Go Back
–+ servings
Print

Cinnabon Cinnamon Rolls

This copy-cat Cinnabon cinnamon roll recipe gives you extra soft, extra fluffy, ooey-gooey, amazingly scrumptious cinnamon rolls. If you are a Cinnabon fan, this recipe is for you! The best part, besides the amazing flavor, they can be started the night before and baked in the morning.
Course Breakfast
Prep Time 45 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Rise Time 2 hours
Total Time 3 hours 15 minutes
Servings 12 rolls

Ingredients

Dough

  • 2 packages active dry yeast or instant yeast (1½ tablespoons or ½ ounce)
  • 1 cup warm milk (100°F-110°F)
  • ½ cup + 2 teaspoons granulated sugar, divided
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, softened
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs, room temperature
  • 4½ cups all-purpose flour

Filling

  • 6 tablespoons butter, melted
  • 1 cup brown sugar (light or dark), packed
  • 3 tablespoons cinnamon

Icing:

  • 8 tablespoons butter (1 stick), softened
  • 4 ounces cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 2½ cups powdered sugar
  • 1½ teaspoons vanilla
  • ¼ teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Grease the bottom and sides of a metal or glass 9×13 inch baking dish, set aside.

Dough:

  • In the bowl of your standing mixer, mix together the yeast, warm milk, and 2 teaspoons of sugar. Allow the mixture to sit for about 5-10 minutes or until foamy on top.
  • Add the remaining ½ cup sugar, softened butter, salt, and eggs. Mix on medium speed, using a dough hook or paddle attachment, until combined. Next, switch the mixer to low speed, and with it running, add 1 cup of flour at a time, making sure it’s fully incorporated before adding the next. After all the flour has been added, mix until the dough comes together and pulls away from the sides of the bowl, about 3 minutes. The dough should be tacky but not too sticky.
  • Place the dough in a large, lightly greased bowl, flipping the dough once to grease all sides. Cover with a kitchen towel and allow to double in size in a warm spot in your kitchen for about an hour.
    ** If your house is on the cool side, you can preheat your oven to 170°F, turn it off and place your covered dough inside to rise; leave the oven door open a crack to allow some of the heat to escape.
  • Once the dough has doubled in size, punch it down and roll it out onto a lightly floured surface with a floured rolling pin until it is approximately 20-inches long,12-inches wide, and about ¼-inch thick.

Filling:

  • Combine the brown sugar and the cinnamon. Then, stir in the melted butter until everything is equally moist. Sprinkle the filling over the dough, pressing it gently to spread it out. Keep the filling about ¼-inch from the edge of the dough.
  • **Using one of the methods listed in the notes, cut the dough into 12 rolls, each about 1.5 inches.
  • Place the slices of dough into the prepared pan.
    **If you are baking the cinnamon rolls tomorrow morning, stop here, cover tightly with tinfoil, place the cinnamon rolls in the refrigerator and pick up tomorrow at "Make-Ahead/Overnigth Instructions."
  • (If continuing), place a kitchen towel or foil over the pan of cinnamon rolls, set in a warm place, and allow to rise until almost doubled in size (about an hour).
  • Preheat the oven to 360°F. When the oven is preheated, bake uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the cinnamon rolls; if they begin to brown on top, place a piece of foil loosely over the rolls and finish baking.
    **To be sure the cinnamon rolls are completely baked in the center, insert a thermometer into the center of the rolls; the temperature should be between 190°F to 200°F.

Icing:

  • While the cinnamon rolls are baking, begin making the icing. Add all the ingredients to a medium bowl and beat well with an electric mixer until light and fluffy.
  • When the cinnamon rolls come out of the oven, spread a layer of icing over the rolls, letting it melt into the rolls. After the rolls have cooled for 15 minutes, spread a second layer over the cinnamon rolls and serve immediately.
  • Cover leftover frosted rolls tightly and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
  • To reheat individual rolls, place in the microwave for 15 to 20 seconds.

**Make-Ahead/Overnight Instructions**:

  • When you are ready to finish the cinnamon rolls, remove them from the refrigerator and loosen the tinfoil from around the edges of the pan, but keep the cinnamon rolls loosely covered (this helps them not to dry out). Preheat the oven to 170°F, then turn the oven off. Place the covered cinnamon rolls in the warm oven, with the oven door open a crack, for 45 minutes to an hour to rise until almost doubled in size.
  • Remove the cinnamon rolls from the oven, and preheat the oven to 360°F. When the oven is preheated, return the cinnamon rolls to the oven, uncovered, and bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Keep an eye on the cinnamon rolls; if they begin to brown on top, place a piece of foil loosely over the rolls and finish baking.
    **To be sure the cinnamon rolls are completely baked in the center, insert a thermometer into the center of the rolls; the temperature should be between 190°F to 200°F.
  • While the cinnamon rolls are baking, follow the instructions for making the icing.

Notes

Pizza Cutter: This method is incredibly quick and easy. Roll out the dough into a 20-inch x 12-inch rectangle and add the filling. Then cut the dough into 1 1/2-inch strips, roll each cinnamon roll individually, and place them in the prepared pan.
Dental floss (unflavored): After adding the filling, roll the dough into a 20-inch long log. Measure out about 12-15 inches of floss, and slide it under your dough until you reach the point where you want to cut. Bring the floss around the top of the dough, and crossing the floss, pull both ends of the floss in a smooth, quick motion. The floss should cut cleanly and easily right through the dough. Repeat until all 12 of the rolls are cut.
Freezing: To freeze the cinnamon rolls, bake and add the icing and allow them to cool completely on the countertop. Place them in the refrigerator for an hour to slightly harden the icing (this helps the icing not stick to whatever container you are storing them in. Cover the top of the rolls with parchment paper and place them in a freezer bag or an airtight container. 
To thaw the rolls, either set them out at room temperature for an hour or two or thaw them in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, place individual rolls in the microwave for 15-20 seconds for that fresh-out-of-the-oven taste.