What can I say? Your house will smell like heaven and everyone will adore you! You can even do your prep the night before and let the rolls rise in the morning and bake. For best results, use an instant-read thermometer for the milk and have all your other ingredients at room temperature. And be sure to aerate your flour before measuring. - Jenny Jones
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 2 hours
Makes: 8
Ingredients:
- Dough:
- 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 packet (2 tsp/7 gms/1/4 oz) yeast - instant or active dry yeast
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk (low fat or whole milk) heated to 120-130° F for instant yeast (or 110-120°F for active dry)
- 3 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 egg
- about 1/4 cup additional flour
- Filling:
- 2 Tablespoons softened butter or trans-fat free margarine
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- Frosting:
- 1 cup powdered sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
- about 2 Tablespoons milk
Instructions:
- Combine dry ingredients in a bowl.
- Stir in milk followed by oil & egg. Beat on high for 3 minutes.
- Add additional flour until dough forms a mass.
- On a floured surface, knead 150 turns (about 4-5 minutes).
- Cover with plastic or a bowl & let rest 10 minutes.
- Meantime, grease an 8-inch round pan and combine the brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
- On a floured surface, roll dough into 12” x 9”.
- Spread with butter/margarine followed by brown sugar mixture.
- Roll up the dough (not too tightly) starting at the 9” end.
- Cut 1/2-inch off either end. With a serrated knife or using dental floss, cut log into 8 even slices and arrange in pan.
- Cover with plastic & rise in a warm spot until doubled, 1 - 1 1/2 hours.
- Bake in preheated oven at 350° F for about 15 minutes.
- Cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then frost. To make frosting, combine powdered sugar & vanilla and slowly add milk for a spreading consistency.
Notes: To make overnight rolls, follow steps 1 thru 10. Cover pan with plastic and refrigerate overnight. Remove from fridge in the morning and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours until rolls are doubled in size. Continue at step #12. (For more on my cinnamon rolls in my blog, click here).
No MIxer? You can combine the ingredients by hand and follow the rest of the recipe as written. I just tried it and they turned out great.
Problems with this recipe? Click here.
We made the cinnamon roll recipe this morning for an afternoon snack. It was pretty forgiving. I had my family helping me and “we” (read “they”) did not read their section of the recipe, but it was still delicious. I used a favorite light maple cream cheese icing; our preference.
I left space in the pan so they would touch after the rise, but not crowd. It took an hour and 45 mins. to rise nicely. I put one of those heat therapy wraps (filled with buckwheat hulls or rice or something) in the microwave to turn it into a proofing box. Once the wrap was warm (not hot), I left it in the microwave and put the covered pan in to rise. Midway, I gently pulled them out and nuked the wrap again so it re-warmed my proofing box. Then I put the rolls back in. The microwave is OFF when the rolls are in-the residual heat from the heat wrap is what keeps it a warm environment. Another person has put clean towels in the dryer and when warm, puts them in the microwave with whatever needs to rise.
NOTE: I took the two cut ends and turned them into a modified 9th “roll” and put it in the corner of a square glass baking dish – my cinnamon rolls were thus 3 x 3 and the weird one in the corner was the sampler. They did not dome in the middle since they had plenty of space to grow.
Will make it as written next time to correct the little lack of attention error.
Love Jenny’s recipes.
I love this recipe. Not being a big fan of cinnamon, I substituted ground ginger and they came out great. I call then Ging-a-Bons.
This cinnamon roll recipe is the absolute best!
A “calorie reduced” recipe for cinnamon rolls
that yields a lot, with half the flour of most
cinnamon roll recipes, that require double the
amount. These cinnamon rolls, at best yield,
fill a large square casserole dish. A little
extra rising time and results were higher in
volume, with a cloud like softness.
Thank you very much, Jenny. I have made
this cinnamon roll recipe several times as
it turns out perfect each time, plus, with the
calorie count being less than most recipes,
it makes this recipe all the more enjoyable,
the favorite!
Hi Jenny these are the easiest cinnamon buns I have ever made. I actually made the dough on Saturday and then baked them on Sunday and they were deliciously fluffy and the icing was just right. Thanks again for sharing all your fantastic recipes. To share without any remuneration is unheard of in this day and age and it truly speaks to your true character. Thanks again.
Hi if I double this recipe will it make 16 cinnamon rolls ?
Amazing cinnamon roll recipe. Thank you very much for this and all your recipes. I appreciate you taking the time to teach us all!! Peace and blessings, Vicki
WOW!!! I made these today my wife said that they were the best she had ever had, I use a high-end cinnamon from Penseys which I think really kicks up the flavor. Great recipe and not only learned from your video I enjoyed watching it
I made these yesterday, but they did not rise when I left them on the counter before baking. I kneaded them pretty well, I thought. Any suggestions?
