Soft, and unbelievably rich and fluffy homemade cinnamon rolls with lots of frosting AND a time-saving overnight option. These classic cinnamon rolls are the ultimate breakfast indulgence!
I’m a sucker for freshly-baked homemade cinnamon rolls.
I mean, give me a choice between a fresh cinnamon roll and basically any other baked breakfast goods, and I’ll take the cinnamon roll every time.
It definitely sets my morning off to a good start. 🙂
I’ll also take mine with extra frosting, please.
Mhmm. I like a little cinnamon roll with my frosting. Doesn’t everybody?
Warning: Photo overload coming your way. I went wayyy overboard taking pictures of these little babies. 😀 Hope you’re hungry.
This recipe has been in the works for a loooooong time. I first made these cinnamon rolls over 6 months ago adapting it from Averie Cook’s original recipe. Over those 6 months, I must have made these cinnamon rolls at least 15 times, (no joke) tweaking things a little bit and putting my own spin on classic cinnamon rolls.
I’m pleased to say that over half a year later, these cinnamon rolls are now, indeed perfect. They’re soft, melt-in-your-mouth, filled with tons of cinnamon-buttery goodness, and topped with tons of frosting.
And did I mention FLUFFY?!! They’re so fluffy I’m gonna die! (sorry, just had to say that)
They’re so perfect in every way, I make them practically every week. Can’t get enough of ’em.
So what’s the big deal with “overnight cinnamon rolls”? Let me tell you: Next to coffee, they’re the best thing ever invented. All you do is make your dough the night before, let it rise, fill and shape into cinnamon rolls, stick in the fridge overnight, then pop ’em in the oven the next morning while you’re sipping your 2nd cup of coffee.
It really doesn’t get any easier than that. And it’s a pretty good motivation to get out of bed, if you know that breakfast is practically already made. 😀
So what makes these rolls so soft and fluffy? It’s all “in the dough”. Buttermilk, melted butter, and 3 eggs make up most of the richness and softness in these rolls. Then, it’s just basic yeast roll ingredients from there: Flour, active dry yeast, honey, and salt.
The first rise time for these rolls will take around 2 hours. I’ve found that you can speed up the rising time of my yeast dough, by placing the bowl in a slightly warm oven. Just make sure that the oven isn’t TOO warm, otherwise you’ll kill the yeast.
Once your dough is doubled in size, give it a big ‘ol punch and then roll onto a floured surface into a 15×12″ rectangle. Then generously spread with softened butter and pat a bunch of cinnamon sugar over that.
Roll ‘er up as tightly as possible on the long side and then pinch edges to seal. Then cut into 1-in rolls and place in a greased 9×13 baking dish.
Now at this point, you have choice: You can cover your rolls with plastic wrap and put them in the fridge to rise overnight, OR you can let them rise at room temperature for about 30 minutes (or until doubled in size) and then bake them. Totally up to you, but I definitely prefer the overnight option. Simplifies my mornings sooo much.
My cinnamon rolls took precisely 30 minutes to bake, but I would recommend checking them around 25 minutes. You don’t want the tops to get TOO overbrowned and you want the inside to stay soft and somewhat “doughy”, if you will.
Frosting? Gotcha covered. Literally. These cinnamon rolls are smothered in frosting and seriously, it’s the only way to go. Is there such a thing as too much frosting? Umm, no.
It’s just a simple vanilla glaze, but it really transforms these cinnamon rolls from “okay” to “WOW, GIMME ANOTHER ONE!”
Just look at all that luscious frosting. ‘Dontcha just wanna lick the screen??
Me? I kinda want to faceplant into the screen. 😉
These cinnamon rolls are freaking HUGE. Like half the size of your face. One of these rolls usually always satisfies me, but sometimes I end up having one for lunch too. They’re just too good. Soft, rich, fluffy, buttery, and everything a good ‘ol classic cinnamon roll should be. ♥♥
My family can’t get enough of these cinnamon rolls. You know, now that I think about it, these cinnamon rolls must be pretty dang good, because my family didn’t complain once during all of my recipe testing. 😮 That’s pretty miraculous…
Oh, and be sure to stay tuned, because during those 6 months of cinnamon-roll testing, I made some pretty amazing different variations of cinnamon rolls that I can’t wait to share with you. 😀
What are you waiting for?? Grab a fork and dig into your effortless, perfect-in-every way cinnamon roll.
