Description
This Easy One Hour Cinnamon Rolls recipe offers a quick and delicious way to enjoy soft, fluffy cinnamon rolls topped with a creamy vanilla cream cheese icing. Perfect for a weekend breakfast or special occasion, these rolls are made from scratch with a tender yeast dough, a sweet cinnamon-sugar filling, and a luscious, smooth frosting. The recipe includes step-by-step instructions to activate yeast quickly, proof dough in a warm oven, and bake golden rolls in just about one hour total time.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Dough
- 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
- 1 (0.25 oz) packet active dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
For the Cinnamon Sugar Filling
- 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Cream Cheese Icing
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 cups powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2–4 tablespoons milk (add 1 tablespoon at a time, as needed)
Instructions
- Prepare the Dough: Melt 1/4 cup unsalted butter in a small microwave-safe bowl for 40-45 seconds. Pour melted butter into a medium bowl. Heat 1 cup milk in the same bowl for 45 seconds until warm between 100-110°F. Combine warm milk and butter mixture, then stir in 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1 packet active dry yeast until dissolved. Cover and let sit for 10 minutes until foamy.
- Activate the Yeast & Preheat Oven: While the dough activates, preheat your oven to its lowest setting (around 170°F), then turn it off to create a warm environment for proofing the dough.
- Mix Wet Ingredients: Once the yeast mixture is frothy, add 1 large egg, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract; mix thoroughly.
- Add the Flour: Gradually add 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour in 1/2 cup increments, stirring until incorporated. Use your hands to knead gently until the dough becomes soft, slightly tacky, but not sticky.
- Proof the Dough: Shape the dough into a ball, cover with a tea cloth, and place it inside the warm but turned-off oven for 10 minutes to rise.
- Prepare the Cinnamon Sugar Filling: In a medium bowl, beat together 1/2 cup softened butter, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1 1/2 tablespoons cinnamon, and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract with a hand mixer or spatula until light and fluffy. Set aside.
- Roll Out the Dough: Remove the risen dough from the oven and place on a lightly greased or floured surface. Roll it out into a 14 by 18-inch rectangle, approximately 1/4 inch thick.
- Add Filling: Preheat oven to 350°F. Evenly spread the cinnamon sugar filling almost to the edges of the dough rectangle.
- Roll and Slice: Starting from the shorter edge, tightly roll the dough up into a log. Using a sharp knife or unflavored dental floss, cut into 12 equal rolls with gentle sawing motions.
- Bake: Arrange the rolls in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Bake at 350°F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown. Allow to cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
- Make the Cream Cheese Icing: While rolls cool, beat together 4 ounces softened cream cheese, 2 cups powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and 2 tablespoons milk. Add additional milk one tablespoon at a time until desired spreading or drizzling consistency is reached.
- Frost and Serve: Spread the cream cheese icing over the warm cinnamon rolls. Serve immediately and enjoy fresh, gooey sweetness.
Notes
- Ensure milk is warm, not hot, to avoid killing the yeast during activation.
- Using dental floss to cut the rolls helps achieve clean edges without squishing the dough.
- Proofing in a warm, turned-off oven accelerates yeast rising for a faster recipe.
- You can adjust milk quantity in icing to get your preferred thickness, either thick for spreading or thin for drizzling.
- For softer rolls, do not over-flour the dough while rolling out to keep the texture tender.
- Use room temperature ingredients (butter, cream cheese, egg) for best mixing results.
