There’s something truly special about the aroma of homemade cinnamon rolls wafting through the kitchen, signaling that a delicious treat is on the horizon. We are excited to share our favorite cinnamon roll recipe with a decadent cream cheese frosting that will elevate your baking game to new heights. 

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This recipe is the one my mother made us growing up. Bruce has notched it up with the addition of cream cheese frosting. Make these as large rolls like shown in the photos, or minis. Either way, they are gonna be the best cinnamon rolls! If you love cinnamon, you may want to check out an easy snack:  Easy Cinnamon Toast Crunch Krispie Treats or make these Apple Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting!

Here are three reasons you’ll love this recipe:

1. Irresistible Flavor Combination: The soft, fluffy rolls are generously filled with a sweet cinnamon-sugar mixture and topped with a rich, tangy cream cheese frosting, creating a harmonious blend of sweetness and spice.

2. Homemade Comfort: Baking these rolls fills your kitchen with the comforting aroma of cinnamon, providing a warm and inviting atmosphere that enhances the joy of homemade treats.

3. Customizable Size: The recipe allows flexibility in portion sizes; you can make 12 jumbo rolls for a decadent indulgence or 24 smaller rolls to share with a larger group.

Ingredients for Filling:

1. Butter (softened but not melted): Butter adds richness and flavor to the filling, ensuring a luscious, gooey center in the cinnamon rolls.
2. Brown Sugar: Brown sugar adds sweetness and moisture to the filling, creating a caramel-like consistency when baked.
3. Cinnamon: Cinnamon provides the signature warm and aromatic flavor that makes cinnamon rolls irresistible.
4. Heavy Cream: Heavy cream adds richness and helps bind the filling ingredients together, resulting in a decadent and creamy texture.

Ingredients for Cream Cheese Frosting:

1. Cream Cheese (softened): Cream cheese forms the base of the frosting, providing a tangy and creamy flavor that complements the sweetness of the cinnamon rolls.
2. Butter (softened): Butter adds richness and a smooth consistency to the frosting, ensuring it spreads easily.
3. Powdered Sugar: Powdered sugar sweetens the frosting and helps thicken it to the desired consistency.
4. Vanilla Extract: Vanilla extract enhances the flavor of the frosting with its warm and aromatic notes.
5. Heavy Cream or Half and Half: Heavy cream or half and half are added to adjust the consistency of the frosting, making it smooth and spreadable.

Instructions

For the Dough:

• Add milk to a bowl and warm in microwave. It should be warm to the touch, not hot. If it is hot it can kill the yeast.
• Whisk the yeast into the warm milk and let stand for 3-4 minutes.
• Melt 9 tablespoons of butter in a heat safe measuring cup with a spout, allow to cool.
• Mix flour, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl.
• Whisk eggs and butter into milk mixture.
• Pour wet ingredients over the dry and blend until the dough comes together. A firm rubber spatula or plastic bench scraper works well.
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured counter and gently knead until the dough is firm but still a little sticky. This should take about 3-4 minutes.
• Lightly coat a large bowl with vegetable oil. Place the dough into the oiled bowl and cover with a moist dish towel. Set the bowl in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size about 1 hour.

Prepare filling:

• Prepare the filling by mixing the brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Time to Roll:

• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle.  You want the dough to be about 3/8 inch thick. Just eyeball this.
• Spread the softened butter onto the dough. I like to use my hands.
• Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the butter. Make sure that coverage is even, but not all the way on one edge.
• Starting on the long end, roll the dough up firmly, tucking the ends in as you go.
• Cut into 12 slices and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with oil and allow the rolls to rise for 1 hour or until nearly double.

Allow rolls to rise again:

• Cover the pan with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with oil.
• Place rolls in a warm dark area for an hour to allow to double in size.

Bake rolls:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
• Warm the heavy cream until the chill is off-just sit it out on countertop for at least 30 minutes.
• 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 20-25 minutes, until the rolls are lightly golden brown and the center rolls are cooked through.
• Rotate the rolls at 10 minutes. If they are getting too browned, cover loosely with foil for the remaining baking time.
• To ensure rolls are baked check that internal temprature is at least 190 F.

Storage and Reheating Instructions:

• Storage: Place the cooled, unfrosted cinnamon rolls in an airtight container. Store them at room temperature for up to 2 days. If frosted, it’s best to refrigerate them to maintain the frosting’s integrity.

• Reheating: To enjoy warm rolls, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the rolls on a baking sheet and cover them with aluminum foil to prevent drying. Heat for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, you can microwave individual rolls for 20-30 seconds, though this may slightly alter the texture.

Additional Tips:

• Advance Preparation: For added convenience, prepare the dough the night before and let it rise in the refrigerator overnight. This overnight rise enhances the flavor and allows you to bake fresh rolls in the morning.

• Frosting Application: For a delightful variation, consider adding a touch of lemon zest to the cream cheese frosting. The citrusy note complements the sweetness of the rolls beautifully.

• Serving Suggestion: Enjoy the cinnamon rolls warm, paired with a cup of coffee or tea, to fully appreciate their soft texture and rich flavors.

By following these guidelines, you’ll be able to savor these delectable cinnamon rolls at their best.

