Easy Joy Of Cooking Cinnamon Rolls Recipe: Homemade Bliss

Cinnamon rolls have transformed countless mornings into delightful culinary celebrations with their irresistible aroma and comforting warmth.

Soft, pillowy dough embraces a rich, sweet interior that promises pure indulgence.

Generations of home bakers have cherished this classic recipe for its ability to create instant happiness.

Warm spices intertwine with tender layers, generating a sensory experience that feels like a sweet embrace.

Delicate swirls promise a perfect balance between fluffy texture and intense flavor profiles.

Home kitchens come alive with the magical transformation of simple ingredients into something extraordinary.

Each bite represents a moment of pure, unapologetic pleasure: get ready to bake magic!

Top Perks of Cinnamon Rolls

• Savor Homemade Comfort: These cinnamon rolls deliver ultimate warmth and nostalgia with every soft, gooey bite, creating a delightful breakfast or dessert experience that feels like a cozy hug from your kitchen.
• Master Simple Baking Magic: The recipe requires basic ingredients and straightforward techniques, making it perfect for bakers of all skill levels who want to create professional-looking pastries without complicated steps.
• Customize Your Sweet Sensation: Easily personalize the rolls by adding optional raisins, nuts, or adjusting the filling's sweetness, allowing you to craft a unique treat that matches your taste preferences and culinary creativity.
• Quick Weekend Indulgence: With just under two hours of total preparation time, these cinnamon rolls transform an ordinary morning into a special occasion, offering a delicious homemade treat that impresses family and friends effortlessly.

Key Ingredients for Cinnamon Rolls

• Active Dry Yeast: Essential for dough rising and creating soft, fluffy texture.
• All-Purpose Flour: Provides structure and foundation for the cinnamon rolls.
• Dried Milk Powder: Adds richness and helps enhance browning of rolls.

• Whole Milk: Helps activate yeast and creates tender, moist dough.
• Unsalted Butter: Adds richness, flavor, and helps create soft texture.
• Eggs: Contribute to dough's richness and help bind ingredients together.

• Granulated Sugar: Provides sweetness and helps yeast activation.
• Salt: Balances flavors and strengthens gluten structure.
• Brown Sugar: Creates deep, caramel-like flavor in filling.
• Ground Cinnamon: Signature spice that gives rolls their classic taste.

• Powdered Sugar: Creates smooth, sweet glaze for finishing rolls.
• Heavy Cream: Helps create pourable glaze and adds richness.
• Optional Raisins or Nuts: Adds texture and additional flavor complexity.

Step-by-Step Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

Step 1: Prepare Dough Base

• All-purpose flour
• Active dry yeast
• Dried milk powder (optional)

Mix dry ingredients in a large mixing bowl, creating a soft flour foundation for your rolls.

Step 2: Combine Wet Ingredients

• Milk
• Butter
• Sugar
• Salt

Gradually blend these into your flour mixture, stirring until a smooth consistency forms.

Step 3: Knead and Develop Dough

Incorporate remaining flour and add 2 eggs one at a time. Knead the dough on a lightly floured surface for 6-8 minutes until elastic and smooth.

Step 4: First Rise

Place dough in a greased bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel. Let rise in a warm spot for 1 hour or until doubled in size.

Step 5: Create Cinnamon Filling

• Brown sugar
• Ground cinnamon
• Cold butter
• Flour

Blend until crumbly and fragrant.

Step 6: Shape Cinnamon Rolls

Roll dough into a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Spread filling evenly, leaving a small border. Optional: sprinkle raisins or chopped nuts.

Step 7: Roll and Cut

Carefully roll dough into a tight log. Slice into 8 equal pieces using a sharp knife or dental floss.

Step 8: Second Rise

Place rolls in a greased 9×13 inch baking pan. Cover and let rise for 30 minutes until puffy.

Step 9: Bake to Golden Perfection

Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake rolls for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Step 10: Glaze and Finish

• Powdered sugar
• 2-cream

Drizzle over warm rolls for a sweet finishing touch.

Step 11: Serve and Enjoy

Serve rolls warm or at room temperature. Best enjoyed with coffee or tea!

Helpful Tips for Cinnamon Rolls

• Activate Yeast Precisely: Verify your yeast's potency by dissolving it in warm water before mixing with other ingredients to guarantee perfect dough rise.
• Control Filling Generosity: Sprinkle cinnamon mixture sparingly to prevent messy leaks and maintain clean, neat roll edges during baking.
• Boost Sweetness Strategically: Extra brown sugar creates irresistibly sticky centers that melt in your mouth and enhance overall roll texture.
• Master Rising Techniques: Warm, draft-free spaces help dough expand beautifully, resulting in lighter, fluffier rolls that everyone will adore.
• Temperature Matters Most: Room-temperature ingredients blend smoothly, ensuring consistent dough development and superior final product.

Cinnamon RollsStorage Tricks You Should Know

• Airtight Container Method: Seal completely cooled cinnamon rolls in an airtight glass or plastic container with a tight-fitting lid. Protect rolls from moisture and air exposure to maintain their soft texture and prevent staleness. Consume within 2 days for optimal freshness and flavor.
• Refrigeration Method: Wrap individual rolls in plastic wrap or aluminum foil before storing in a sealed container. Slide into the refrigerator's middle shelf to maintain consistent temperature. Consume chilled rolls within 7 days, allowing them to reach room temperature before enjoying for best taste and texture.
• Freezing Method: Layer rolls between sheets of parchment paper to prevent sticking, then place in heavy-duty freezer bags. Remove excess air to prevent freezer burn and potential flavor loss.

