Pillow Soft Cinnamon Rolls (Printable Version)

Indulgently fluffy cinnamon rolls with buttery swirls, brown sugar-cinnamon filling, and creamy glaze—ideal for weekend mornings.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Dough

01 - 4 cups all-purpose flour
02 - 2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast (1 packet)
03 - 1 cup warm milk (about 110°F)
04 - 1/3 cup granulated sugar
05 - 1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted
06 - 2 large eggs, room temperature
07 - 1 tsp salt

→ Filling

08 - 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
09 - 2 1/2 tbsp ground cinnamon
10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, very soft

→ Cream Cheese Glaze

11 - 4 oz cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
13 - 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
14 - 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
15 - 2-3 tbsp milk

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in warm milk with 1 tbsp sugar. Let stand until frothy, about 5-7 minutes.
02 - Add remaining sugar, melted butter, eggs, and salt. Mix until combined. Gradually add flour, mixing until a soft dough forms.
03 - Knead dough on a floured surface for 6-8 minutes, or until smooth and elastic. Place in a greased bowl, cover, and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 1 hour.
04 - Punch down dough and turn onto a lightly floured surface. Roll into a 16x12-inch rectangle.
05 - Spread soft butter for filling evenly over dough. Sprinkle with brown sugar and cinnamon mixture.
06 - Starting from a long edge, tightly roll up the dough. Pinch seam to seal. Cut into 12 equal rolls.
07 - Place rolls in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Cover and let rise until nearly doubled, about 35-45 minutes.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake for 22-25 minutes, until golden brown.
09 - While rolls bake, beat together cream cheese, butter, powdered sugar, vanilla, and enough milk for a spreadable glaze.
10 - Let rolls cool for 10 minutes, then spread glaze over warm rolls. Serve immediately.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • These rolls have a secret two-rise method that creates an impossibly tender texture you wont find in quick versions.
  • The cream cheese glaze melts just enough into the warm spirals, creating pockets of sweet creaminess that make you close your eyes with each bite.
02 -
  • Placing the rising dough near a preheating oven provides the perfect warm environment for faster, more even rising.
  • Using room temperature eggs prevents the melted butter from resolidifying when mixed together - a lesson I learned after wondering why my dough had tiny butter chunks.
03 -
  • The perfect roll starts with patience - rushing either rise will result in dense, heavy rolls instead of the cloud-like texture youre after.
  • Slicing your rolled dough with dental floss instead of a knife prevents the spiral from getting squashed and maintains those beautiful defined layers.
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