Please see the FAQs.
What a blessing you are Jenny! I’ve made an array of your recipes and all are wonderful. But this one takes FIRST PLACE. I replaced cinnamon with anise flavoring, anise seeds and a handful of raisins.
They to take on an Italian twist.
Thank you for your inspiration.
Can I lay some apple on top of the cinnamon mixture
!1you are the most great baker i know ever
Can you explain a little bit more how you would prep these the day before you bake them?
I have made them and placed the pan in the fridge to slow the rising process. When ready to bake, I take it out of the fridge 2-3 hrs prior so it can rise at room temp and then bake at 350 for 15 min.
Notes: To make overnight rolls, follow steps 1 thru 10. Cover pan with plastic and refrigerate overnight. Remove from fridge in the morning and let rise in a warm spot for about 1 to 1 1/2 hours until rolls are doubled in size. Continue at step #12. (For more on my cinnamon rolls in my blog, click here: https://www.jennycancook.com/homemade-cinnamon-rolls/
update before it cooked i used half of this and gave me exactly four looks sooooooo good putting it to cook!
turned out great! i like this i dont really like cream cheese so i made my own icing if your like me or just dont have it heres how
-powdered sugar
-milk or heavy milk
-vanilla extract
-a pinch of salt (if you want)
Thanks im learning how to cook cake and sweets sadly i have no butter but i saw this i didnt make it yet ill reply when im done ;>
I been baking with yeast for many years. These taste great, but I have trouble with the rise. They never rise to the top of the pan like in the video. I’m using an 8 inch pan. I’m sure my yeast is good as I’ve used different yeasts and do not have trouble with other breads I’ve made. I set them in a warm place for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. They rise some, and rise a little further while baking. I’ve made the recipe several times with the same result. They taste fine. Don’t know why the problem is. But, they are yummy and good, so I will keep using this recipe.
Jenny, I know you don’t ‘knead’ me to tell you this is a wonderful recipe – it would take me all day to read all the comments left prior to mine. I’ve made quite a few cinnamon rolls in my time, but these…WOW! There is nothing better than one of these buns warm, goozing with icing, and a hot cup of good black coffee.
One recurring problem I seem to have of late is that while my rolls bake, the filling seems to seep to the bottom of the pan to varying degrees. Even with your recipe, which does include much less butter and sugar than others, I find that even though there was less seepage, I still had to pry the buns off the bottom of the pan with an offset spatula.I tried adding some flour to the filling, which may have helped a bit.
Anyone have suggestions for prevention of this, which at worst case can result in an awful layer of caramel-colored adhesive which could realistically be considered DIY Krazy Glue?
P.S. They reheat a dream…3 minutes in my Ninja toaster oven set to ‘Reheat’ is the sweet spot for me. Microwaving ruins them- NO BUENO.
I keep the frosting separate if I know there will be leftovers, so no problems with burning while reheating. YUM
I too have had the problem with the cinnamon/sugar/butter oozing out to the the rolls and onto the bottom of the pan with all cinnamon roll recipes I’ve made. One thing I tried that did help a little was to use both brown and white sugar in the filling (about 2:1 ratio) and now I also ALWAYS put parchment paper in the pan bottom and up the sides. It helps with clean up and makes it easier to lift the rolls out of the pan. You can also turn them upside down and let all the good goo ends up on top.
Hi, Glenna. Thanks for the tip – I have been lining my pan with parchment as of late, and while it doesn’t solve the problem of leakage, I totally agree it is worth it in terms of ease of cleanup. No more chiseling burnt sugar off of my pan.
I don’t seem to have success with making these, or any other cinnamon rolls for that matter, hold onto their filling overnight in the refrigerator. Not really sure why, but I guess for now I’ll just bake the same day. At any rate, nobody’s complaining!
I always put parchment paper in the pan instead of greasing- I find that as the are rising the filling begins the seeping process haha, never have they stuck to the parchment!
Try using a piece of parchment paper cut to fit in the bottom of your pan, Still butter the sides. Though they may not brown quite as well you won’t have the sticking issue and easy clean up too.
These are easy, freeze well, and are a show stopper!
Jenny could I double this recipe to make 2 pans?
Yes absolutely. We are a family of 5 and I refuse to labor over cinnamon buns that will be gone in 5 minutes…so I always do a double batch. Roll out the dough accordingly to get 16 buns. I’m rising a don’t blue batch as I type. These buns have never failed me!