Different Takes on Cinnamon Rolls

• Chocolate Swirl Sensation: Replace cinnamon with cocoa powder and add chocolate chips to the filling for a rich, decadent version that chocolate lovers will adore.
• Nutty Caramel Dream: Incorporate chopped pecans or walnuts into the filling, then drizzle with a homemade caramel sauce instead of traditional glaze for extra indulgence.
• Fruity Berry Bliss: Swap cinnamon for a mixture of fresh or dried berries like raspberries and blueberries, adding a tangy fruit compote to the filling for a bright, summery alternative.
• Maple Pecan Paradise: Use maple syrup instead of sugar in the dough, mix chopped pecans into the filling, and create a maple-flavored glaze for a cozy, autumn-inspired treat.

Wrapping Up Cinnamon Rolls

Freshly baked cinnamon rolls whisper comfort through their spiraled layers and sweet aromatic essence.

Home kitchens become magical spaces where classic recipes connect generations of bakers.

Rich cinnamon swirls promise warm memories with each tender bite.

Classic recipes like these carry cultural traditions beyond simple ingredients.

Homemade treats always taste more delicious when crafted with care and passion.

When someone pulls these golden rolls from an oven, pure happiness fills the room – so share this recipe, snap a photo, tell friends how amazing these rolls turned out, and spread delightful culinary joy across social networks.

Joy Of Cooking Cinnamon Rolls Recipe

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4.8 from 18 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 12 1x

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Description

Warm, pillowy cinnamon rolls from Joy of Cooking embrace classic comfort with rich, buttery dough spiraled with sweet cinnamon sugar. Homemade pastries invite weekend mornings to sparkle with irresistible aroma and tender, golden layers you’ll savor to the last delicious bite.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Flour and Yeast:

• 4 ½ cups (590 grams) all-purpose flour
• ¼ ounce package (2 teaspoons) (7 grams) active dry yeast
• ¼ cup (30 grams) all-purpose flour

Wet Ingredients:

• 3 large eggs (150 grams), at room temperature
• 1 cup (240 ml/grams) milk
• ⅓ cup (75 grams) unsalted butter, diced
• ½ cup (113 grams) unsalted butter, cold (cut into pieces)
• Half-and-half (or light cream)
• about 2 tablespoons half-and-half or light cream

Sweeteners and Additional Ingredients:

• ⅓ cup (65 grams) granulated white sugar
• ¾ cup (155 grams) light brown sugar, firmly packed
• 3 tablespoons (21 grams) dried milk powder (optional)
• ½ teaspoon (2 grams) salt
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ½ cup (50 grams) raisins or currants and/or chopped nuts (optional)
• ¾ cup (90 grams) powdered (confectioners or icing) sugar

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Instructions

1. Activate the dry yeast in a large mixing bowl by combining 2 1/4 cups (281 grams) of all-purpose flour with instant dry milk powder and the yeast granules.
2. Gently incorporate warmed milk at 110°F (43°C), melted unsalted butter, granulated sugar, and salt into the flour mixture, stirring until a cohesive blend forms.
3. Gradually knead the remaining flour into the mixture, creating a smooth, elastic dough that pulls away from the bowl’s sides.
4. Incorporate eggs one at a time, ensuring each is fully integrated before adding the next, which will enhance the dough’s richness and texture.
5. Transfer the dough to a lightly oiled bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and let it rise in a warm, draft-free area until it doubles in volume, approximately 1 to 1.5 hours.
6. Prepare the cinnamon filling by combining brown sugar, ground cinnamon, all-purpose flour, and cold butter, working the mixture until it resembles coarse, crumbly breadcrumbs.
7. Punch down the risen dough and roll it out on a lightly floured surface into a rectangular shape approximately 18 inches (45 centimeters) long.
8. Spread the cinnamon filling evenly across the dough, optionally sprinkling chopped nuts or raisins for additional texture and flavor.
9. Carefully roll the dough into a tight log, sealing the edge with a small amount of water to prevent unraveling.
10. Slice the log into 8 equal portions using a sharp knife or bench scraper, arranging them in a greased 9-inch by 13-inch (23 centimeters by 33 centimeters) baking pan.
11. Allow the rolls to undergo a second rise, covering them with a clean towel until they nearly double in size, approximately 30-45 minutes.
12. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes, or until they achieve a golden-brown color.
13. While still warm, brush the rolls with a light cream wash to enhance their shine and softness.
14. Prepare a simple glaze by whisking powdered sugar with heavy cream until a smooth, pourable consistency is achieved.
15. Once cooled slightly, drizzle the glaze over the rolls and serve warm or at room temperature.

Notes

• Fresh yeast guarantees a fluffy, well-risen dough with perfect texture.
• Carefully spread cinnamon mixture to avoid messy overflow during baking.
• Extra brown sugar creates a decadent, gooey center that melts in your mouth.
• Patient rising allows gluten to develop, resulting in soft, pillowy rolls with incredible volume.

• Prep Time: 30 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 12
• Calories: 368
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 141 mg
• Fat: 15 g
• Saturated Fat: 9 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 49 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 6 g
• Cholesterol: 80 mg