Fluffy Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
Ingredients
- DOUGH:
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 1 pkg active dry yeast 2-1/4 teaspoons
- 1/4 cup honey
- 3 large eggs lightly beaten
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 4 to 4-1/2 cups white whole wheat flour
- FILLING:
- 1/3 cup butter softened
- 1 cup coconut sugar or brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ICING:
- 1 cup powdered xylitol or powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5-6 tablespoons heavy cream
Instructions
- Place buttermilk and butter in a small saucepan, heat over medium-high heat until liquid registers 120F degrees and butter is mostly melted. Remove from heat and pour into a stand mixer fitted with a dough hook attachment. Dissolve yeast into buttermilk mixture and let sit 5 minutes or until foamy.
- Prepare the dough: On medium speed, mix in honey, beaten eggs, and salt into yeast mixture until smooth. Add 4 cups flour to liquid and mix until dough pulls away from sides of bowl, adding more flour if needed.
- Turn dough onto a floured surface and knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes. (dough should be smooth and not at all sticky) Place dough in a large greased bowl, turning once to grease top. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size, about 2 hours.
- Prepare the filling: Punch risen dough down and turn onto a floured surface. Roll out into a 15 x 12" rectangle. Spread with softened butter. Combine coconut sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle over butter to within 1/2-in of the edges.
- Starting with the long side, tightly roll up dough. Pinch edges to seal. Using a bench scraper or a sharp knife, cut dough roll into 1-in rolls. Place rolls swirl-side up in a greased 9x13 baking pan. Cover rolls with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (rolls may be refrigerated up to 15 hours) OR let rolls rise at room temperature 30 minutes, or until doubled and bake as directed below.
- Preheat oven to 375F. Remove rolls from refrigerator (or from the counter) and bake at 375F 25-30 minutes or until golden-brown.
- While rolls are baking, prepare the icing: Place xylitol (or sugar) in a small bowl. With an electric handheld mixer, beat in vanilla and heavy cream by the tablespoon until icing reaches drizzling consistency. Store in refrigerator until ready to use.
- Allow rolls to cool 10 minutes before drizzling with icing. Serve immediately.
Notes
Looking for more breakfast recipes? You’re in the right place!
Whole Grain Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars
Blueberry Banana Donuts With Vanilla Glaze
Poppyseed Sweet Rolls With Lemon Icing
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
These look like the ultimate, fluffy cinnamon roll!I wish I had one for breakfast. I’ve never attempted home-made cinnamon rolls before, but I think I have to try your recipe! Beautiful pictures, too!
Sarah says
Oh, you SO need to try homemade cinnamon rolls, Gayle! They will change your life. Promise. 😀 Thanks for the photography compliment!
Kelly @ The Pretty Bee: Cooking + Creating says
Cinnamon rolls…so yummy! What a perfect treat for a special weekend breakfast!
Sarah says
A perfect weekend breakfast, right? 😉 Thanks Kelly!
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
I declare you the Queen of Baked Goods. Another yummy creation.
Sarah says
Thank you, Kathy! 😀
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
These look so big and fluffy and delicious Sarah! I just want to take a bite out of them, and put on extra, extra frosting. So good!
Sarah says
“Extra, extra frosting”. Umm LOVE that. Thanks, girl! 🙂
Renee @ Two in the Kitchen says
I am a SUCKER for fresh baked cinnamon rolls too Sarah! And I have to say: These look AMAZING!! Gorgeous photos as always!! I want to lick that icing right off the screen!! 🙂
Sarah says
Yayy! Glad to know I’m not the only one obsessed with cinnamon rolls! Thanks for the sweet photography compliments, Renee!
dina says
they look yummy!
Sarah says
Thank you!
Teresa says
We liked it.
However I did the overnight version and was wondering if I should have still done a second proof? It didn’t really do much in the fridge over night (just over 12hrs). I took them out of the fridge first thing and they sat on the stove while the oven heated up plus a bit extra so maybe 20minutes, would they be fluffier if they were left out longer or should they be let to rise a bit before refrigerating over night? They weren’t real dense or anything just wondered if they could be fluffier.
I will say I used regular old whole wheat flour for this and the dough was wonderful to work with after the first proof (I only had to add like a Tbs of flour more than the 4cups) and next time more cinnamon I think for us personally (also only did 12 rolls as 15 I don’t think would have fit) also had to sub 1/2milk 1/2 Greek yogurt for the buttermilk.
Cheated the proof time too, stuck it in my oven for a few minutes (only just warmed) as I had a short window to get it done in and that cut the proof time to about an hour. (Oven temp to 200f turn off then placed my metal mixing bowl with dough in it for probably 5mins top covered, just enough to warm the bowl really, then took out and sat ontop of stove with the little light on -it’s old school still produces some heat- and it really quickened the process)