Cinnamon Rolls with Vanilla Icing (Printable Version)
Soft, fluffy swirls of dough filled with cinnamon sugar and topped with creamy vanilla icing—a perfect breakfast indulgence.
# The Ingredients You'll Need:
→ Dough
01 - ¾ cup whole milk, warm (43°C)
02 - 2¼ tsp active dry yeast
03 - ¼ cup granulated sugar
04 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
05 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 3½ cups all-purpose flour
07 - ¾ tsp salt
→ Filling
08 - ½ cup brown sugar, packed
09 - 1½ tbsp ground cinnamon
10 - ¼ cup unsalted butter, softened
→ Vanilla Icing
11 - 1½ cups powdered sugar
12 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
13 - 2–3 tbsp milk
14 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
# Step-by-Step Instructions:
01 - In a large bowl or stand mixer, combine warm milk, yeast, and sugar. Let sit for 5–10 minutes until frothy.
02 - Add eggs, melted butter, flour, and salt. Mix until a sticky dough forms. Knead for 6–8 minutes until smooth and elastic.
03 - Place dough in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place for 1 hour, or until doubled in size.
04 - Mix brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
05 - Punch down the dough and roll it into a 16x12-inch rectangle on a floured surface.
06 - Spread softened butter over the dough, then sprinkle evenly with the cinnamon sugar mixture.
07 - Roll up tightly from the long edge and cut into 12 even slices.
08 - Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise for 20–30 minutes.
09 - Preheat oven to 175°C. Bake rolls for 22–25 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
10 - While baking, whisk together icing ingredients in a bowl until smooth.
11 - Spread icing over warm rolls just out of the oven. Serve warm.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Ready in under 2 hours from start to finish
- Made with simple pantry ingredients you likely already have
- Creates bakery quality rolls without professional equipment
- Customizable with different fillings and icings
02 -
- These rolls freeze beautifully for up to 3 months
- The dough can be prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight
- Leftover rolls stay fresh for 3 days at room temperature in an airtight container
- Warming leftovers for 15 seconds in the microwave restores fresh baked texture
03 -
- Allow ingredients especially eggs and butter to come to room temperature for easier mixing and better incorporation
- Use the windowpane test to check if your dough is properly kneaded stretch a small piece until translucent without tearing
- Keep a close eye on the rolls during the final 5 minutes of baking as they can quickly go from perfect to overbrowned