Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (2024)

When you ask most kids what their favorite Christmas tradition is, they'll reply with the usual...

opening presents

decorating the tree

attending parties

making holiday crafts

But not my daughter. When asked, her answer is always the same...eating homemade cinnamon rolls on Christmas morning.

Since I only make them a few times each year, these ooey-gooey treats are like a sweet memory on a plate for her. As she eats them, she slips into a gentle sugar coma and remembers Christmases past. We munch, we reminisce, we linger long at the table savoring the meal and each other.

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If asked, she'd tell you that these are the best cinnamon rolls ever! And I'd have to agree. (But maybe with a little less punctuation because I'm 37 and with age comes a measure of self-control...or so I've been told.)

They are the best. But not just because they taste like Cinnabon goodness, but also because you can make them the day before in the bread machine, serve half of them for breakfast the following morning, and freeze the rest for another day!!!!!!

Make it once and serve it twice. That right there is kitchen gold!

To make these Cinnabon knock-offs...

Add the following ingredients into your bread machine in this order: 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup hot-to-the-touch water (not boiling), 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 stick of softened butter, 2 beaten eggs, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/2 cup sugar.

Rolls

1 c. milk

1/4 c. hot-to-the-touch water (not boiling)

1 t. vanilla extract

1 stick of softened butter

2 beaten eggs

1/2 t. salt

1/2 c. sugar

5 c. white flour

3 t. yeast

Cinnamon Filling

1 stick of softened butter

1 c. packed brown sugar

4 T. cinnamon

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. softened cream cheese

1 stick of softened butter

2 c. powdered sugar

1 t. of vanilla extract

1/8 t. of lemon extract (optional)

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

Add the first 7 ingredients into the bread machine in the order that they are listed. Next, add the flour on top creating a mound of flour. Use your finger to create a well in the center of the flour. Pour the yeast into the well.

Follow the directions of your bread machine for the "dough" setting.

When the dough setting is complete, the dough should be slightly tacky and elastic, but not sticky. Turn the finished dough out onto a floured surface. Knead the dough for 5-10 minutes. Form into a large ball and set into a greased bowl. Cover the bowl lightly with a cloth and let sit until the dough has doubled in size.

While the dough is rising, prepare the cinnamon filling. Soften the butter and set aside. In a small bowl, combine the sugar and cinnamon. Sift together with a fork until it's completely combined.

When the dough has doubled, turn it out on a floured surface and roll it into a large rectangle (approximately 14 x 24 inches). Sprinkle flour onto your rolling pin as needed to prevent sticking. Be sure not to over flour the dough. Coat the entire dough surface with softened butter. Sprinkle cinnamon-sugar mixture over the butter.

Starting at one of the short ends of the rectangle, begin to roll the dough into a large log. Use a serrated bread knife or unflavored dental floss to slice the rolled log into 1 inch-wide disks.

Place disks onto one large, greased jelly roll pan or two greased 9x13 casserole dishes.

Mix all of the frosting ingredients. When rolls are done, remove them from the oven and allow them to cool slightly for a few minutes. Then, top with dollops of cream cheese frosting. Spread the frosting smoothly onto each roll. Serve warm and enjoy!

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Why are my cinnamon rolls not light and fluffy? ›

There are a lot of variables that go into the consistency of dough, even down to the weather and humidity. But the most common reason cinnamon rolls don't turn out fluffy is because the dough didn't have enough time to rise.

Find Out More ›

What's the best flour to use for cinnamon rolls? ›

Bread flour is hands down the best option when making cinnamon rolls. Any good cinnamon rolls recipe is going to usually call for bread flour instead of other kinds of flour. This is because bread flour is high in protein, usually containing 11% to 13% more protein than other kinds of flour.

Is half-and-half the same as heavy cream? ›

According to the FDA, half-and-half contains between 10.5 percent to 18 percent milk fat, while heavy cream contains between 36 percent and 40 percent milk fat. Because heavy cream contains more fat, it is thicker and has a richer taste and a creamier mouthfeel than half-and-half.

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What kind of pan is best for cinnamon rolls? ›

I recommend baking the cinnamon rolls in these foil half-size aluminum pans (9x13) to easily store them in your freezer. Avoid overbaking. Top the baked cinnamon rolls with the matching foil lid. (You can also bake the cinnamon rolls in a 9x13x2 cake pan and wrap the top tightly in heavy-duty foil.)

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Should cinnamon rolls be room temperature before baking? ›

Step Four: take the cinnamon rolls out in time to come to room temperature and fully rise before baking. Usually that means the rolls need to have time to double in size from the original shape (for most recipes) before they go in the oven.

Know More ›

Can I use milk instead of heavy cream? ›

Similarly to half-and-half, milk makes a good heavy cream substitute when it's combined with melted butter. Combine 3/4 cup milk and 1/4 cup melted butter for every cup of heavy cream. This mixture is not suitable for whipping. Best for: cooking and baking.

Why aren t my rolls light and fluffy? ›

Too much flour, or not the right kind, could be to blame. Dough made only from flour with a high or even average amount of protein (like bread flour or all-purpose flour) can become tough from overmixing. Protein gives bread structure in the form of gluten—the more you mix and move the dough, the more gluten you get.

Why are my rolls dense and not fluffy? ›

There may be several reasons for a dense, cake like texture in bread. It may indicate the kneading wasn't enough for the gluten to develop properly, or the dough was proved for too short a time or the dough may have been too dry. It is also worth checking the flour you used.

What does it mean if my cinnamon roll dough doesn't rise? ›

Things You Should Know

Add more yeast, blend in the starter, or knead in more flour to help initiate rising. Dough that has expired yeast, too much salt, all-purpose or cake flour, or antifungal spices like cinnamon might have trouble rising.

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Roll Recipe (2024)

Rolls

Cinnamon Filling

Cream Cheese Frosting

Best Bread Machine Cinnamon Rolls

FAQs

Why are my cinnamon rolls not light and fluffy? ›

Is half-and-half the same as heavy cream? ›

References