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

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Prep Time: 2 hours hours 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes minutes

Total Time: 2 hours hours 45 minutes minutes

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Keyword: cinnamon rolls, cream cheese, frosting

Servings: 12 rolls

Calories: 935kcal

Author: Bruce and Dina

Equipment

• bowl
• Whisk
• Large bowl
• Pyrex measuring cup with a spout
• Rubber spatula
• bench scraper

Ingredients

For the Dough:

• 1 ½ cup warm milk about 110 degrees F
• 4 teaspoons instant dry yeast
• 3 eggs at room temperature
• 9 Tbls salted butter melted and cooled
• 6 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar

For the Filling:

• 2 sticks butter softened but not melted
• 3 1/2 cups brown sugar packed
• 5 Tbls cinnamon
• 3/4 cup heavy cream

For the Frosting:

• 8 ounces cream cheese softened
• 1/2 cup salted butter softened
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 Tbls heavy cream or half and half

Instructions

For the Dough:

• Add milk to a bowl and warm in microwave. It should be warm to the touch, not hot. If it is hot it can kill the yeast.
• Whisk the yeast into the warm milk and let stand for 3-4 minutes. 
• Melt 9 tablespoons of butter in a heat safe measuring cup with a spout, allow to cool.
• Mix flour, salt and sugar in a large mixing bowl. 
• Whisk eggs and butter into milk mixture. 
• Pour wet ingredients over the dry and blend until the dough comes together. A firm rubber spatula or plastic bench scraper works well. 
• Turn dough out onto lightly floured counter and gently knead until the dough is firm but still a little sticky. This should take about 3-4 minutes. 
• Lightly coat a large bowl with vegetable oil. Place the dough into the oiled bowl and cover with a moist dish towel. Set the bowl in a warm place until the dough has doubled in size about 1 hour. 

Prepare filling:

• Prepare the filling by mixing the brown sugar and cinnamon in a medium bowl. 

Roll out cinnamon rolls:

• Turn the dough out onto a lightly floured counter. Using a rolling pin, roll the dough out into a rectangle.  You want the dough to be about 3/8 inch thick. Just eyeball this.
• Spread the softened butter onto the dough. I like to use my hands. 
  
• Sprinkle the brown sugar mixture over the butter. Make sure that coverage is even, but not all the way on one edge.
• Starting on the long end, roll the dough up firmly, tucking the ends in as you go.  
• Cut into 12 slices and place in a greased 9×13 baking pan. Cover the pan with plastic wrap that has been sprayed with oil and allow the rolls to rise for 1 hour or until nearly double. 
  

Bake rolls:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. 
• Warm the heavy cream until the chill is off. 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. Rotate the rolls at 10 minutes. If they are getting too browned, cover loosely with foil for the remaining baking time. 
  
• Rotate the rolls at 10 minutes. If they are getting browned, cover loosely with foil for the remaining baking time. 
• Check internal temp on the rolls to ensure they are at 185 F. This will ensure that the dough is fully baked.

Prepare Frosting:

• In a medium mixing bowl blend the softened cream cheese and butter until smooth using a hand mixer or stand mixer. Slowly add powdered sugar.
• Add vanilla. Add enough cream until desired consistency is reached. 
• Spread the frosting over the warm rolls.
  

Nutrition

Serving: 1roll | Calories: 935kcal | Carbohydrates: 154g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 124mg | Sodium: 534mg | Potassium: 318mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 97g | Vitamin A: 1094IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 177mg | Iron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Why you will love making this New York bagel recipe at home:

1. Superior Freshness and Quality

• Fresh Ingredients: When you make New York bagels at home, you have control over the ingredients, ensuring that they are fresh and high-quality. This results in bagels that are fresher and often superior in taste and texture compared to store-bought versions.
• Customizable Flavors: You can experiment with different types of flour, toppings, and add-ins to create unique flavor combinations that you might not find in commercial bagels. This customization allows you to tailor the bagels to your personal preferences.

2. Mastering Traditional Techniques

• Boiling and Baking: The process of making New York-style bagels involves boiling the dough before baking, which gives the bagels their characteristic chewy texture and shiny crust. Mastering this traditional technique can be a satisfying culinary achievement.
• Learning and Sharing: Making bagels from scratch can be a fun and educational experience, whether you’re baking alone or with family and friends. It’s a great way to learn more about baking and share the joy of homemade goods with loved ones.

3. Sense of Accomplishment and Enjoyment

• Homemade Delight: There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from making something from scratch. Enjoying a warm, freshly baked bagel that you’ve made yourself can be incredibly rewarding.
• Creative Process: Baking can be a therapeutic and creative outlet. Shaping the dough, choosing toppings, and watching your bagels come to life in the oven can be a delightful and stress-relieving process.

By making New York City-style bagels at home, you can enjoy the superior taste of fresh, high-quality bagels, master traditional baking techniques, and experience the joy and satisfaction of creating something delicious from scratch.

Making homemade bagels might seem daunting, but with this detailed new york style bagel recipe, you’ll be able to bring the taste of New York City into your own kitchen. Whether you enjoy your bagels plain, topped with sesame seeds, or slathered in cream cheese, these homemade bagels are sure to impress. Next time you’re craving a chewy bagel with a crisp exterior, skip the grocery store and try this recipe instead. Happy baking!

How to Store

Storing these is simple:

• Be sure to allow to completely cool before storing.
• We do not frost all of the cinnamon rolls, so we store the frosting in a seperate air tight container.
• Store rolls in an air tight container, or wrapped in foil.
• Both may be kept for up to one week, in the fridge.

Reheating

These are great re-heated for a snack later in the week

• Re-heat in by placing on a plate, and microwaving at half power for 30 seconds.
• May also place a cinnamon roll on foil and place in 350 F. oven for 15 minutes.
• If keeping cream cheese frosting seperate, add after cinnamon roll is heated up;