Love this recipe – have made 3 or 4 times with overnight method.
How would I alter this to use orange juice/zest & cream cheese?
Hi, Martha. As a fellow home baker, I would just add the zest and cream cheese to the frosting, to taste, adding slowly until I achieve the result I like. Enjoy!
In the frosting would be awesome! Also u can sprinkle a bit of zest over the brownsugar/butter filling before rolling
This was truly amazing ! I had made these wonderful sweet soft creations at about 11 pm, dancing to classic music and drinking a little brandy and maybe a little bit more I’m not sure as when I woke up omgosh they were in my refrigerator waiting to be baked My husband said they were the best he’s ever had! I agree!! but Im still wondering was the Brandy used in the dough instead of the vanilla? Either way This is truly a perfect sweet roll recipe!
Love your recipes Jenny! I do alter some for even healthier version. For this one, I use Truvia Baking Blend instead of white sugar for the dough. I use coconut palm in place of brown sugar for the cinnamon filling and smart balance in place of butter. I add chopped, toasted pecans on top of the cinnamon mix before rolling up. Keep those recipes coming when you think of new! Would share the photo after making the recipe, but don’t see the option. Thanks!
You can share using this link: YourPhotos@JennyCanCook.com
Amazing and so easy to make !!!!!!
I didn’t think 2 teaspoons of cinnamon was too much though and 1 teaspoon wouldn’t taste like true cinnamon rolls🤷♀️
We love cinnamon, so I always use a tablespoon per batch!
Can I use bread flour. I made these once so far with all purpose flour and they were awesome. My hubby wants them again.
Yes you can use bread flour since I have successfully!
Jenny, made these cinnamon buns and they were to die for. Very easy to make and so delicious. Thank you!
Hi Jenny! I love you’re cinnamon roll recipe it’s divine! Also I love all your other recipes they are so easy and delicious. My daughters watch your videos with me so they can learn to bake as well! Thank you for your delicious recipes!!!
Love your enthusiasm. I’m still cooking/baking at 81yrs young. Im the designated family cook. Have a wide range of recipes (Caribbean, So American, Mediterranean and European. But always looking for new ways and new ideas in the culinary world. You make my day with your smile and ease of bringing forth a good recipe. Keep it up .
That’s a lucky family to have you. I plan to follow in your footsteps and keep cooking at 81 and beyond. All the best to you. ❤️
Hi Jenny….I’ve made your cinnamon buns a few times now and they’re sooooo good ! I love all your recipes !!
A Christmas Morning Miracle! I added more cinnamon. I wish I had rolled the dough thinner, but taste and texture was amazing.
Thanks, Jenny, for this reduced fat version of cinnamon rolls ! I adapted your recipe to my bread machine to make the dough. I used Smart Balance instead of butter to decrease some of the calories and fat…and did something I never did before…refrigerated them overnight for a morning treat ! I did my second rise this morning and then baked them filling the house with such a wonderful aroma..the buns are DELICIOUS ! For me, I think they are sweet enough without the icing ! Thank you again for this recipe and your detailed video !
Hi Marilyn
I want to use my Kitchen Aid to make the dough
Can you tell me what speed and how long you kneaded it using your machine
I’m a first time baker
Thanks
Hi, Jackie. I used my Kitchenaid to knead the dough, and here’s how: I followed the recipe exactly for the first few ingredients, mixed them thoroughly, then added flour by tablespoons until the dough clung to the dough hook and cleaned the sides of the bowl, only slightly sticking to the bottom. Then I finished by kneading for 5 minutes, and proceeded as directed. Hope this helps!
Oh my God jenny you’re right about these Amazing cinnamon buns they are to die for.
Wow they are good warm with milk!!!!
Hi Jenny! Love your recipes, I am going to make my family each a pan of these lovely cinnamon rolls to take home Christmas Eve for their Christmas morning Breakfast! YUM!
Thank you!
Wendy, that is a brilliant idea! I am going to do the same for my family next year. Thank you!
The cinnamon rolls are good but WAY too much cinnamon! Maybe 1 teaspoon…..
I don’t think one tsp would be nearly enough! I use a tablespoon, and I love it that way!
ur receipr was very easy to follow after many other fails succues with yours ty sm
I have made this recipe four times now…and I absolutely love it! Easy and delicious! Thank you, Jenny! Merry Christmas! I’ll be sure to have these in the house throughout the holidays!
Hi Jenny thank you for always making recipes so easy and fun!! I think its your soothing voice and your witty sense of humor that makes it all come together effortlessly??.
