Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls – a cinnabon copycat recipe, about the closest you’ll get to the real thing. Super easy to make.
Cinnabons
Who doesn’t love the cinnabons at the malls? Just walking by their stores and smelling these cinnabons baking, drives me up the walls. It’s very hard to keep on walking and not stop and spend $5 on a cinnabon.
Not to worry my friends! I have found the precious cinnabon recipe. I came across this book, More Top Secret Recipes: More Fabulous Kitchen Clones of America’s Favorite Brand-Name Foods
, and inside it I found the copycat recipe for cinnabons. This book is great, it has a lot of copycat recipes of popular food items and this recipe for cinnabons was one of them. You can also check out Todd Wilbur’s website here.
I have to admit I was a bit skeptical at first, but as I was making them they were looking like the real thing. I have to tell you, they are about as close to the real thing as you’re going to get.
Oh My Goodness!! These are the best homemade Cinnamon Buns
Cinnamon Rolls
The cinnamon rolls are out of this world, and they cost a whole lot less. They’re huge, and they taste exactly the same. I felt like I hit the jackpot.
Although they’re not as big as the ones you buy because I wanted to make a dozen with this recipe, so I cut each roll so that’ it’s 1 1/2 inch in height whereas the original ones are 2 1/2 inches.
As these cinnabons were baking, the house smelled amazing, just like it does at the mall when you walk by the cinnabon store. I was so excited. And of course, you cannot have cinnabons without the yummy cream cheese icing.
Amazing recipe!! I’ve made it a couple of times at home, and the buns have been absolutely delicious every time!
Ingredients In Cinnabons
There are 3 parts to this recipe. The dough, the filling the that delicious cream cheese icing. Make sure to scroll down for the complete printable recipe. Here’s what you’ll need:
Dough:
- Active dry yeast – You can use instant yeast if that’s what you have. If you use instant, you won’t need to bloom it first, but it’s a good idea to test if it’s still alive. If your yeast doesn’t foam up your yeast is dead and the bread won’t turn out.
- Milk – make sure the milk is lukewarm. Lukewarm basically means the milk is between 98 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5 to 40.5 C). I used whole milk (3.25%) but you can use whatever is in your fridge.
- Sugar – granulated sugar is fine, we just need a bit to sweeten the dough.
- Butter – unsalted as always. Unsalted butter gives us control on how much sodium is in our food.
- Salt – we always need to add a bit of salt to our baked goods, to bring out all the flavors. Salt basically makes everything taste better.
- Eggs – Use large eggs for this recipe.
- Flour – I used all-purpose flour for this.
Filling:
- Brown sugar – I prefer to use dark brown sugar. Make sure it’s packed.
- Cinnamon – the key ingredient in cinnamon rolls!
- Butter – unsalted again. You’ll want to make sure this is softened. Margarine can be used as well.
Cream Cheese Icing:
- Butter – unsalted butter is what you’ll want to use.
- Powdered sugar – this is also known as icing sugar or confectioner’s sugar.
- Cream cheese – at room temperature. I always use Philadelphia cream cheese.
- Vanilla extract – just a bit to add a touch of vanilla in the icing.
- Salt – a little bit is all you need to bring out all the flavors.
How To Make Cinnamon Rolls
- Bloom the yeast: Dissolve the yeast in the warm milk. You can add a tsp of sugar from the sugar needed for the dough to help activate the yeast. Let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes until it has foamed up nicely. If your yeast doesn’t get foamy, don’t move forward. Buy a new jar and store it in the freezer so it lasts longer.
- Make the dough: To the bowl of your mixer add the sugar, butter or margarine, salt, eggs, and flour and mix until well incorporated. Pour the milk/yeast mixture over the flour mixture and using the dough hook, mix well until well incorporated. Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Prepare filling: Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
How To Roll Cinnamon Rolls
- Assemble cinnamon rolls: Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approximately 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. It should be approximately 1/4 inch in thickness. Spread the 1/3 cup of butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with the sugar evenly over the surface of the dough. Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge. Cut the dough into 1 1/2 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan. You can also use floss to cut into slices, as seen in the video. Place the cut rolls in buttered pan. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Bake the cinnamon rolls: Bake them in a preheated 350 F degree oven for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
- Make icing: While the rolls are baking make the icing by mixing all the icing ingredients and beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth. When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.
My Best Tips
- Make sure your yeast has not expired. The number 1 question I get from my readers is “Why didn’t my dough rise?”. The answer always lies with your yeast. Test the yeast first before wasting ingredients. Try and bloom it and if it doesn’t get foamy, your yeast is no good.
