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
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1/3 cup all purpose flour; 1/2 cup whole milk; 1/2 cup warm milk; 1 tablespoon instant yeast; 1/2 cup granulated sugar; 1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk; 4 tablespoons melted butter; 3 cups all purpose flour; 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 cup softened butter; 1 cup brown sugar; 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon; 4 ounces cream cheese; 1/2 cup powdered sugar; 2 tablespoons milk; 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

These bakery style cinnamon rolls are incredibly soft and perfect for a cozy morning treat.

By Recipes By Nani· 🌍 American· September 7, 2026

recipesbynani.com

Prep

30 minutes

Cook

25 minutes

Total

2 hours

Serves

There is something so special about the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in the oven. These rolls are my absolute favorite because they stay soft for days and have that perfect gooey center we all crave.

The secret here is a technique called tangzhong, which is just a fancy way of saying we cook a little bit of the flour and milk into a paste first. It sounds like an extra step, but it is so easy and makes the bread texture light and fluffy.

🧺 Ingredients

1/3 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole milk
1/2 cup warm milk
1 tablespoon instant yeast
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk
4 tablespoons melted butter
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup softened butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 cup powdered sugar
2 tablespoons milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

👩‍🍳Instructions

1
Whisk the 1/3 cup flour and 1/2 cup milk in a small saucepan over medium heat until it forms a thick paste, then let it cool slightly.
2
In a large bowl, mix the warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Add the cooled flour paste, egg, egg yolk, and melted butter.
3
Stir in the remaining flour and salt until a dough forms, then knead it for about 5 minutes until smooth.
4
Cover the dough and let it rise in a warm spot for about an hour until it doubles in size.
5
Roll the dough out into a large rectangle on a floured surface. Spread the softened butter over the dough and sprinkle with the brown sugar and cinnamon.
6
Roll the dough up tightly and cut into rolls. Place them in a greased baking pan and let them rise again for 30 minutes.
7
Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.
8
Beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla together until smooth, then spread over the warm rolls.

💡 Tips

Store any leftovers in an airtight container at room temperature for up to three days. If you want to serve them warm, just pop a roll in the microwave for fifteen seconds. These also freeze well if you wrap them tightly before adding the frosting.

#baking #breakfast #cinnamon rolls #vegetarian #comfort food

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