Again thankx a bunch
Just want to thank you for sharing your cooking talents and online cookbook to all of us. Your site is my go to for healthy cooking and baking recipes. You’re a good person, God bless you Jenny!
H Jenny, it was so good to see you on Youtube a few months ago..you make me hungry.
I made your easy bread and it was great…very fast.
I’m about to make your meatloaf and your cinnamon rolls. Thanks for sharing.
Love this recipe Jenny! I used Smart Balance instead of butter to spread over rolled dough, coconut palm sugar instead of regular sugar in the cinnamon filling and sprinkled on chopped pecans. I enjoy so many of your recipes! Thank you for sharing them. Received your cookbook as a Christmas gift last year too! :o)
Jenny. I’m dying to know if you were ever in the Television Broadasting Industry because I can’t help to think that we met somewhere connected to that Industry. I was BOZO THE CLOWN for several years and I worked from Coast to coast but I’m from Rhode Island and live in Attleboro,Mass now. You just look so familiar I bbn just had to ask.
Yes! She’s Jenny Jones from the 1990’s talk show. I’m so glad she’s baking and sharing her yumminess with us!
Hi, I grew up in NYC and when I was about 5 I was invited by a friend to go to your show. Loved it.
I made these as written, following along with the video. This was the first time I had success with yeast raised anything! My husband was overwhelmed! thanks! I just made them again subbing in 1/2 cup whole wheat pastry flour, adding raisins to the filling, and reducing the icing to a drizzle. Still fabulous and easier to take first thing in the morning!
Hi Liz, I also sub 1/2 cup of white whole wheat flour for the all purpise flour and it works perfectly!
Jenny! I made these for my fiancé again. I forgot about this recipe. Next week I’m making your chili!
Thank you for being amazing!
I look forward to new recipes!
Jenny, in your video you said the dough hook on your Kitchenaid mixer doesn’t work well for you on this recipe. If you keep in mind that 2 monutes of kneading with the dough hook is equal to about 10 minutes of kneading by hand (as per Kitchenaid’s instructions), it works really well. I used it on your recicpe for about a minute and a half and they came out perfect!! Great recipe.
I usually do a double batch in my kitchen aid. I just proof my yeast in the warm milk and then add it with the dry mix and the Eggs/ oil and let it go for a good 4 minutes or so. It turns out perfect everytime…and I don’t have to use any elbow grease!
Hi, just came across your YouTube site
and was thrilled to see you and how very
pretty you are. Well I had to make your cinnamon rolls, they looked so delicious
and, so I took off to the kitchen, and made
a batch. Such a nice dough, the texture was
very nice, and easy to put together. My grand children will certainly enjoy.
Is this your real kitchen, or is this a stage kitchen?
Thanks Jenny. Judy
Hi, just came across your YouTube site
and was thrilled to see you and how very
pretty you are. Well I had to make your cinnamon rolls, they looked so delicious
and, so I took off to the kitchen, and made
a batch. Such a nice dough, the texture was
very nice, and easy to put together. My grand children will certainly enjoy. I will try
all your recipes.
Is this your real kitchen, or is this a stage kitchen?
Thanks Jenny. Judy
Hi Jenny made these for the first time today used my stand up mixture and had to use 1 half of a cup after the mixing was done and the dough still seemed too soft but didn’t add any more after the rest I rolled them out which went alright but we’re still sticky and had a hard time separating them because they were sticking to my knife,any idea what went wrong,have made several of your recipes and had success with them all
I also had to add about a half of cup of extra flour and a little more when rolling them out. It was raining the day I made them so I don’t know if that is why they needed more flour. They came out perfect.
hi Linda, I add an extra 1/4 cup as suggested by Jenny. Be sure to flour your board then the stickiness is under control.
Your cinnamon buns are wonderful. Fourth time I am making them. My whole family just loves them.
Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls according to my Family and Friends. COVID-19 treat!
Your cinnamon buns are wonderful. I guess you have been told that many times. I also made your brown bread And it was very good too.
Thank you.
Hello, tried this today and this was simply awesome. Thank you for sharing. For the frosting, I did add cream cheese as well.
I love watching your videos. Your descriptions are hilarious and you say it with such a straight face. A pleasure watching you. Thank you for sharing your recipes with so much sincerity. All the best. XO.
I have made these a few times and they come out perfect every time…just do not last long too yummy!
I made your recipe dozen of times but…. with the bread machine, instead of oil, I use butter and follow the instructions for the order of ingredients. I use the dough setting, 1 hour 30 min. After, I roll my dough, spread the brown sugar, butter, cinnamon all mix together, rollot, let it rise for 1-1:30 hr.and follow the rest of the recipe. Delicious. Success every time .
