Pillowy Soft, Messy, Classic Cinnamon Rolls

There’s something about the smell of cinnamon that makes a house feel like home.

Warm, sweet, and just a little nostalgic, these cinnamon rolls are the kind of recipe that fills every corner with comfort. The dough rises slowly, butter melts into brown sugar, and before you know it, your kitchen smells like a slow Sunday morning.

They’re soft and golden, swirled with cinnamon and nostalgia, topped with a creamy cream cheese frosting that melts right into every layer. There’s nothing fancy about them.

Whether you’re sharing them fresh from the oven or saving one for later, these cinnamon rolls are more than breakfast, they’re a reminder that home isn’t a place, it’s a feeling.There’s something about the smell of cinnamon that makes a house feel like home.

Future Madeline Here!

I just tested this recipe again for Christmas morning & added an extra tablespoon of molasses! Adding just one tablespoon of molasses to cinnamon roll dough is a small step that makes a big difference. Molasses deepens the overall flavor, enhancing the warmth of the cinnamon and brown sugar with subtle caramel and toffee notes—without overpowering the rolls or making them taste like molasses. It also helps create a softer, more tender crumb thanks to its natural acidity, which gently relaxes the gluten in the dough. Because molasses retains moisture so well, it can lead to cinnamon rolls that stay gooey in the center and fresher for longer, giving them that rich, bakery-style texture and flavor that feels extra cozy and nostalgic. I also love the deeper, rich color that molasses adds to these cinnamon rolls! PS: this addition is already updated in the recipe card. I am always testing recipes & always updating them and making little changes!

The most recent time I made these cinnamon rolls! It’s now our Christmas morning tradition!

The first batch of these cinnamon rolls!

Immediate Nostalgia:

When I pulled these out of the oven, I could tell my fiance was having a sweet moment. The sun was shining into our kitchen after a long day of rain. The whole house smelled warm and like vanilla. There was a small mess made in the kitchen from these cinnamon rolls made with love. He said it was the perfect Sunday. I agreed. We had planned to enjoy these rolls outside with a glass of milk and do a festive fall craft. However, we ended up hurled over the counter eating these the second they came out of the oven. My fiance had 3!!! He said they were the best cinnamon rolls he has ever had.

There’s nothing neat about these cinnamon rolls and that’s exactly why they’re perfect. They’re the kind of bake that gets frosting on your fingers and sugar on the counter, but you don’t care because every bite is pure comfort. Soft, gooey spirals soaked in brown sugar and butter, smothered in creamy vanilla frosting that melts right into the cracks. They’re rustic, cozy, and unapologetically messy! The kind of treat you eat straight from the pan while the kitchen still smells like sugar and spice. Warm, creamy, and downright delish… the kind of recipe that makes you fall back in love with slow mornings at home.

Ingredient List

For the Rolls:

• 1 cup milk, warm to touch (not too hot!)

• 2 + 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast

• 1 large room temperature egg

• 1 Tbsp. melted butter

• 4 Tbsp. granulated sugar

• 1/2 tsp. salt

• 3 cups all-purpose flour

• 3/4 cup heavy cream (for topping the rolls)

For the Filling: 

• 6 Tbsp. softened butter

• 1 cup brown sugar (feel free to add more to taste)

• 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (or both!)

• 1 Tablespoon Molasses

For the Cream Cheese Frosting:

• 6 Tbsp. softened butter

• 8 oz. softened cream cheese

• 2 tsp. vanilla extract

• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. To a large bowl, add in 1 cup warm milk, 2 + 1/4 tsp. active dry yeast, 1 large egg, 1 Tbsp. melted butter, 4 Tbsp. granulated sugar, and 1/2 tsp. salt. Whisk it together with your stand mixer or by hand. Add in 3 cups all-purpose flour and mix until combined. If the dough is too sticky, continue to add in pinches of dough until it is better combined. Knead the dough with the stand mixer for about 4 minutes. Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel or parchment paper and let it rise in a warm place for about 1 hour.

2. While the dough rises, begin working on the filling. Mix together 6 Tbsp. softened butter, 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon Molasses, and 1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon and/or pumpkin pie spice. I enjoy using the pumpkin pie spice as it has tasty seasonal flavors.

3. Once the dough has risen, dust your workspace with flour and turn the dough onto the surface. Roll out the dough into a rectangle. Evenly spread out the cinnamon filling and roll it up lenghtwise. With a bench scraper, cut the rolls into 8 pieces.

4. Place the rolls into a 9×13 pan, cover with parchement paper or a kitchen towel and let it rise in a warm place for 30 minutes. Once risen, evenly pour heavy cream on top of the rolls. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes. Let the rolls cool for about 5 minutes before frosting them.

5. While cooling, make the frosting. In a medium sized bowl with a hand mixer, beat together 6 Tbsp. softened butter, 8 oz. softened cream cheese, and 2 tsp. vanilla extract. Slowly add in 1 cup of powdered sugar and mix until combined.

6. Spread the frosting over the slightly warm cinnamon rolls and enjoy!

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Frosting

Prep Time

1 hr 30 mins

Cook Time

25 mins

Total Time

1 hr 55 mins

Yield

8 rolls

Category

Breakfast • Dessert

Difficulty

Intermediate

Ingredients

For the Rolls

• 1 cup milk, warm to touch (not too hot!)
• 2 + 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
• 1 large egg, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp melted butter
• 4 Tbsp granulated sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 cups all-purpose flour (add more if dough is too sticky)
• 3/4 cup heavy cream (for topping before baking)

For the Filling

• 6 Tbsp softened butter
• 1 cup brown sugar (or more to taste)
• one tablespoon molasses
• 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice (or both!)

For the Cream Cheese Frosting

• 6 Tbsp softened butter
• 8 oz softened cream cheese
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup powdered sugar

Instructions

1. Make the Dough: In a large bowl, whisk together warm milk, yeast, egg, melted butter, sugar, and salt. Add flour and mix until a dough forms. If it’s sticky, sprinkle in a bit more flour. Knead for 4 minutes, then cover and let rise for 1 hour in a warm spot.
2. Prepare the Filling: Mix softened butter, brown sugar, molasses, and cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice in a small bowl until smooth and spreadable.
3. Shape the Rolls: Roll dough out into a large rectangle. Spread the filling evenly, then roll the dough tightly lengthwise. Slice into 8 even rolls.
4. Second Rise: Arrange rolls in a greased 9×13 pan. Cover with a kitchen towel and let rise for another 30 minutes. Pour heavy cream evenly over the top before baking.
5. Bake: Bake at 350°F for 20–25 minutes, until golden and fluffy. Let cool for 5 minutes before frosting.
6. Make the Frosting: Beat together butter, cream cheese, and vanilla extract until smooth. Add powdered sugar gradually and mix until creamy.
7. Frost & Enjoy: Spread frosting over slightly warm rolls and enjoy the soft, gooey sweetness.

Tip: These rolls are even better the next morning — just reheat gently and spread extra frosting for that bakery-fresh warmth.

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