- Don’t overheat your milk! Using milk that is too hot will kill your yeast and this will also prevent your dough from rising. Make sure your milk is between 98 and 105 degrees Fahrenheit (36.5 to 40.5 C).
- Use room temperature butter. This is for both the dough and the filling. To do this, take the butter out of the fridge a few hours before you plan to make the dough. Give it enough time to soften.
Make Ahead Cinnamon Rolls
These cinnamon rolls are great because they could be made ahead. Prepare everything as stated in the recipe up until step 10 where you place the rolls in the baking pan. Simply cover them up tightly with plastic wrap and store them in the fridge overnight.
The rolls should continue to rise in the fridge but if by morning they have not doubled in size, turn your oven on to 200 F degrees until it warms up, then turn it off. Place the pan in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls double in size. Then you can bake them as instructed.
Can You Freeze Cinnamon Rolls
Absolutely! Prepare everything as stated in the recipe up until step 10 where you place the rolls in the baking pan. Wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap. Freeze for 8 hours up to 6 weeks. The night before you want to bake the rolls, thaw them out in the refrigerator, still wrapped. They will thaw overnight. Finish the rest of the steps to bake them.
Craving More Cinnamon Roll Recipes? Try These
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Cinnabons Cinnamon Rolls
Equipment
Ingredients
Dough
- 2 ¼ teaspoon active dry yeast or instant yeast
- 1 cup milk lukewarm
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ⅓ cup butter unsalted, softened, or margarine
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 eggs
- 4 cups all-purpose flour
Filling
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 3 tablespoon cinnamon
- ⅓ cup butter unsalted, softened, or margarine
Cream cheese icing
- 6 tablespoon butter unsalted, softened, or margarine
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar also known as icing sugar, or confectioner’s sugar
- ¼ cup cream cheese at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- For the rolls, dissolve the yeast in the warm milk with a tsp of sugar (you can take a tsp out of the 1/2 cup of sugar) in a large bowl. Let it sit for about 5 minutes. If the yeast is good, it will start to froth up.
- To the bowl of your mixer add the sugar, butter or margarine, salt, eggs, and flour and mix until well incorporated.
- Pour the milk/yeast mixture over the flour mixture and using the dough hook, mix well until well incorporated and the dough comes clean from the side of the bowl.
- Place the dough into an oiled bowl, cover and let rise in a warm place about 1 hour or until the dough has doubled in size.
- Combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a bowl.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter.
- Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface, until it is approximately 16 inches long by 12 inches wide. It should be approximately 1/4 inch in thickness.
- Spread the 1/3 cup of butter evenly over the dough, then sprinkle with the sugar evenly over the surface of the dough.
- Working carefully, from the long edge, roll the dough down to the bottom edge.
- Cut the dough into 1 1/2 inch slices, and place in a lightly greased baking pan. You can also use floss to cut into slices, as seen in the video. Place the cut rolls in the prepared pan. Cover with a clean kitchen towel or plastic wrap and let them rise for another 30 minutes, or until doubled in size.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Place the baking pan in the oven and bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cooking time can vary greatly!
- While the rolls are baking make the icing by mixing all the icing ingredients and beat well with an electric mixer until fluffy and smooth.
- When the rolls are done, spread generously with icing.
Video
Recipe Notes
- Prep time does not include time to let the dough rise.
- Always check the expiration date on your yeast and make sure it hasn’t expired. All your yeast products whether it’s in a jar or a package should be stamped with a “Best if Used by” date. Always make sure you check this date, even when you purchase the yeast, who knows it could have been on the shelf past its expiry date.
- To keep your yeast fresh and longer lasting, unopened yeast packages or jars should be stored in a cool or dry place such as your cupboard. However, you can also store your yeast in the fridge or freezer. If you do store it in the freezer and need to use yeast for your baking, make sure you take out the amount you need and let it sit at room temperature for at least half hour before using.
- Once your yeast package or jar has been opened, you must refrigerate the yeast or freeze it in an airtight container.
- One thing to remember about your yeast, is that it is a living organism and over time it will lose activity, even if you’ve never opened the jar or package. So if you don’t bake often, buy the smaller yeast packages rather than a big jar of yeast.
- Make sure your milk is not too hot or it could kill the yeast which will cause your dough not to rise at all. The ideal temperature for the milk should be between 105 F degrees and 110 F for proofing. While 95 F degrees is the best temperature for yeast to multiply, that’s not warm enough for proofing active dry yeast.
- If after dissolving the yeast in the warm milk, the yeast didn’t start to froth up, do not continue with the rolls, your dough will not rise.