Hi Jenny,
Thanks for this awesome, delicious, mouthwatering homemade Cinnamon Rolls. I made this for Labor Day weekend and it was a hit. Thanks again for all your beautiful recipes.
Just want to thank you Jenny for all of your great recipes, which are really great. Love to watch your videos !!!
You say you weighall your ingredients ( by far the fastest, easiest, and most accurate way to bake) yet your recipe is all done in volumes. Extremely dissapointing
No, I never said I weigh all my ingredients. You may have me confused with someone else.
I am confused by what Essie said….who weighs their ingredients? I’ve cooked my entire life and I use measuring cups. All your videos show ingredients also measured by cups or spoons. What am I missing? Believe me, I am not disappointed in any of your work. I think you’re an incredible cook. Love your kitchen, aprons and little timers. So, what’s up with Essie being disappointed? Oh well, I guess she’ll be watching another cook show, huh? Thanks Jenny!!
My Croatian friend has all kind of recipes with weighed amounts. I think this is an European way of cooking
OMG so good! Thank you.
Thank you for sharing the recipe. I have made the cinnamon rolls twice. They are very soft. The first time I made the rolls with oil. I would like to say that I used another extra 2/3c flour. The second time I made the rolls with cold butter. I used the right amount 21/2c flour + 1/4c flour. I didn’t fold 150 times as I did in the first time making the cake. I felt the rolls didnt rise much as in my first baking. I used different baking pans, so this feeling can be wrong. I will try again the 3rd time and will use the same round pan.
Hi Anna, the reason your dough did not rise much could be because you added too much flour. The dough is a bit sticky so I added another 1/4 cup flour gradually while I kneaded to get the proper consistency and it worked. Hope you will give it another try soon.
Thank you Jenny best cinnamon buns ever
I was going to make these as written, but since I have been using sourdough starter instead of yeast in all my bread/roll baking, I decided to substitute sourdough starter! I lessened the amount of milk but that was it! Of course, the resting and rising times were longer, but they turned out beautiful and soooo yummy! It was hard not to eat more than one. I weigh everything by grams and have found that the final product is more consistent. I used 120g starter, 1/4 cup milk (56g). I might up the starter next time to 150g, so that would be less milk. One more thing about having a place to proof your dough. Turn on the oven for 1 minute, turn it off, and leave on the oven light. Amazing how that light keeps the oven warm!
That is such a great idea! Will you elaborate on the measurements?
Oh sorry! You said the measurements already
What can you substitute the yeast for in the cinnamon rolls.
Angie, there is a great yeast free cinnamon roll recipe on Aa Recipes by a cook named Nina. Give it a try
I know this post is way late, but I recently came across a vegan site called ” it doesn’t taste like chicken” and theres a yeast free, vegan cinnamon roll recipe on there that looks amazing.
Jenny, what is the best way to freeze the cinnamon buns? I made them today for the first time and they were delicious, but with just two of us in the house, I would like to know the best way to freeze them.
PAF, just let the cinnamon cool down completely, wrap it into portion that you like and freeze it.
If I use my KitchenAid mixer to knead the dough, how many minutes should it knead?
I have the same question, Donna.
I would do 5 minutes.
What can I use to substitute butter on step 8? Is oil okay?
Try using a margarine type spread. You don’t want a liquid oil in step 8. Even a light spray of no stick spray would work. The brown sugar is going to be liquid-y enough.
What is a good substitution if I don’t want any butter? Is oil okay?
Hi Jenny
Best Cinnamon Roll I have found, easy step by step instructions . Love your videos and most of all your sense of humour. Made them again this morning. its becoming a weekly thing in my house. Have tried several of your recipes and they are all good.
Thank you
Jenny, I make this recipe every week. It is the best .
Today I am making a whole wheat variation. here’s hoping .
A few comments
1. Instant yeast works very well, speeds things up.
2. More proofing time makes the buns to be bigger fluffier . I allow it to rise for 3 or 4 hours.
3. We use Brown Splenda in the filling , but only 1/8 of a cup rather than 1/4 .
Your recipe has played a major role in cheering up these glum Covid days.
OMG! Jen I made this for company yesterday. I am not a baker but with your step by step video and instructions all came out delicious. I am thrilled.
Thank-you Jen for all your help.
There was not one left. LOL!
Because of Covid-19 I can only find instant yeast. Would this work for the cinnamon buns and how would I adjust for this. Love your videos!
I make this recipe every week using instant yeast… No problems…