A classic recipe for homemade cinnamon rolls, featuring a soft and fluffy dough filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with cream cheese frosting.
Ingredients
Scale:
4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup dark brown sugar
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped nuts or raisins (optional)
A pinch of ground cloves (optional)
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt
A splash of lemon juice (optional)
Zest of one orange (optional)
Instructions
Prepare the Dough: In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. In another bowl, mix the warm milk, melted butter, and eggs. Gradually add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients, stirring until a dough forms. Knead for about 5-7 minutes until smooth and elastic.
First Rise: Place the dough in a greased bowl, cover it with a damp cloth, and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour or until doubled in size.
Prepare the Filling: While the dough is rising, mix the softened butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl to make the filling.
Roll and Fill: Once the dough has risen, roll it out on a floured surface into a large rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick. Spread the filling evenly over the dough.
Shape the Rolls: Roll the dough into a log starting from the long edge. Cut into 12-15 equal pieces and place them in a greased baking dish.
Second Rise: Cover the rolls with a towel and let them rise again for about 30 minutes.
Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the rolls for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.
Make the Frosting: In a mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese and butter until smooth. Add in the powdered sugar, vanilla extract, and salt, mixing until creamy.
Frost the Rolls: Allow the rolls to cool slightly before spreading the cream cheese frosting generously over the top.