- TIP: To speed up the dough rising process, heat your oven to 200 F degrees. Turn off the oven and place your dough as specified in step 4 in the oven with the door closed. This will ensure a warm environment for your dough and the dough will rise fairly quickly, assuming the yeast was good.
- You could prepare this the day before up until step 10. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge overnight. The rolls should continue to rise in the fridge but if by morning they have not doubled in size, turn your oven on to 200 F degrees until it warms up, then turn it off. Place the pan in the oven for about 30 to 45 minutes until the rolls double in size. Then you can bake them as instructed.
- To freeze unbaked rolls, complete everything up to and including step 10, then wrap the pan in two layers of plastic wrap. Freeze for 8 hours up to 6 weeks. The night before you want to bake the rolls, thaw them out in the refrigerator, still wrapped. They will thaw overnight. Finish the rest of the steps to bake them.
Since the icing is made with cream cheese, do they have to
be kept in the refrigerator?
Yes!
I make this cinnamon rolls EVERY Christmas! Thank you for this recipe. So good!🤤
My pleasure, Becca! Glad you like them!
Making these this morning. How long should the dough beat with the dough hook before the ball forms? Mine has been going about 10 min and still not a ball.
If it’s too sticky, add a bit more flour, so beat it until it comes clean from the sides of the bowl.
Hi Can you clarify if making the night before baking no I roll out and cut the rolls or put in the fridge before cutting? Where it says up to step 10 confuses me lol. Thanks!
Yes, you basically do everything except the baking part, place them in a baking dish, wrap them with plastic wrap and refrigerate them until next day. Then take them out of the fridge 30 minutes before baking.
These are the best cinnamon buns I have ever made! Am I able to keep them in the fridge for two days and then bake them or should I freeze them if I need them in two days?
I wouldn’t keep them in the fridge unbaked for more than 24 hours as the filling might liquify. You can bake them now and keep them baked in the refrigerator for a few days.
I love these so much!
Is it possible to make them gluten free?
I’m not an expert on gluten free stuff, so I couldn’t possibly advise you. I know some readers have tried with gluten free flour and have been successful, so it’s up to you if you try it. 🙂
1/2 tsp of vanilla extract in the icing is not enough. 1/2 Tbsp, perhaps?
Otherwise, they were wonderful.
If using instant yeast … do I still add the milk for the dough recipe ? Or is the milk strictly for blooming the yeast ?
You still need the milk.
Hi! I’ve made these at least a dozen times. I usually make the dough in my bread maker, roll them out, roll them up and refrigerate them until the morning. I pull them out about an hour before baking them.
I’ve been having an issue with them browning on the outside, but the middles are still very gooey/doghey. Any suggestions? Am I rolling too tight or should I change the temp or rack height?
We usually still eat them and still love them, but we are definitely eating uncooked dough in the middles!
Prepping to make them for Christmas morning. Any tips for perfect baking and still doing all the prep the day before?
It’s probably your oven. What you can do if you see them browning on the outside, is cover them with foil when you think they’re brown enough then finish baking them until cooked inside. You can prep them the day before and wrap them with plastic wrap then refrigerate over night. Take them out 30 minutes before baking. 🙂
Hi
Can these be made with a caramel pecan base on the bottom of the pan?
Thank you
Hi Laurie! Do you mean more like these sticky buns? https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/sticky-buns/
If yes, absolutely!!
This is has been my go to recipe for years – just like, if not better, than Cinnabon!
i have made this recipe more than once and it always turns out perfect! but this last time i made it and froze the rolls (i did up tp step 10 and it rose ) , and a week later when i took them out to bake it like deflated, so i will try to preheat them in the oven as stated above and see if it works and i will update you guys. but usually it always comes out so delicious, i hope it rises again!!
Also i forgot to mention, i always get compliments on my rolls , this is the best recipe. i was even told they taste better than real cinnabon!
Hi, did you try this again? I would like to make them two days before xmas eve and freeze them, but i wont if they dont rise nicely. thank you
Can I half the recipe?
Sure.
As with every recipe Jo puts out there, these are so good. My son says that my cooking has really evolved. That’s all on Jo!
Thanks, Lori! ❤️
I’ve made these several times and they are amazing. My husband (the cinnamon roll snob) is obsessed with these and my SIL asks for them on special occasions. Can they be made on a Thursday evening for Saturday morning without freezing? I have a bachelorette trip coming up and I’d much rather make them ahead and just have to transport and bake them at the cabin!
I’ve never kept them in the fridge for that long, but they might be ok. Let me know if you try it.