth and slightly tacky.
7
Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it, and let it rise in a warm spot for about one hour.
8
Roll the dough out into a large rectangle on a floured surface, roughly 12 by 15 inches.
9
Spread the softened butter over the dough and sprinkle the brown sugar and cinnamon mixture evenly across the top.
10
Roll the dough up tightly into a log and cut it into 12 even pieces.
11
Place the rolls in a greased 9 by 13 inch baking pan, cover them, and let them rise for another 45 minutes.
12
Bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes until the tops are lightly golden.
13
Whisk the cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth and spread it over the warm rolls.

Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature. To make them taste fresh again, just pop a roll in the microwave for 10 seconds before eating.

#baking #breakfast #cinnamon rolls #comfort food #sweet #homemade

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